How to treat a Welsh Springer Terrier if it gets canine distemper? Canine distemper (canine distemper) Speaking of the disease that poses the greatest threat to dogs, it is generally believed that it is canine distemper (canine distemper). This disease not only has a very high mortality rate, but is also highly contagious, so it must be treated in isolation!

1. Basic knowledge of canine distemper

Canine distemper, commonly known as "canine distemper", is a highly contagious and fatal infectious disease in dogs caused by canine distemper virus. The mortality rate of this disease is very high, generally reaching more than 50% in adult dogs, and even reaching more than 80% in puppies after infection. This disease has a certain periodicity, often having a major epidemic every three years.

1. Canine distemper is caused by canine distemper virus (CDV). Canine distemper virus has weak resistance to the external environment and is very sensitive to heat and drying. Drying and most disinfectants can kill the virus. It is also sensitive to ultraviolet light. This virus is not infectious to humans.

2. Canine distemper occurs frequently in the cold seasons of winter, spring and autumn and winter. The main reason is that the canine distemper virus can survive for a long time in low temperature environments. For example, under conditions of 2-4 degrees Celsius, the canine distemper virus Can survive and remain infective for weeks and freeze-dried for years. This is also the main reason why canine distemper occurs more frequently in the cold seasons of winter, spring and autumn and winter.

3. Disease transmission is most likely to occur in places where dogs gather, such as pet shops, dog farms, stray dog ​​shelters, etc.

4. Canine distemper can be infected at all ages, but most puppies within 2 months of age will not be infected due to maternal antibodies. Dogs aged 4 to 12 months have the highest incidence rate, with a mortality rate of more than 50%. ;The incidence rate gradually decreases over the age of 2 years. The symptoms of canine distemper vary in severity and are diverse.

2. Symptoms of canine distemper

1. Overall performance. The affected dog has a loss of appetite or simply refuses to eat, is lethargic, and changes in body temperature are biphasic, that is, the body temperature first rises to 39-41 degrees, lasting for 1 to 3 days, and then gradually subsides, approaching normal temperature, and occurs again a few days later. The body temperature rises and can lead to death in severe cases.

2. Respiratory system type (pneumonia type). It manifests as rhinitis and conjunctivitis, with serous or mucopurulent discharge from the eyes and nose. If it causes ocular neuritis, it can lead to blindness. Viruses invade the lungs and cause interstitial pneumonia, and secondary bacterial infection can cause bronchopneumonia. Clinical manifestations include cough, dyspnea, and crepitus on auscultation.

3. Gastrointestinal type. Manifested by vomiting and diarrhea. The sick dog had severe diarrhea, occasionally passed bloody stools, and developed tenesmus.

4. Neurotic type. Canine distemper virus can invade any part of the central nervous system. Clinically, neurological symptoms may appear simultaneously with other systemic symptoms or may appear subsequently. The main manifestations are general twitching, masticatory muscle spasm, turning in circles, and abnormal behavior. When the midbrain, cerebellum and vestibule are damaged, ataxia and abnormal posture are manifested. Spinal infection manifests as abnormal posture, abnormal spinal reflexes, paralysis, etc.

Three, Canine Distemper Prevention

1. Use high-dose canine distemper hyperimmune serum, canine distemper monoclonal antibody and canine gamma globulin in the early stage of the disease. Canine distemper hyperimmune serum for small dogs 5-10 ml each time, large dogs 20-40 ml each time, intramuscular injection or intravenous infusion, once a day for 3-5 consecutive days; canine distemper monoclonal antibody 5-20 ml ml, subcutaneous injection, once a day, for 3 consecutive days; canine gamma globulin is 2 ml each time for small dogs, and 4-6 ml each time for large dogs, twice a day, for 3-5 consecutive days.

2. Use antiviral drugs. Polysarcoma 0.5-1 mg for small dogs, 1-2 mg for large dogs, intramuscular injection, once a day, for 3 to 5 consecutive days; Ribavirin can also be used, 50 mg for small dogs, 100 mg for large dogs, intramuscular injection, 2 times a day times, for 3 consecutive days.

3. Cardiotonic rehydration. For dogs with obvious symptoms of enteritis and severe vomiting, 30-50 mg of Ringer's solution per kilogram of body weight, 2-5 ml of 10% calcium gluconate, and 50-100 mg of vitamin B can be mixed intravenously for intravenous infusion.

4. Symptomatic treatment. If you have purulent rhinitis or severe nasal congestion, you can use a mixture of ephedrine, dexamethasone and kanamycin nasal drops for intranasal instillation; for sick dogs with dry cough or spasmodic cough, you can use Kekuaihao, aminophylline, and chlorpheniramine. Min, licorice tablets and other drugs can relieve cough and reduce phlegm;

5. Supportive treatment. For dogs with a long course of disease and symptoms of weakness, 10 u/o glucose 30-50 mg/kg body weight can be intravenously supplemented, and at the same time, 500 mg vitamin C, 5-20 mg adenosine triphosphate, 15 mg cytochrome C5N, and 100-250 ml compound amino acids can be added , has a good effect on relieving the disease and improving the general condition.

Canine distemper is a very virulent virus. Even though some dogs can save their lives through timely treatment, they may also suffer from the sequelae of canine distemper, such as limb paralysis.