Article From SubmitYOURArticle.com: Dog Distemper Disease Symtoms

A highly contagious virus that affects dogs
called canine distemper virus or CDV causes
distemper in dogs. This disease affects the
central nervous system and the respiratory and
gastrointestinal systems. No cure has been found
for this kind of disease yet and it is commonly
fatal for dogs.

Before the vaccine for this disease was created
during the early 60's, it was the leading cause
of death for puppies. Three to six-month old
puppies are very vulnerable to this disease but
adult dogs and also other canines, can have this
disease at any given age. After the discovery of
the vaccine, however, there has been a decrease
in the rate of mortality in puppies who acquire
this disease.

Canine distemper virus can be acquired by
inhaling particles of the virus that are borne in
the air. Aside from that, the bodily secretions
and the excreta of infected dogs can also contain
the virus, hence, it is very easy to transfer
this disease from one dog to another.

Symptoms of distemper include central nervous
disorders and arious respiratory and
gastrointestinal ones. Dogs who acquire it
eventually die of complications in the central
nervous system or due to secondary bacterial
infections caused by this disease.

The presence of this disease in your dog can only
be determined by ruling out other diseases that
have the same type of symptoms as CDV. Thus, it
is very difficult for a veterinarian to diagnose
whether a dog has CDV or not even if blood tests
were conducted.

There is still no cure for distemper, hence,
treatment could only consist in preventing the
symptoms. The dog must be given a lot of warm,
clean air that is free from draft to make him
feel comfortable. Medication should be given for
his diarrhea and he should be given plenty of
water and fluids to keep him hydrated. Most of
these dogs are likely to suffer from fever and
dehydration. Clean their eyes and nose constantly
from discharges to avoid infection. Treat the
symptoms as they appear on your dog.

Avoiding this disease is probably the best cure
that can be recommended. Give your puppies some
vaccination for this disease during its early
weeks. This will boost his immunity against the
canine distemper virus. Most puppies are given
these shots, anyway. However, this inoculation do
not have a lasting effect on your dogs. You may
need to have him vaccinated again after a year,
but it would all be worth it considering that it
is not curable.

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Steve Weber offers more info on his web site for
helping canine owners who are dealing with the
effects of dog arthritis.
Steve's site offers products, such as Flexicose
glucosmaine, for treating the joint disease.
http://www.flexicose.cactuscanyon.com

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