Plague disease. Distemper in dogs: symptoms and treatment at home

A dangerous viral disease of carnivores. It is not contagious to humans and cats. A dog may be a carrier of the disease, appear healthy, then suddenly die. What kind of disease is this, how to recognize it, and how to fight it?

What is distemper in dogs, up to what age and at what age, diagnosis

The nature of the disease is viral. Most sick animals die, and those who were sick remain disabled. Puppies that become ill before three months of age die. After three months, dogs must be vaccinated against this disease. An adult dog infected with distemper has a better chance of surviving.

Distemper disease in dogs and cats symptoms, a puppy without symptoms and fever, causes, signs, manifestation

Cats do not get distemper. In dogs, the disease begins with fever, runny nose, general lethargy and refusal to eat. After three days the temperature returns to normal. If the dog has a strong immune system, this will be the end of the disease for it.

For weakened dogs, a period of sharp deterioration may occur. Distemper is especially dangerous for puppies from three to 12 months. If the disease develops further, convulsions, photophobia, and severe fever may begin. In the hyperacute form of the disease, the dog falls into a coma and dies very quickly.

The cause of the disease is the animal's contact with the virus. The virus can be transmitted by a person, although he himself is not sick, or by another animal; the virus can be in soil, water or food.

Distemper in dogs, duration of treatment, diagnosis, pathogen, vaccination, incubation period

From the moment of infection to the manifestation of the disease, it can take from three days to three weeks.
The causative agent of the disease is a virus from the paramyxovirus group. The disease can occur very quickly, hyperacutely, acutely, abortively, typically and atypically.

The following laboratory methods are used to diagnose the disease:
- linked immunosorbent assay;
- bioassay;
— polymer chain reaction;
- cytological studies to detect inclusion bodies, etc.

It is important to identify the virus as early as possible in order to begin treatment.

To combat the disease, it is important to vaccinate your dog against distemper. Puppies are vaccinated from three months of age.

Distemper in dogs forms and nervous form, varieties, course of the disease

Based on clinical signs, the following forms of the disease are distinguished:
- pulmonary;
- skin;
- mixed;
- catarrhal;
- intestinal;
- nervous.

What form of the disease will appear in an animal depends on the characteristics of the body, and not on the virus. The canine distemper virus infects all cells of the body, so the division into forms is conditional.

Distemper in a dog: how to treat it with medications, can it be cured with antibiotics and its consequences, survival rate

There is currently no cure for canine distemper. A doctor called to your home will be able to prescribe only symptomatic therapy to support the body in the fight against the virus.

A sick dog is given injections of glucose, methenamine, diphenhydramine, and ascorbic acid. For increased excitability, phenobarbital is prescribed. If a bacterial infection is added, an antibiotic is prescribed. It is better not to self-medicate.

Dogs with strong immunity survive, a very small percentage of sick animals.

Distemper in dogs treatment at home, vodka and egg dosage, contagious to people or not and whether it can be transmitted to humans, folk remedies and traditional methods of treatment

Many dog breeders who managed to save their pets from distemper talk about giving their pets cognac or vodka with eggs to drink from a spoon. To prepare medicine with vodka, you need to mix half a glass of vodka, one raw egg and a teaspoon of honey. Administer the prepared liquid to the dog from a syringe. The folk method should not replace medications. You can give your dog herbal decoctions (chamomile and St. John's wort).

Canine plague is not contagious to humans.

Is distemper in dogs transmitted to cats, vomiting blood, how to treat the booth, disinfection and treatment of the premises

Cats do not get carnivore plague.

When a dog vomits blood, it should not be fed for a day or given water in small quantities.

You need to tell your veterinarian immediately. Give the dog peace and do not disturb it.

The room in which the sick dog lived is washed with solutions containing chlorine several times. The apartment can be disinfected with a bactericidal lamp.

Unfortunately, the disease is widespread, in all climatic zones and regions, and the mortality rate from the plague is incredibly high. If newborns or small puppies up to two months are sick with the plague, the disease causes 90% of the death of the entire litter. The infectious disease has no seasonality, but most often cases of canine distemper infection in veterinary practice are diagnosed in early spring and autumn.

Etiology, routes of infection

Canine distemper in dogs is caused by a virus from the paramyxovirus group. It is resistant to low temperatures, but quickly loses activity when exposed to UV rays and high temperatures. The source of infection in nature is wild animals - wolves, foxes, sables, raccoon dogs, jackals, raccoons, which release the virus into the external environment with feces, nasal, eye discharge, and saliva.

