The name distemper might be familiar to you, but do you know more precise characteristics of this treacherous viral disease? Let’s take it one by one from the historic roots up to the present day
Canine distemper was brought to Europe from America. It travelled across the ocean to the old continent sometime in the 18th century. It was mainly dogs and minks who started to succumb to this aggressive disease. Records of occurrence of the canine distemper on Czech territory appear after the First World War
Canine distemper has several forms: dermal, nervous, pulmonary and intestinal. In most cases, puppies catch the distemper, but it also transmits to an adult dog quite often. The treatment is usually demanding and very often unsuccessful. Rather than curing the disease, the veterinarians can suppress its symptoms in the long term.
It affects both skin and inner organs
Now, let’s talk about how various forms of distemper manifest themselves. In general, the disease is accompanied by fevers and loss of appetite. Other symptoms are directly connected with a specific form of the disease.
If it manifests on the skin of a dog, the skin will keratinize and crack – on the balls of the paws, for instance. This is probably the least aggressive form of the disease.
When distemper attacks the nervous system of an animal, there are, apart from other things, spasms and seizures that resemble epilepsy. The disease sometimes manifests itself on the nervous system together with its pulmonary or intestinal form.
When the lungs are affected, an inflammation of the air passages develops, which appears like a cold at first, later the phlegm is joined by pus and blood. Further, a cough appears in the animal.
In the intestinal form of distemper, the animal suffers from vomiting, diarrhoea, but sometimes also from congestion. There’s tonsillitis, pharyngitis, inflammation of the stomach and intestines.
How to fight back against the disease
Distemper incubation period is 3 to 7 days. Infection occurs, for instance, when an animal licks an object that was previously licked by an infected animal. Dogs that survive distemper can bear the consequences in the form of damaged teeth, affliction of the joints or, for instance, occasional twitching. The illness does not endanger only dogs by far, but also minks, for example, foxes, wolves or ferrets. The most effective weapon is vaccination, which we should remember already in two-months-old puppies. Afterwards, it is necessary to regularly re-vaccinate during the dog’s life.
Is your dog vaccinated against canine distemper?
Although I sometimes temporarily care of some brown rats, I still consider myself to be a beginner in brown rat keeping. In the beginning of this year, a white lab brown rat ended up in my temporary care. I noticed that Běluše (that’s how I called her...
It sits with great difficulties. It also looks like it is very painful. It seems that any contact of the tail and ground causes great pain. As well as any touch when I try to find out what’s wrong with its tail. We came back from swimming where our dog...
Summer fun begins now. And I can’t imagine a summer without our activities together with my dog. What about you? Plan where you and your doggie could spend time before the temperatures are scorching and not a single branch moves on trees and we all...
Some dogs are already born with sensitive digestion, at some it may occur later in life. Or an allergy for a component of the food they used to like and we considered as suitable may occur. For such cases, meat cans can be a great supplement of normal...
If you decide to head to the streets of your city during a hot summer day, remember that pavements you will be walking on are much warmer that the air. In general, I try to go out with my dog during hot summer days as least as possible but if we go...
That brown rats are social rodents and love and look for the closeness of not only other brown rats but also their owners is a well-known fact. They feel lonely and sad without any interaction
Weekend or holiday is here and you are thinking about what to pack? You definitely shouldn’t forget your first-aid kit. And also the one for your dog! Properly equipped first-aid kit is a must. If you are struggling with deciding what should be...
Our personal experience is what influences us most in our opinions. But if we don’t have it or can’t get it at least from a friend or family member, it is more difficult for us to imagine how living with a giant furry friend looks like. And if it comes...
The best option for living of a small rodent are big aquariums, plastic boxes or cages. And I don’t mean big as high but rather with as big area as possible. Hamsters are naturally running creatures and need enough space. Max has a space of the...
If you are going for your holiday by car, you may be considering bringing another passenger with you. Your dog can be a great companion, so you don´t want to leave it at home. However, your time off by the sea might hide various obstacles, starting...
Turkey, the homeland of angoras and Turkish Vans is almost cats’ paradise. Even though veterinary care is quite expensive here, also cats living outside are taken care of well. Even in large cities like Istanbul and Ankara you can encounter a lot of...
When I was a child, our dog changed my life. He taught me lifetime love for living beings but also responsibility, patience and caring for others. Scientist has found out those are not the only benefits the life with an animal has for children....
