Distemper ‘highly contagious,’ but Oak Ridge outbreak under control
Ask the Vet
Q: I read online that there is an outbreak of distemper at a local animal shelter. I have two dogs and one cat – should I be worried? What should I watch for? E.D., Farragut
A: Yes, unfortunately the animal shelter in Oak Ridge recently diagnosed four stray dogs with the distemper virus. The shelter was closed for one week but is now open.
The canine distemper virus is highly contagious. It is spread easily through coughing, sneezing and shared water bowls. At shelters, many puppies and adult dogs enter with unknown medical histories and are often housed in close quarters.
Many shelters vaccinate for distemper on intake, but it is not always known which dogs have been exposed or could be harboring the virus and not yet showing clinic signs.
Unfortunately, in these situations, a virus like distemper can spread quickly.
Clinical signs of distemper are many and varied. At onset, dogs may show mild clinical signs, such as runny eyes and/or nose.
Symptoms can progress to fever, poor appetite, coughing, vomiting, diarrhea and pneumonia. Infected puppies and adult dogs are treated with supportive care, as there are no antiviral drugs known to be effective against distemper (although there are ongoing clinical studies).
Some dogs will experience neurological signs, including seizures. These pets have a poor prognosis for a full recovery, and fatalities can occur.
Outbreaks like this are a reminder that the virus is still circulating in unvaccinated populations and is still a threat to our pets.
We have a very effective vaccine for distemper, and it is included in the puppy vaccine series, generally started at 6-to-8 weeks of age. Adult dogs are vaccinated every 1-to-3 years, depending on age, medical history and type of vaccine administered.
This outbreak was canine distemper, and thus not contagious to your cat. If your dogs are current on their distemper vaccine as recommended by your veterinarian, they should not be at risk.
If you have a question about your pet, e-mail Dr. Myers at lenoircityac@gmail.com