After entering the dog’s body, the virus instantly spreads through the bloodstream to various organs and systems. Reproduction occurs in lymph nodes, cellular structures of epithelial tissues.

Infection of dogs with the distemper virus occurs by airborne droplets (aerogenous), contact in the event of contact of healthy individuals with sick or recovered individuals. A dog can become infected by eating contaminated food, as well as through hygiene, grooming, and dog equipment contaminated with dangerous bacteria.

We should not exclude the transplacental method of infection with distemper, in which infection of fetuses occurs through the placenta. Newborn puppies can become infected with canine distemper during birth as they pass through the birth canal.

This dangerous infectious disease affects dogs of any age, regardless of breed. Among the breeds, distemper is most often diagnosed in German shepherds, poodles, collies, Pekingese, bull terriers, staff terriers, and shelties. Animals that have recovered from carnivore plague acquire specific immunity, which is protected throughout their lives.

The risk group includes small puppies with a fragile immune system, young animals from three months to one year, weakened, exhausted dogs with low body resistance that have recovered from viral infectious diseases.

Infection of dogs with distemper is facilitated by unfavorable care conditions, unsanitary conditions, and lack of hygiene, especially when four-legged friends are kept in groups in enclosures, kennels, and dog hotels.

Symptoms of canine distemper in dogs

The clinical picture, intensity, and severity of characteristic clinical manifestations depend on age, general physiological condition, strain, concentration, and localization of the virus in the animal’s body.

The duration of the incubation period ranges from several days to two to three weeks. Distemper in dogs can occur:

lightning fast (super sharp);
subacute;
in acute, abortive, atypical form.

As a rule, an infectious disease occurs in a mixed form, as evidenced by the variety of clinical manifestations. As the concentration of the virus in the body increases, disturbances in the functioning of various organs and systems are noted.

Symptoms of canine distemper in dogs:

lethargy, decreased physical activity, depression;
decreased response to external stimuli;
increase in body temperature to 40.5-41 degrees;
refusal of food and favorite treats;
deterioration of coat condition;
disturbances in the functioning of the respiratory tract;
anemia, cyanosis of mucous membranes;
enlargement and tenderness of regional lymph nodes;
debilitating vomiting, nausea, diarrhea followed by constipation;
mucous, mucopurulent discharge from the nose, eyes.

The dog refuses outdoor games, reacts sluggishly to external stimuli and commands, refuses offered treats, and quickly gets tired during a walk. A sick animal tries to hide in a secluded, dark place. On the second or third day from the moment clinical symptoms appear, after a sharp increase, the temperature may return to normal or drop by one or two degrees.

If the respiratory tract organs are affected, difficulty breathing and shortness of breath are diagnosed. Viral pneumonia develops, regional lymph nodes and tonsils are affected.

If the nervous system is affected, dogs suffer from muscle spasms, paresis, and paralysis of the lower limbs. Coordination of movements is impaired, animals are poorly oriented in the surrounding space. Sudden mood swings and changes in the pet’s usual behavior are noted. The dog may show aggression and react inadequately to external stimuli.

In the intestinal form of infection, the digestive tract is affected. With this form, diarrhea, frequent vomiting, decreased, complete lack of appetite, and increased vomiting are noted. In vomit and feces, mucus, bloody inclusions, and blood clots are noticeable.

If a dog has been diagnosed with a cutaneous form of distemper, blisters, small blisters filled with pathological exudate, appear on the body. The coat becomes dull and disheveled.

The hyperacute form of distemper in dogs is manifested by rapid, lightning-fast development, a sharp increase in temperature by one to three degrees above normal, fever, and chills. Due to severe intoxication, animals fall into a coma, which leads to the inevitable death of their beloved pet.

Diagnostics

Diagnostic techniques include a comprehensive examination of infected animals, ultrasound of the sternum and abdominal cavity. When making a diagnosis, veterinary specialists take into account medical history and the epizootological situation in the region.

For laboratory and biochemical studies, it is mandatory to take blood samples, nasal discharge, and eye discharge for analysis.

To establish the exact form of the disease, taking into account the characteristic symptoms that may appear in other bacterial and viral diseases, differential diagnosis (PCR) is performed.

Treatment

The choice of treatment methods depends on the severity, form of the infectious disease, and the age of the dog. The treatment regimen and dosage of medications should only be determined by the attending veterinarian, based on the diagnostic results obtained.

