How old do dogs have to be to get distemper?

Distemper is a risk to all dogs, but unvaccinated dogs and puppies under four months old are particularly susceptible to canine distemper.

Can a dog get distemper at any age?

Young dogs (2-6 months of age), and unvaccinated puppies older than 6 weeks of age are most commonly infected and develop disease. Dogs of all ages can be infected and become sick if they are exposed to the virus and are not properly protected by vaccination.

What are the first signs of distemper in dogs?

What are the symptoms of canine distemper? Initially, infected dogs will develop watery to pus-like discharge from their eyes. They then develop fever, nasal discharge, coughing, lethargy, reduced appetite, and vomiting.

Can a fully vaccinated dog get distemper?

Question: Can my dog contract distemper if he's had a vaccine? Answer: Unfortunately, the short answer to this question is “yes”. Vaccines are unable to 100% completely protect against a disease, however providing your dog with the recommended vaccination protocol will greatly reduce his chances of becoming sick.

Can a 5 week old puppy get distemper?

Canine distemper is a highly contagious virus that can be treated but not cured. Unfortunately, puppies are particularly susceptible to contracting it. You can have a puppy vaccinated when he is 6 weeks old, but before then he is at high risk, especially if his mother was not vaccinated.

Can puppies survive distemper?

The disease is often fatal with a mortality rate of 50% in adult dogs and 80% in puppies.

How common is distemper in puppies?

Canine distemper is seen worldwide but because of the widespread use of successful vaccines, it is much less common than it was in the 1970's. It is still seen in populations where vaccination rates are low and in stray dogs. The virus may persist in recovered carrier dogs and in wildlife such as skunks and raccoons.

How soon do dogs show signs of distemper?

One to six weeks for the majority of cases with most showing signs within one to four weeks. When do dogs infected with distemper become contagious? Up to five days prior to the onset of clinical signs. This is complicated though by the number of cases that are shedding without recognizable signs of illness.

At what age do puppies get distemper shots?

Puppy's AgeRecommended Vaccinations6 — 8 weeksDistemper, parvovirus10 — 12 weeksDHPP (vaccines for distemper, adenovirus [hepatitis], parainfluenza, and parvovirus)16 — 18 weeksDHPP, rabies12 — 16 monthsDHPP, rabies