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-   -   What can I do to help my puppy with distemper, any treatment? (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/showthread.php?t=543095)

  • Jan 11, 2011, 06:36 PM
    val90
    What can I do to help my puppy with distemper, any treatment?
    What can I do to help my puppy with distemper, any treatment that I may do at home? I think he has distemper, it has been pretty cold in some areas of my room and my puppy has mucus around his eyes and nose
  • Jan 11, 2011, 06:41 PM
    Wondergirl

    You can take your dog to the vet!! Distemper is a major dog killer, an acute, highly infectious disease caused by a virus.

    If the puppy doesn't get immediate medical care, he will die.

    "As the virus and bacteria continue their devastation, the dog becomes more and more emaciated and dehydrated. The discharge from the eyes and nose changes from a colorless fluid to a thick, ropey and often bloody discharge. When the discharge dries on the nose or eyes, it cakes and interferes with breathing and vision. The dog has an increased thirst and will try to drink great quantities of water. His bowel movement changes from a soft stool to a watery or bloody movement, with a highly objectionable odor. He may vomit and go into fits or convulsions, with muscular twitching or champing of the jaws. Eventually, the dog succumbs from an overwhelming infection." from dogtrainingsite.net
  • Jan 23, 2011, 08:57 PM
    micnbug68
    Take him to a vet immediately! This is not something to take lightly. Your puppy needs to be quarantined, either at a hospital or at home but he needs to be treated or could die.
    (vet tech for 12 yrs)
  • Feb 11, 2011, 11:29 PM
    nithyachandu
    Take to vet then feed him often with milk and vitamin tablets and egg if puppy has good health before the effect of distemper there is a great chance of survival pray god and don lose your hope your puppy will be alrite.
  • Feb 12, 2011, 01:12 AM
    grammadidi

    First of all, distemper is not caused by a puppy being cold. It is a highly contagious virus that requires immediate veterinary attention. The longer a puppy goes without being treated, the more likely it is to die.

    The symptoms can include any of these: fever, loss of appetite, vomiting & diarrhea, discharge from eyes & nose, lethargy, coughing, difficulty breathing, hard footpads and nose, and even sometimes some neurological signs (which could come much later) like twitching, paralysis, seizures, sensitivity to touch and weakness.

    Treatment depends upon the symptoms, but usually includes giving the dog intravenous fluids, meds to reduce vomiting, antibiotics (usually given in the intravenous fluids) and sometimes anti-convulsants. Remember, too, that a pet with distemper is highly contagious.

    It is important that anyone who has a puppy under 4 months of age should minimize contact with other animals (especially other dogs and wildlife) and ensure that they receive their vaccinations. Almost always the dog gets the virus from DIRECT contact with another animal with the virus. A small number can contract it from indirect contact. This can include the feces or urine of an infected animal, nasal discharge or drinking from a contaminated water/food source.

    Please take your puppy to a vet immediately. Good luck!

    Hugs, Didi
  • Feb 12, 2011, 01:34 AM
    Lucky098

    There is no cure for distemper. Especially if the virus has attacked the nervous system.

    Distemper is very rare in dogs. Typically distemper gets misdiagnosed with PARVO which has some of the same symptoms.

    Either way, your dog needs to go in and be tested. Distemper is 100x worse then parvo.

    Parvo, on the other hand, does have some home remedies available, such as Parvaid which is proven to be effect and work! But at this point, I would suggest to get him tested for either parvo or distemper.

    The link to the Parvaid

    Amazon.com: Parvaid - All-Natural Parvo Aid for Dogs (1oz): Kitchen & Dining
  • Feb 12, 2011, 02:36 AM
    grammadidi
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Lucky098 View Post
    Distemper is 100x worse then parvo.

    I'm sorry, but I respectfully disagree. While distemper may have a higher mortality rate (largely due to the damage done to the nervous system and spinal cord) it is not as virulent. Parvovirus can adapt and mutate into a stronger more virulent strain over time. Also, the diistemper virus is a short lived virus when exposed to air, so not as likely to infect another dog. Parvovirus, on the other hand, can last six or 7 months in the environment - even withstanding freezing and, because of it's ability to survive like that it's very difficult to remove from the environment - thus far more contagious overall. In mind, that makes parvo much worse.

    Not only that, but there are several different varieties of parvo and one of those affects the ability of the heart to pump properly. The intestinal variety can actually slough off the lining of the digestive track and the dogs can end up with secondary bacterial infections. The intestinal tract is affected so much that the dog can even suffer from an intussusception where a portion of the inflamed intestine actually telescopes into itself (which is an emergency for sure). In addition, with the intestinal type you often get blood in the stool (which is VERY foul smelling) which is why you sometimes have to have blood transfusions.

    Between 10 and 35% of young dogs with parvo die. The older dogs might not die, but they also might not have such noticeable symptoms, yet they remain very contagious so the disease is spread in their feces or vomit where it takes 6 or 7 months to die. That spreads the disease at an alarming rate. A puppy with parvo requires intensive treatment usually requiring a hospital stay of 4 to 7 days... IF they make it past the 3rd day. The treatment can include intravenous fluids, blood transfusion, anti-emetics and antibiotics.

    Both distemper and parvo were almost under control but people stopped vaccinating and both of them are showing up more and more. I had a rescue with parvo. She was in the home one night before going to the vets for treatment. Every part of the home, even parts that she wasn't in, was scrubbed down with bleach if we were able. Six months later, against our advice, my daughter brought her healthy, twice vaccinated puppy into our home for an hour. The puppy ended up contracting a mild case of parvo and it was hospitalized for 4 days.

    Rabies, distemper & parvo are diseases that should be totally non-existent in society due to the availability and low cost of vaccinations. All 3 of them are deadly and preventable. I'm sorry I'm going on about this, but having worked as a Vet Assistant for so many years as well as having had foster dogs and rescues in my home I feel that people need to know the facts and protect their pets at all costs. It's not just about one dog. All of these diseases are highly contagious and deadly. Responsible and educated pet ownership is a must. (Now I'll get off my soapbox!) :D

    Hugs, Didi
  • Feb 12, 2011, 09:50 AM
    Lucky098

    You forgot to mention that distemper is rarely diagnosed alone. Distemper is almost always accompanied by Parvo, so therefore the effects of distemper are pretty bad.

    Distemper attacks the nervous system. The dog twitches uncontrollable. Distemper is only treated by symptoms. If the dog doesn't have a lot of symptoms, then I suppose it may recover just fine.

    Parvo attacks the intestines. It dehydrates the dog severely due to vomitting and diarrhea. It can be treated, and if caught early enough, can be completely destroyed.

    I have done my research (had to for class!) and Distemper is far worse then parvo.. Distemper is rare in dogs and puppies, whereas Parvo isn't. Distemper opens the body up for parvo.

    Both viruses can be preventable with the vaccine. However; the vaccine doesn't mean the dog won't get either virus. It just means the dog won't get it as bad.

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