Treatment of canine distemper in dogs includes etiotropic, complex therapy aimed at relieving the main symptoms of a dangerous disease. Particular attention is paid to strengthening the immune system of sick animals.

Dogs are prescribed anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, symptomatic, and enzyme medications. To treat the cardiac form of distemper, four-fingered patients may be prescribed cardiac medications (cacorbxylase).

Sick animals are given a therapeutic diet and their diet is adjusted. When feeding your dog, you should strictly adhere to the regimen. Food should be nutritious and easily digestible.

To strengthen immunity, body resistance, and normalize general condition, dogs are given immunomodulators, multivitamins, and mineral supplements.

In severe, advanced cases, to eliminate the symptoms of intoxication, saline and physiological solutions (Ringer's solution, hydrolysine) are administered intravenously to infected animals, and nutritional and supportive drips are placed.

During treatment, owners must closely monitor the behavior and health of their pet.

Prevention of plague

To prevent infection with dangerous viral diseases, vaccination must be carried out in a timely manner for preventive purposes. For vaccinations, complex poly- or mono-vaccines (Nobivak) are used. Puppies are vaccinated at the age of two to three months. Re-vaccination is done after two to three weeks. In the future, dogs are revaccinated annually. After vaccination, you must closely monitor the dog's condition during the first three days.

Important! Only clinically healthy animals can be vaccinated, before or after changing baby teeth, after preventive deworming.

When walking, do not allow contact with homeless or stray animals. When the first symptoms of an infectious disease appear, immediately contact your veterinarian and take your pet to a veterinary clinic for an accurate diagnosis.

Canine distemper is a worldwide disease caused by a single-stranded RNA virus from the paramyxovirus family. A number of animals can be affected by the disease, including dogs, wolves, coyotes, ferrets, skunks, raccoons, bears and even Asian elephants. Although animals of any age can become infected with distemper, the virus usually affects puppies under 6 months of age, especially between 6 and 12 weeks. Until this point, newborns are protected thanks to maternal antibodies. That is why vaccination can be carried out 6 weeks after birth. Puppies with weak immunity are at risk of contracting distemper if they are not given the appropriate vaccination. There is a high probability of illness in dogs in shelters and pet stores, where the conditions for keeping animals are far from ideal.

Distemper in a dog - how does the disease manifest itself?

Symptoms may be severe or mild. Sometimes the disease goes unnoticed or has subtle symptoms. Young puppies and old and sickly dogs usually suffer from sudden and severe manifestations of the disease. There is a certain scenario for the development of symptoms over time. The illness can last from 2 weeks to several months, depending on the health, state of the immune system and the age of the animal.

initial stage

The first signs of distemper in dogs appear in the form of a rise in temperature 3-6 days after infection, but this often goes unaddressed. Later, more noticeable symptoms appear: coughing, discharge from the eyes and nose (at first watery, and then thicker and stickier). Often the first thing to notice is a dry cough. Signs of distemper in dogs can be mistaken by owners for symptoms of a cold.

Main stage

Progressive disease is usually accompanied by symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy and drowsiness: at this stage there is a high likelihood of dehydration. In one of the scenarios, the signs of distemper in dogs become milder, and the animal recovers.

Neurological stage

In many cases, the disease does not develop into neurological symptoms: puppies and old, sickly dogs are primarily affected. Signs may appear several days or months after infection. They may include neck strain, circling, sudden muscle twitching (often rhythmic), balance problems, episodes of excessive salivation, slurping, paralysis, and temporary blindness.

Long-term signs of distemper in dogs

Animals that survive distemper will be especially prone to the disease in the future. This is due to thinning of the skin on the pads and tip of the nose caused by the virus. Puppies have damage to tooth enamel and a tendency to caries and tooth decay. If signs of distemper in dogs develop up to the neurological stage, some of them may persist for the rest of life - for example, muscle spasms or blurred vision.

Canine distemper, or Carré's disease, is a deadly disease of domestic animals, characterized by terrible symptoms and equally terrible consequences, including death. To save your pet, you need to know the characteristic features of this disease, methods of treatment and prevention. In this article, the reader will receive important information that will help him recognize the infection in time and begin therapy.

Characteristic features of the disease

Plague is a very ancient viral infection, known since the times of Ancient Greece. Its causative agent is a filterable virus, characterized by a high degree of infectiousness: transmission of the pathogen occurs through the air and contact with a sick animal:

through the nose, eyes and mouth (saliva);
through the use of common water;
through sexual contact;
through animal excretions: urine and feces;
through the use of common household items among animals.

