What you need to know about canine distemper 

After a routine visit to your vet, you may have seen “DHPPi” or “DHP” on your paperwork and wondered what it means. The “D” in this vaccine stands for distemper, considered one of the most serious diseases your dog can get.  

Distemper in dogs can turn fatal very quickly, which is why you want to make sure your dog is vaccinated against it. The vaccine against distemper is considered one of the core vaccines for dogs, along with the vaccines against canine parvovirosis, infectious canine hepatitis (caused by canine adenovirus type 1), and the bacterial disease leptospirosis, and rabies (in countries where the disease is present or vaccination is mandatory). 

For more information every dog owner should know about distemper, keep reading! 

Canine distemper is a highly contagious, often fatal viral disease that affects the respiratory, gastrointestinal (GI), and nervous systems of dogs. The virus that causes distemper is closely related to the measles virus and causes severe illness by attacking multiple body systems, resulting in widespread damage that is difficult to treat.  

Canine distemper is mainly transmitted by respiratory secretions, and can be spread by direct contact and through coughing and sneezing, similar to the way a common cold is spread in humans. When an infected dog or wild animal coughs, sneezes, or barks, aerosol droplets are released into the environment, infecting nearby animals and surfaces, like food and water bowls. A dog’s sneeze can actually spread respiratory particles up to 7.6 meters, making the risk of exposure extremely high. 

Fortunately, the virus does not last long in the environment and is easily destroyed by disinfectants. An infected dog, however, can continue transmitting the virus for up to two to three months, putting dogs around them at risk. 

Wild animals, such as red foxes can also get distemper, which means that an outbreak of distemper in the local wildlife population, putting unvaccinated and unprotected dogs around them at risk

Pregnant dogs can also spread the virus to their puppies through the placenta. 

Dogs with distemper usually show a wide range of signs depending on how advanced the disease is in their bodies. Once a dog becomes infected, the virus initially replicates in the lymphatic tissue of the respiratory tract before moving on to infect the rest of the dog’s lymphatic system, respiratory tract, GI tract, central nervous system, and other crucial systems. Overall, signs are usually observed in two stages. 

As the disease progresses, thickening of the pads and nose can also occur as a result of the virus, leading to the term Hardpad which is another name for the condition.

Unvaccinated puppies under four months old are particularly susceptible to canine distemper, although all unvaccinated dogs are at risk of disease.  If you observe any signs of distemper in your puppy, call your vet immediately. 

Unfortunately, there is no cure for distemper. Positive cases of canine distemper require isolation from all other animals and usually hospitalisation. 

Vets diagnose distemper through a combination of assessing clinical signs and doing diagnostic tests. Once diagnosed, distemper treatment for dogs is purely supportive. Vets can provide treatment for the diarrhoea, vomiting and associated dehydration; support for neurological signs such as seizures, respiratory support for pneumonia, and they will try to prevent secondary infections.  

The survival rate and length of infection depend on the strain of the virus and on the strength of the dog’s immune system. Dogs can live once they have been infected with distemper, but they may develop lifelong debilitating nervous system issues. Adult dogs are more likely to survive than puppies.