How does a dog become infected with CDV?

Dogs can contract the infection through aerosol droplet secretions from infected animals. Sneezing, coughing, or direct contact with the bodily fluids of sick dogs, such as urine, blood, or saliva, can also spread the virus. Sharing food or water bowls can further increase the risk of infection.

Once a dog is infected, the virus quickly spreads throughout their body and weakens their immune system, making them vulnerable to secondary infections. The infection can affect various systems in their body, including the skin, respiratory, gastrointestinal (GI), and central nervous systems. Infected dogs can shed the virus for months, and mother dogs can pass it on to their puppies through the placenta.

How is CDV diagnosed?

. If an unvaccinated dog shows symptoms such as fever, respiratory and neurological issues, and thickened foot pads, veterinarians often suspect canine distemper infection. It's important to differentiate these symptoms from other illnesses like canine infectious hepatitis, herpes virus, parainfluenza virus, and leptospirosis. Veterinarians typically diagnose canine distemper by observing clinical appearance and conducting laboratory tests like ELISA, rapid test, and RT-PCR. In addition, vets may recommend blood work or chest X-rays to evaluate the overall health of affected dogs and investigate any secondary infections.

What are the treatment options for CDV infection?

Canine distemper is a viral disease with no specific cure. Treatment focuses on managing symptoms and preventing further infections. This can include IV fluids, antibiotics, anti-nausea medication, easy-to-digest food, and anti-seizure medication for neurological cases.

Can CDV be prevented?

To safeguard dogs against CDV infection, proper vaccination is the best approach. Puppies are given a series of vaccinations to improve their chances of developing immunity while their immune system is not yet fully matured. These shots are given every 3 to 4 weeks starting from when the puppy is between 6 to 8 weeks old until at least 16 weeks of age. After a year, the vaccine is repeated and then every 3 years after that. The frequency may change for dogs in high-risk populations, such as those living in shelters.

Owners should be cautious when bringing young puppies to areas where other dogs gather, like dog parks, until the initial vaccination series is complete.

When a dog is diagnosed with canine distemper, it should be separated from other dogs to prevent further infection. Typically, dogs can spread the virus through their secretions for up to a month, but sometimes it can range from 2 weeks to 3 months. In some cases, dogs might continue to shed the virus for 6-8 months, particularly those with neurological symptoms. These dogs should be kept away from public spaces until they are cleared by a veterinarian.

Note

Bioguard’s Qmini PCR can detect CDV RNA in 90 minutes at your clinics using secretion, CSF, or EDTA-blood as samples.