Some scientists believe that the distemper virus can be transmitted to animals from various insects.

If left untreated, distemper in dogs can end tragically

The virus is very stable and viable in the external environment. The risk of infection for everyone is higher during the transitional seasons - spring and autumn, although you can get the infection at any time. When contacting a sick dog, a healthy animal will become infected in almost 100% of cases.

Attention!

If infected, the probability of death of a pet is very high - the risk of a fatal outcome is 50%. If puppies under 12 months of age get distemper, the chance of saving their life is practically zero.

All breeds of dogs at any age are at risk and can get distemper; practice shows that the infection more often affects young individuals. Speaking of puppies, the best protection is for those born from a vaccinated mother.

The infection can occur in three forms:

acute;
hyperacute;
lightning fast.

In the first case, the entire cycle of the disease occurs in about 3 weeks and can progress to the chronic stage, which takes about 3-4 months. All this time the animal will be in an exhausted state.

The hyperacute form is characterized by an immediate deterioration in the condition of the dog, which soon falls into a coma and dies. It occurs in about 3-4 days, there is no way to save the animal: at the moment in medical practice there is not a single case of cure for this form of the disease.

In the third case, the dog dies within 24 hours.

In order to reduce the risk of death of a dog, you need to start timely treatment and be responsible towards your pet. Despite the danger of distemper, in most situations a person can save an animal.

By the way, a dog cannot get infected from a cat, because distemper is caused by different pathogens in different animal species.

Symptoms of plague

After infection, the virus begins to multiply in the latent stage: the latent form can last up to three weeks.

Attention! Although symptoms may not appear, an infected animal is a carrier of the pathogen and can pass it on to other dogs.

The owner needs to carefully monitor the behavior of his pet, because the disease can still show itself with subtle first signs:

Appetite worsens.
The mucous membranes of the animal look unhealthy and reddened.
The dog becomes surprisingly apathetic.
Unreasonable diarrhea and vomiting may occur.
The animal reacts sharply to light and spends time in the shade and dark places.
Immediately after infection, the dog’s temperature rises slightly, returning to normal after 2-3 days.

This sign of distemper - an increase in temperature - is threshold: if the animal then resumes activity without showing any signs of infection, it means that the immune system has coped with the pathogenic virus. If the adult dog's defense system is not strong enough, the symptoms will gradually progress.

As your health worsens, other symptoms appear:

depressed state;
habitual reflexes disappear;
the dog stops responding to its name;
the pet stops eating;
chills and fever;
the virus affects the central nervous system: limb spasms appear.

Types of infection and possible consequences

The infection does not affect people, but hosts can be carriers of the pathogen - this must be taken into account

The disease may differ in its symptoms and some features of its course - this depends on the focus of the pathogenic microorganism.

When the respiratory organs and respiratory tract are affected, pus is released abundantly from the dog’s mouth and nose, which can make breathing difficult - a large amount of secretions leads to blockage of the respiratory tract.

Also appears:

cough;
severe diarrhea;
dehydration;
temperature increase.

If a dog has a pathogen concentrated in the intestines, a whitish coating may appear on the tongue. Appetite disappears (but strong thirst remains), the pet may faint.
As the disease develops, blisters appear on the skin where it is not covered with hair. This is the mildest type of infection because no other symptoms may be observed.
Damage to the central nervous system is the most severe type of distemper in dogs. Characterized by the presence of seizures and paralysis of the paws. There is a risk of heart muscle paralysis, which means the death of the animal. Behavior changes - the dog becomes aggressive.

The pathogen tries to infect as many parts of the body as possible, which is why plague is characterized by the manifestation of various symptoms. And the more there are, the higher the risk to the dog’s life.

Even if the pet survives, the infection does not go away without leaving a trace. The most severe type - nervous - can lead to epilepsy in a dog.

The following complications after the disease are also typical:

paralysis of limbs;
meningitis;
deafness;
blindness;
destruction of tooth enamel.

Veterinarians often suggest euthanizing an animal if it is not possible to rid the animal of these consequences.

Methods for treating distemper in dogs

If you suspect your pet has distemper, you should immediately take your pet to the veterinarian to begin treatment.

Despite the high risk of death of their pet when infected with this virus, the owner cannot give up: it is necessary to use all possible methods to cure the animal.

It has been observed that with early detection of infection symptoms and immediate treatment, the dog survives and recovers health in 90% of cases. Conversely, if you ignore or do not see threatening signs during the latent period, the disease moves to the next stage, and the chances of survival rapidly decrease.

