What is distemper in dogs? Understanding the canine disease, symptoms and causes

Dogs can get sick just like humans. The best way to prevent the spread of illness is to vaccinate your pet.

There are several "core vaccines" dogs should get to combat serious diseases, Dr. Jerry Klein, the chief veterinary officer at the American Kennel Club, previously told USA TODAY.

Among those vaccines is the distemper shot. Canine distemper is highly contagious and can be deadly.

All dogs are at risk of getting distemper, so it's important to know the causes, symptoms and how to prevent it.

What is distemper?

Canine distemper is a viral disease caused by the canine distemper virus, or CDV, according to VCA Animal Hospitals. It can infect dogs, as well as other animals – including wolves, foxes, ferrets, skunks and raccoons.

All dogs are at risk of distemper, but unvaccinated dogs and puppies under four months old are most susceptible, according to the American Kennel Club.

Cats are also susceptible to distemper but "are unlikely to get sick," the American Veterinary Medical Association reports.

According to the American Kennel Club, distemper can spread three ways:

1. Direct contact with an infected animal or object
2. Airborne exposure
3. Via placenta

Similar to how humans get colds, distemper can spread among dogs when they are directly exposed to the sickness. This could be through coughs, sneezes or barks that release airborne droplets and infect items like food or a water bowl, the American Kennel Club reports.

Infected female dogs can also spread distemper to their puppies via placenta. So, it is important to vaccinate your dog before it breeds.

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What does distemper do to dogs?

Distemper is a multi-system disease, affecting the respiratory, gastrointestinal and nervous systems of dogs, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association.

Symptoms vary depending on what stage the disease is in, the American Kennel Club reports. Initial symptoms include eye and nasal discharge, fever and loss of appetite.

Other symptoms in Stage One can include:

• Coughing
• Vomiting
• Lethargy
• Diarrhea

As the disease progresses, distemper will attack a dog's nervous system. Neurologic symptoms can include:

• Head tilt
• Lack of coordination
• Muscle spasms
• Convulsions with "jaw-chewing movements"
• Drooling
• Seizures
• Partial or complete paralysis

Distemper is also sometimes dubbed "hard pad disease," because it can cause the thickening and hardening of a dog's paw pads and nose, the American Kennel Club reports.

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Is distemper the same as parvo?

Distemper and parvovirus are not the same.

Parvovirus is a viral disease that attacks a dog's immune and GI systems, Dr. Whitney Miller, Petco's Chief Veterinarian, previously told USA TODAY.

To learn more about parvovirus, check out our guide.

Can dogs survive distemper?

If infected with distemper, one in two dogs will die, the American Veterinary Medical Association reports. If a dog does survive distemper, they will "have permanent, irreparable nervous system damage."

There is no cure or specific treatment for distemper. The best way to stop its spread is through vaccination.

Be sure to vaccinate your puppy and keep its distemper vaccinations up-to-date, the American Kennel Club recommends.

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