Distemper is a highly contagious viral disease of domestic dogs and other animals such as ferrets, skunks, and raccoons. It is an incurable, often fatal, multisystemic (affecting multiple organs) disease that affects the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and central nervous systems.
Can canine distemper affect other animals?
Canine distemper is a highly contagious virus caused by the paramyxovirus. It is seen in dogs around the world, but it can also affect ferrets, racoons, skunks, grey foxes, and many other animals.
Is canine distemper transferable?
How is canine distemper spread? Puppies and dogs most often become infected through airborne exposure (through sneezing or coughing) to the virus from an infected dog or wild animal. The virus can also be transmitted by shared food and water bowls and equipment.
Can a dog transfer distemper to a cat?
There is no risk of cross contamination between dogs and cats in relation to the different strains of distemper, but animals and humans can carry the disease on their bodies and spread it that way.
Can dogs with distemper be around other dogs?
Vaccinated animals are at a very low risk of acquiring distemper virus and passing it on to other dogs. This is because the virus cannot live without fresh secretions; it is inactivated in minutes outside the dog's body.
How long does distemper stay in your yard?
Transmission of Canine Distemper Distemper does not survive long in the outside environment. It will survive only a few hours at room temperature and a few weeks in cooler shady places. From time of infection to first clinical signs is 3-7 days.
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