How to Recognize Distemper Symptoms in Dogs

Canine distemper is a virus that affects the skin, brain, eyes, respiratory, and intestinal organs of dogs. Though it is a highly infectious disease, it is entirely preventable by vaccination. Dogs of all age are at risk, though it mostly affects puppies under the age of six months. There are ways to recognize the symptoms so you can get your dog treated.

Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Recognizing Acute Symptoms

  1. The first symptoms usually affect the respiratory tract. Your dog may sneeze, cough, or have thick mucus in his nose. [1]
    • Your dog may have labored breathing if the infection is in his chest. Oftentimes, the dog will develop inflamed and infected nasal passages, which causes snotty nasal discharge. [2] [3]
    • Dogs with poor immune systems may develop pneumonia soon after becoming infected. [4]
  2. When a dog has distemper, her eyes usually have a thick mucus around them. This could look like a gummy, sticky discharge. Eyes with mucus and a snotty nose in a dog not vaccinated more than likely points to distemper. [5]
    Advertisement
  3. Distemper can be accompanied by a fever. The fever is usually extremely high (over 103.5 °F or 39.7 °C). [6] The fever tends to make most dogs lethargic, listless, and lacking in energy, so the dog may be reluctant to go for walks or prefer to sleep and rest.
  4. Dogs with distemper may stop eating. This may be caused by the fever or because they feel unwell. They also may stop drinking, which can cause dehydration. [7]
    • Dogs may suddenly start vomiting or have diarrhea shortly after becoming infected. This can also lead to dehydration. [8]
  5. Distemper can cause abnormalities to the pads of the dog's feet, like enlargement or thickening. [9] [10] This may cause him to walk strangely or avoid walking, running, or standing. This is a late stage development, so be alert for other signs first.
    • Be careful when you examine. The pads may be tender and he may snap at you because of the discomfort.
    • You may notice pad abnormalities weeks or even months after becoming infected.
  6. For puppies who have not received their adult teeth, distemper can affect their permanent teeth. The adult teeth can be weak or misshapen because the enamel doesn't form. [11] This can also cause discolored teeth.
    • This is also a symptom that may arise in the later stages of distemper.
  7. In more severe cases, or in later stages of the disease, the virus can attack the dog's bodily systems, especially the nervous system. This can lead to seizures, fits, hysteria, and paralysis. [12]
  8. Many of the symptoms are nonspecific, which means that other conditions apart from distemper can cause similar signs. Usually dogs with distemper are extremely ill. If you are unsure, take your dog to the vet immediately. [14]
    • If you see any of these symptoms and you did not vaccinate your dog, see the vet immediately.
    Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Preventing Canine Distemper

  1. One of the most commons ways a dog gets distemper is through exposure to the virus without having an immunity to it. This means that both unvaccinated puppies and unvaccinated older dogs are at risk for the disease. [14]
    • Some dogs have a natural immunity to the disease, but you should not rely on that. [16]
    • Vaccinating helps keep your dog from getting distemper. If the dog contracts the disease, she could die or have lasting neurological or retinal damage. [16]
  2. Distemper can be spread through contact with contaminated fluids, like urine, blood, mucus, or saliva. This can happen through physical exposure or contaminated food and water bowls. The disease can also be spread through sneezing or coughing.
    • Try to separate your dog from infected animals. [17] In very young dogs, keep them away from any areas likely to exposure, like kennels.
  3. Keeping your dog's kennel or home area disinfected can help get rid of the virus. This is especially important if your dog interacts with other dogs at public places, like pet stores, parks, or kennels. [18]
  4. No medication will cure distemper. Instead, dogs are cured through supportive care. Dogs are given antibiotics to fight secondary infections and fluids to help with dehydration. [19]
    • If the dog recovers, an unfortunate late development can be seizures because of the virus in the dog's brain. Some dogs may recover but develop an old dog encephalopathy in later life, which means they develop a form of dementia brought on by long term low grade inflammation in the brain.
    Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit

      Advertisement

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Stop Cat Bullying: Recognizing the Signs and Stopping the Behavior
      How to
      Tame a Feral Cat
      How to
      Leash Train a Puppy
      How to
      Take Care of a Dog
      How to
      Get Dog Poop Out of Your Carpet in 8 Easy Steps
      How to
      Groom a Goldendoodle's Face
      How to
      Identify a Carolina Dog
      How to
      Trick Your Dog Into Drinking Water
      How to
      Teach Your Dog Tricks
      How to
      Prevent a Cat from Spraying
      How to
      Prepare for a New Pet Hamster
      How to
      House Train a Puppy
      How to
      Identify Canine Ear Mites
      How to
      Tell if a Dog Is a Girl or Boy
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ http://pets.webmd.com/dogs/canine-distemper
      2. ↑ Diagnosis, therapy, and prevention of common infectious disease in the dog. Greene. Vet Q 1
      3. ↑ Small Animal Internal Medicine. Nelson & Couto. Publisher: Mosby
      4. ↑ http://www.1800petmeds.com/education/canine-distemper-symptoms-dogs-49.htm
      5. ↑ https://www.avma.org/public/PetCare/Pages/Canine-Distemper.aspx
      6. ↑ http://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/respiratory/c_dg_canine_distemper
      7. ↑ http://www.1800petmeds.com/education/canine-distemper-symptoms-dogs-49.htm
      8. ↑ http://pets.webmd.com/dogs/canine-distemper
      9. ↑ http://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/respiratory/c_dg_canine_distemper
      1. ↑ https://www.avma.org/public/PetCare/Pages/Canine-Distemper.aspx
      2. ↑ http://www.1800petmeds.com/education/canine-distemper-symptoms-dogs-49.htm
      3. ↑ http://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/respiratory/c_dg_canine_distemper
      4. ↑ Small Animal Internal Medicine. Nelson & Couto. Publisher: Mosby
      5. ↑ http://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/respiratory/c_dg_canine_distemper
      6. ↑ Diagnosis, therapy, and prevention of common infectious disease in the dog. Greene. Vet Q 1
      7. ↑ https://www.avma.org/public/PetCare/Pages/Canine-Distemper.aspx
      8. ↑ http://pets.webmd.com/dogs/canine-distemper
      9. ↑ http://pets.webmd.com/dogs/canine-distemper
      10. ↑ http://pets.webmd.com/dogs/canine-distemper

      About this article

      Article Summary X

      To recognize distemper symptoms in dogs, monitor your dog for sneezing, coughing, and nasal discharge. Also, examine your dog's eyes to see if there's thick mucus around them, which could be a sign that it has distemper. You should also keep an eye out for changes in behavior, like increased lethargy, a loss of appetite, or a reluctance to go on walks. If you suspect your dog has distemper, take it to see a vet as soon as possible. For more advice from our Veterinary co-author, like how to prevent canine distemper, scroll down.

      Did this summary help you?
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 41,802 times.

      Reader Success Stories

      • Susie Mendez

        Feb 12, 2022

        "The information was very helpful as I recently rescued a little pup that was abandoned on the street near my home. ..." more

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement