When I was a child in a foul mood, my mother used to tell me I was suffering from distemper. Of course, this led me to believe that distemper vaccinations were meant to prevent dogs from being angry or sullen. It wasn’t until I had my first dog as an adult that I learned the severity of distemper—and of course, that I never had it. So, what is distemper? There are two types of distemper: one that affects felines and one that affects canines. Each is caused by a different virus, and a cat cannot infect a dog, and vice versa. In fact, there is no human version of distemper. While distemper can affect a variety of carnivorous animals, humans are not at risk. Most commonly, dogs, cats, and raccoons experience distemper, which, by definition, is a viral infection.
Distemper can be spread to unvaccinated animals via the air or direct contact. Because it can be transmitted through the air, all veterinarians, kennels, dog-walking services, dog parks, and other dog-friendly services require that dogs are vaccinated before they can interact with other dogs or enter their facilities. Without this regulation, the distemper virus could spread rapidly in just a few short weeks.
Young dogs are particularly vulnerable to distemper and are less likely to survive the infection. This is partly due to their developing immune systems and their high energy, which leads them to interact more closely with other animals. Puppies love to run up to, chase, sniff, and play with each other, often with more enthusiasm than older dogs. Sadly, young dogs often lack the ability to fight off the virus on their own, although all infected animals require treatment. An infected dog can also spread the virus to other dogs through their feces or urine on the ground.
Symptoms of Distemper
The symptoms of distemper can resemble those of other illnesses. If you suspect that your dog is sick, the best thing to do is call the vet’s office for an appointment as soon as possible. Most dogs infected with the distemper virus experience symptoms such as coughing, diarrhea, and vomiting, with varying degrees of severity. In untreated dogs or in more severe cases, the dog may stop eating, develop discharge from the eyes, or experience seizures or other central nervous system issues. Wild dogs may exhibit symptoms that mimic rabies, such as strange behaviors and the loss of normal fears.
Wild dogs contribute to the continued prevalence of distemper in the United States. While we don’t see packs of wild dogs roaming the streets the way they do in some parts of the world, packs of wild dogs still exist in the U.S. and Canada. Controlling outbreaks is difficult because the disease spreads easily through excretions and airborne particles. If you encounter a dead wild animal, it should be removed immediately to help prevent contamination. If you find a dead dog—wild or otherwise—on your property, remove it before your dog has the chance to discover it.
Feline distemper is a bit different and crosses more species boundaries. Though it is caused by a type of parvovirus (which is also responsible for canine distemper), it can spread to more than just cats. Ferrets, weasels, raccoons, skunks, and bobcats can all contract the feline version of distemper. This makes feline distemper harder to control and even more challenging to prevent, especially in outdoor cats. The only safeguard against this terrible and nearly 100% fatal disease is vaccination—done as soon as possible.
So, what is distemper, really? Distemper refers to one of a few viral diseases that can be contracted by dogs, cats, ferrets, and—if you happen to have one as a pet—raccoons, skunks, weasels, and bobcats. Other animals are also susceptible, but they are not typically considered pets, even exotic pets. If you have any concerns about distemper as it relates to an exotic pet, be sure to consult an exotic pet expert. For some exotic animals, no vaccination is available, which many believe is due to the slow response to exotic pet health care. Many veterinarians feel uncomfortable treating exotic pets, which complicates matters.
Regardless of whether you have a cat, dog, hedgehog, or even a worm as a pet, they all deserve the best protection you can give them. Advocating for vaccinations is one way to ensure that all our pets receive better health care.