If you suspect your pet, you should immediately take it to the veterinarian to begin treatment.

Advice! In the beginning, it is recommended to visit a doctor; in the future, if you know how to give injections, therapeutic measures can be carried out at home.

How to cure a dog from distemper? The following are prescribed as therapy:

Immunostimulants – solutions for intravenous injection:

methenamine (39 percent) 2 ml;
glucose (39 percent) 4 ml;
calcium gluconate (15 percent) 2 ml;
ascorbic acid (7 percent) 4 ml;
diphenhydramine (2 percent) 1 ml;
sodium chloride 7 ml.

Serums with protective antibodies.

These substances enable the animal's immune system to resist. The composition contains antibodies from animals that had suffered from distemper and were able to recover. If the dog weighs less than 5 kg, then 2 ml of serum is injected, if more - 5 ml. But you need to remember that your pet needs to be treated with these medications at the onset of the disease - only in this case will the medications be beneficial.

Vitamin therapy.

Treatment with injections of vitamins B1, B6, B12. In difficult situations, the animal is given intravenous drips. Also, for a more effective recovery and to minimize the likelihood of complications, your pet needs to take calcium at this time.

Diet food.

A weakened body should not be overloaded with “complex” food, therefore, during therapy and recovery, your animal should be given liquid porridge, chopped meat, raw eggs and low-fat cottage cheese (no more than twice a week).

Antibiotics.

To normalize the dog's temperature, it is advisable to use antibiotics. Their use depends on the symptoms and characteristics of the infection.

Medicines are also used for:

reducing pressure inside the skull;
decreased muscle tone;
maintaining cardiac activity;
removal of sputum;
treatment of suppuration in the eyes.

Vaccination against distemper for dogs

Each owner has the opportunity to avoid such consequences, complex treatment of the infection itself and possible complications; It is recommended to get vaccinated against distemper on time.

Vaccination is carried out several times:

the first at the age of 1-2 months;
the second at 6 months;
then once a year.

The vaccination is done at an early age, because the mother’s immune system protects the puppy only in the first three months; it is during this period that the four-legged dog must be given protection. Afterwards, it is recommended to isolate the puppy from contact with possible carriers of the pathogen for about 2 weeks.

Attention! Vaccines are given exclusively to healthy animals; fleas or worms are not allowed.

Dogs easily tolerate the effects of vaccinations from Russian or foreign manufacturers. One of the most popular vaccines is polyvalent, which produces immunity to several diseases at once.

The vaccine allows the pet’s body to easily cope with the pathogenic virus. That is, a dog can get sick, but the disease is asymptomatic and without consequences: having immunity, the body can quickly cope with the microorganism.

A few important notes:

If an already infected puppy is vaccinated during the latent stage, the animal will not be able to survive.
If the baby becomes infected soon after vaccination, when immunity has not yet developed, the probability of the puppy’s death is very high.

Traditional recipes for treating the disease

This infection has been known since ancient times, and people in former times also looked for ways to treat and save their pets. Before describing traditional medicine recipes, it is necessary to remind you that self-medication of plague is strictly not recommended; before treatment, you need to undergo tests and consult a specialist.

Decoctions of the following herbs will help the animal’s body cope with the disease and better recover from it:

St. John's wort and chamomile will help remove toxins from the dog's body;
motherwort will help calm the central nervous system and prevent the development of the most dangerous nervous pathologies.

Another popular method is known - treatment of distemper in dogs with vodka is carried out according to the following recipe: mix 125 ml of vodka with one raw egg, add 15 ml of fresh honey.

Divide the resulting mixture into three portions, pour it into the animal’s mouth 3 times a day using a syringe, making sure that the pet swallows the medicine.

Treatment with vodka is effective if the disease is mild and the animal has a strong immune system.

Attention! The traditional medicine techniques described above act only as a supplement to the main treatment. Traditional therapy cannot be replaced with these prescriptions alone.

The owner bears full responsibility for the health of the pet. The dog does not understand all the possible threats to its health, so a person must monitor those with whom it comes into contact, notice changes in behavior in time and take urgent measures if doubts arise. The disease is too dangerous, you can’t rely on “it seems”, it is necessary to take the animal to an appointment with a veterinarian on time. And, again, the best remedy for distemper is to prevent it and vaccinate your pet in advance.

In this article, the reader received the most important information about the fatal disease for dogs and learned what to do if signs of distemper appear. The information will help dog breeders spot suspicious symptoms in time and carry out effective treatment.

