Dog distemper symptoms | Canine distemper
Dog distemper symptoms - Canine distemper
Widespread vaccination has substantially decreased the incidence of dog distemper virus infections in many regions, but outbreaks still occur among unvaccinated dogs and sporadically in vaccinated dogs. Canine distemper is usually seen as a multisystemic disease that may include multifocal progressive involvement of the central nervous system. Dog distemper symptoms vary, depending on virulence of the virus stain, environmental conditions, host age and immune status.
Young, unvaccinated dogs are most commonly affected by severe generalized canine distemper. In these dogs, there may initially be overt nonneurologic signs, including ocular and nasal discharge, coughing, dyspnea, vomiting and diarrhea. Neurologic signs begin 1 to 3 weeks after dogs start to recover from systemic illness and may include hyperesthesia, cervical rigidity, seizures, cerebellar or vestibular signs, tetraparesis, and ataxia. Seizures can be of any type, depending on the region of the brain affected, "chewing-gum" seizures caused by polioencephalomalacia of the temporal lobes are commonly described.
Myoclonus, a repetitive rhytmic contraction of a group of muscles resulting in repetitive flexion of a limb or contractions of the muscles of mastication, is often referred to as canine distemper chorea and is most commonly associated with distemper encephalomyelitis. In young dogs infected while their permanent teeth are developing, enamel hypoplasia (brown discoloration) of the teeth will be noted. Older dogs may develop a more subacute to chronic encephalomyelitis with neurologic signs, including progressive tetraparesis or vestibular dysfunction, in the absence of systemic signs. Dog distemper symptoms and most infections are probably subclinical or are associated with mild signs of upper respiratory tract infection that resolves without therapy.
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Widespread vaccination has substantially decreased the incidence of dog distemper virus infections in many regions, but outbreaks still occur among unvaccinated dogs and sporadically in vaccinated dogs. Canine distemper is usually seen as a multisystemic disease that may include multifocal progressive involvement of the central nervous system. Dog distemper symptoms vary, depending on virulence of the virus stain, environmental conditions, host age and immune status.
Young, unvaccinated dogs are most commonly affected by severe generalized canine distemper. In these dogs, there may initially be overt nonneurologic signs, including ocular and nasal discharge, coughing, dyspnea, vomiting and diarrhea. Neurologic signs begin 1 to 3 weeks after dogs start to recover from systemic illness and may include hyperesthesia, cervical rigidity, seizures, cerebellar or vestibular signs, tetraparesis, and ataxia. Seizures can be of any type, depending on the region of the brain affected, "chewing-gum" seizures caused by polioencephalomalacia of the temporal lobes are commonly described.
Myoclonus, a repetitive rhytmic contraction of a group of muscles resulting in repetitive flexion of a limb or contractions of the muscles of mastication, is often referred to as canine distemper chorea and is most commonly associated with distemper encephalomyelitis. In young dogs infected while their permanent teeth are developing, enamel hypoplasia (brown discoloration) of the teeth will be noted. Older dogs may develop a more subacute to chronic encephalomyelitis with neurologic signs, including progressive tetraparesis or vestibular dysfunction, in the absence of systemic signs. Dog distemper symptoms and most infections are probably subclinical or are associated with mild signs of upper respiratory tract infection that resolves without therapy.
We would love to hear your pet's story. Please add a comment.
