Nosehead is a disease to which puppies are most sensitive, but any dog, regardless of sex, age or breed, can get sick with it. It is one of the most dangerous canine diseases and is often fatal. What causes distemper, how does distemper manifest itself and how is distemper treated?

Noseheadis a highly contagious disease caused by thecanine distemper virus(CDV) virus belonging to theParamyxoviridaefamily . Distemper virus is resistant to environmental factors and can survive up to several days at room temperature. The virus carrier excretes large amounts through urine, faeces, eye and nose secretions. A he althy dog ​​can become infected with it directly from the host by droplets, as well as through food and indirectly, when the owner brings it home on clothes or shoes.

People are immune to the effects of the CDV virus, therefore the owner cannot catch distemper from his pet.

Nose in a dog: first symptoms

Once the virus enters the body, it very quickly begins to multiply in the tonsils and mediastinal lymph nodes. Within a few days, it reaches all lymphatic organs, damages them and strongly disrupts the immune system. As the infection develops, it attacks the cells of other systems: digestive, respiratory, urinary, nervous and skin. The onset of the disease is usually heralded by a fever - the dog's body temperature rises to around 41 degrees Celsius. It is characterized by two phases: initially it increases, then it subsides for a few days and then increases again. The remaining symptoms depend on the extent to which the virus is virulent, how much the secondary infections accompanying distemper intensify, and finally - what immunity the dog had before becoming ill.

Nosehead in dogs: forms of the disease

The nasal passages can go differently, depending on which organ and system will be most affected by the virus attack. Therefore, the following forms are distinguished in the course of the distemper:

  • catarrhal . This is usually the early stage of distemper. The dog is depressed, has a high fever, diarrhea, and has discharge from the nose and conjunctiva.
  • respiratory (pulmonary) distemper . In this form, distemper is observednasal and conjunctival discharge, cough (initially dry, then wet), bronchitis, pneumonia, shortness of breath that worsens over time, as well as pulmonary edema and cardiovascular collapse.
  • intestinal (gastrointestinal) distemper . The most common symptoms are vomiting, diarrhea (sometimes diarrhea with blood), gastroenteritis. In an advanced form, there is a strong dehydration and emaciation.

In the course of the disease, one form of distemper may change into another, which depends on the severity of the symptoms. Only the nervous form of the distemper is most often independent.

  • nervous distemper . It is rarely preceded by catarrh, and is rarely combined with other forms of distemper. Symptoms depend on to what extent and where the nerve tissue is damaged. The most common of them are paresis and paralysis, epilepsy, nystagmus, muscle tremors, facial muscle tics, ataxia, dementia, consciousness disorders, hallucinations, movement disorders, epilepsy, torticollis, "pushing" against obstacles. These changes are usually permanent.
  • ocular nasal . Its most common symptoms are conjunctivitis with severe serous-purulent discharge, lacrimation, photophobia, inflammation of the iris or optic nerve, sudden blindness, as well as corneal ulceration and perforation. In this form, changes in the retina are also observed, which may result in blindness.
  • dermal distemper . It manifests as pus-filled vesicles that appear on the skin of the abdomen and inside the thighs, as well as on the lips, around the eyes and nostrils. After drying, these bubbles turn into scabs.
  • hard paw disease . It is the rarest form of distemper that develops after several weeks of the disease. It is manifested by thickening of the pads (then they become hard and rough), as well as drying and cracking of the skin of the nose mirror.
  • old dogs encephalitis . This is a rare form of distemper that appears in old dogs. It is probably a consequence of distempering a dog years ago and is caused by a virus that survives in the central nervous system and is activated in old age. Symptoms include movement disorders, blindness, dementia and dementia.

Nose in a dog: treatment

If the disease shows characteristic symptoms, a vet can confirm it by performing a quick diagnostic test with a dog's blood drop. Other methods of diagnosing distemper are laboratory tests, in which the animal's blood is examined, or a swab from the conjunctiva or genital tract. Treatment of a dog is difficult and the prognosis is cautious.as the mortality rate of dogs with this disease can be as high as 80 percent. There is no one-size-fits-all scheme: the treatment of distemper depends both on the age of the animal and its condition and the form of distemper. Typically, antiviral serum, antibiotics, vitamins are used, as well as eye drops and ointments. In the case of intestinal distemper, the animal must be rehydrated, drips with glucose and amino acids are also used, as well as antiemetic drugs. In the most difficult form of distemper - distemper - drugs are selected depending on the symptoms, e.g. in convulsions, anticonvulsants are used, and in paralysis or paresis - B vitamins and galantamine.

Worth knowing

The risk of distemper in a dog can be reduced by vaccinating the animal. Vaccination against distemper costs several dozen zlotys. Most doctors propose a multivalent vaccine, which also reduces the risk of developing other diseases, including parvovirus. Puppies 6-7 weeks of age should be given the first dose of the vaccine, and the next dose should be given after 3 weeks of age. A puppy is last vaccinated at 12-13 weeks of age. One year after the third dose of vaccine, a booster dose should be given. The next vaccinations should be every year or every two years, depending on the type of vaccine last given.

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