After treatment for distemper, the puppy developed weakness, heavy breathing, the dog refuses to eat and hardly drinks water. What to do?

Answer

Hello! Distemper (canine plague) is a dangerous disease, sometimes not without consequences. Unfortunately, the form of plague is not specified; several variants of the disease are known.

Varieties of plague

Distemper (Carré's disease) is a systemic disease that usually affects the entire body with a predominant disruption of a specific system. Based on the above, a number of variations of the disease are distinguished: intestinal, pulmonary, skin and nervous. Often (up to 90% of cases) generalized plague occurs, combining several forms. An atypical form is known, the most dangerous type of the disease, leading to death.

With adequate treatment, the mild form is cutaneous. The temperature rises slightly, blisters form on the skin, the formations burst and dry out, and pus accumulates under the crusts.

Pneumonic plague primarily affects the respiratory system. There is a dry cough, turning into a wet one, wheezing, discharge from the eyes and nose, wheezing, diarrhea and vomiting are possible. Intestinal plague is manifested by diarrhea, vomiting with mucus, blood, dehydration, the animal is extremely weakened, and periodically loses consciousness. The dog's appetite completely disappears, leaving a strong thirst. The color of tooth enamel changes. The enteropulmonary variety is common, including symptoms of both types of the disease.

The nervous form of canine plague has serious consequences and can be a complication of another type of disease. Symptoms: convulsions, photophobia, excitability. After nervous plague, damage to the nervous system persists: paralysis, epileptic seizures, mental changes. The pathology often ends in the death of the animal.

Consequences and complications

The consequences often remain lifelong. Depending on the form of the disease suffered, they can be severe or mediocre. As a rule, after canine distemper there are chronic diseases of the digestive system, complications in the lungs, bronchi, heart after the pulmonary form, damage to the liver and pancreas, after the nervous form - blindness, deafness, paralysis. Complications of the intestinal form - chronic colitis, enteritis. New growths appear in the oral cavity, including teeth, and the darkening of the enamel persists. Sometimes, after a seemingly complete recovery, the animal becomes ill again, with severe nervous plague. This happens when the virus is not destroyed, but continues to develop in nerve cells.

There are cases when an animal becomes additionally infected with other diseases, and the body is weakened during the plague. Dangerous diseases are possible: encephalitis, meningitis.

As for a specific pet, presumably the puppy has a digestive system disorder, possibly enteritis, and the absorption of nutrients from food is impaired. There is a chance that the untreated virus will be activated; the first three to four weeks after recovery, the pet’s condition should be closely monitored. At this time, the animals' immunity is weakened, any load or stress leads to a recurrence of the disease. At the first sign of deterioration in your puppy’s health, contact your veterinarian as soon as possible! If recovery is successful, the dog develops lifelong immunity to the disease. In the future, it is still recommended to vaccinate your dog against distemper.

Distemper in puppies

The described puppy was lucky - canine distemper is dangerous for children and often leads to death, especially lightning-fast distemper, which occurs quickly and asymptomatically. The Carré virus is extremely dangerous for unvaccinated puppies aged 1 - 1.5 months; the dogs die as a result. At a later age, if the puppy was born from a vaccinated mother and received the vaccination, and the immunity is not weakened, the outcome of the disease is expected to be favorable. In puppies, unlike in adult animals, canine distemper rarely becomes chronic.

Treatment of the consequences of plague

Be sure to take your puppy to the vet. It's difficult to give advice without seeing the animal. The doctor is able to see the symptoms missed by the owners and prescribe adequate treatment. An examination of internal organs (stomach, intestines, gallbladder, liver) is indicated in order to accurately determine the cause of the symptoms described.

To treat complications in the digestive system, a gentle diet is prescribed, consisting of nutritious, easily digestible foods: minced meat, finely chopped meat, rice broth, beef liver, cottage cheese, meat broth, eggs and milk. If there is insufficient enzyme production, dogs are given natural or artificial gastric juice before feeding. Now it is necessary to provide the animal with peace and absence of stress so that the virus does not activate during a period when the immune system is weakened.

If you contacted a veterinarian, most likely the diagnosis was made correctly. It is worth saying that at certain stages, canine distemper exhibits symptoms similar to other dangerous diseases, for example, parvovirus enteritis. It happens that viral hepatitis develops simultaneously with the plague or after recovery. Complications after plague can be caused by pathogens that enter a weakened body. It is recommended to consult a veterinarian.