What are the signs of distemper in a dog?

For every dog ​​owner, the health of the dog is like an invisible string that always touches our hearts. Canine distemper, as a highly contagious disease that poses a serious threat to the life and health of dogs, makes many shit shovelers shudder. Understanding the symptoms of canine distemper can not only help us discover the health problems of dogs at the first time, but also buy precious time for treatment and save the dog's life. So, what symptoms will a dog have after being infected with canine distemper? Let's explore it in depth. ​

In the early stages of canine distemper, the symptoms of dogs are relatively hidden and easily ignored by the owner. During this period, dogs may have symptoms similar to colds, such as mild fever, coughing, sneezing, runny nose, etc. The originally lively dog ​​may become listless, lose interest in playing, and have a decreased appetite. Many owners mistakenly think that the dog just caught a cold and feed the dog some cold medicine on their own. However, it is this negligence that may lead to delays in the disease. When we see these symptoms in dogs, even if we are lucky, we should not take it lightly. We should pay close attention to the dog's condition and take the dog to the pet hospital for examination in time if necessary. ​

As the disease progresses, in the middle stage of canine distemper, the dog's symptoms will gradually worsen. The fever continues, and the body temperature may fluctuate between 39.5℃ and 40℃. Coughing becomes more frequent and severe, sometimes even accompanied by difficulty breathing. The dog's eyes will show obvious abnormalities, with increased eye mucus, red and swollen eyes, and in severe cases, purulent secretions may appear, making it difficult to open the eyes. The symptoms of the nose will also become more serious, the runny nose will change from clear to purulent, and the surface of the nose will become dry and cracked. In addition, the dog's foot pads will also thicken and harden, as if wearing a thick layer of armor. Seeing the dog suffer from such pain, every owner's heart is like a knife. At this time, we must race against time and take the dog to receive professional treatment as soon as possible. ​

When canine distemper develops to the late stage, the situation will become very critical. Dogs may experience neurological symptoms, such as convulsions, spasms, and ataxia. They will circle uncontrollably, their bodies will tremble constantly, and their eyes will be full of fear and confusion. Some dogs will also foam at the mouth and have incontinence. The appearance of these neurological symptoms means that the virus has seriously damaged the dog's nervous system, and the difficulty of treatment has greatly increased. At this stage, the dog is not only suffering from great pain physically, but also mentally. As owners, we look at the dog's painful appearance, and our hearts are full of self-blame and helplessness. How we wish we could bear it for them. ​

In order to understand the symptoms of canine distemper more intuitively, let's take a look at a real case. Ms. Wang has a three-month-old Pomeranian. The puppy is lively and cute, bringing a lot of joy to Ms. Wang's life. One day, Ms. Wang found that the dog was sneezing a little. She thought the dog just had a little cold, so she didn't pay much attention to it. However, a few days later, the dog's symptoms not only did not improve, but became more serious. The dog began to cough, was listless, and almost lost his appetite. Ms. Wang realized that something was wrong and hurriedly took the dog to the pet hospital. After examination, the dog was diagnosed with canine distemper. Under the full treatment of the pet doctor, after more than a month of hard work, the dog finally defeated the disease and recovered. Recalling those heart-wrenching days, Ms. Wang still has lingering fears. ​

Canine distemper is a terrible disaster for dogs. It not only threatens the life and health of dogs, but also brings huge mental pressure and financial burden to the owners. As dog owners, we must always pay attention to the health of dogs. Once the dog is found to have symptoms suspected of canine distemper, we must take the dog to the pet hospital for diagnosis and treatment in time. At the same time, we must also do a good job in preventing canine distemper, vaccinate the dog regularly, keep the dog's living environment clean and hygienic, and enhance the dog's immunity. Because every dog ​​is an important partner in our lives, they give us endless love and companionship. We have the responsibility to escort their health, keep them away from the troubles of diseases, and spend every day happily.