Why Is It Important For My Dog To Receive The Canine Distemper Vaccine?
We have been notified that there has been a rise in Canine Distemper cases and we feel that it is super important for us to explain why it is a required vaccine for your kiddo.
First we feel it is important to explain what Canine Distemper is and the harm it does to our furry family members. According to the AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association) “
Canine distemper is a contagious and serious disease caused by a virus that attacks the respiratory, gastrointestinal and nervous systems of puppies and dogs.
The virus can also be found in wildlife such as foxes, wolves, coyotes, raccoons, skunks, mink and ferrets and has been reported in lions, tigers, leopards and other wild cats as well as seals.”
So how can your kiddo get Distemper?
- Airborne exposure
- Shared water or food bowls
- Shared toys
- Toothbrushes or other items used for hygiene
- A kiddo can share the virus for several months
- Momma can share to her babies through the placenta
What to look for?
- Purulent Discharge
- Fever
- Nasal Discharge
- Coughing
- Lethargy
- Lack of appetite
- Vomiting
Distemper is a fatal and there is no cure for the disease and this is another huge reason why it is so very important to keep our furry loved ones safe and well cared for. The best thing to do for your canine companion is to keep them up to date on their vaccines and to not let the time lapse when they are not vaccinated. If something happens, which we all know that life happens and we cannot always get the vaccines right when we need them, just quarantine your kiddo after receiving and while they are unvaccinated. If your kiddo is showing any of these signs, please take them their Veterinarian so that they can be properly examined.
