Vaccinate your dog as canine distemper reaches Gauteng

An estimated 50 per cent of adult dogs and 80 per cent of puppies will succumb to the disease if not vaccinated.

Pet owners are urged to vaccinate their dogs immediately if not vaccinated regularly.

This is according to Dr Elizna Boag, business unit manager, Companion Animals and Ethicals at Afrivet, who said the Tshwane SPCA is currently battling a potential canine distemper outbreak at their Waltloo branch.

She said canine distemper is a deadly virus that attacks your dogs’ respiratory, urogenital, gastrointestinal, and nervous systems. To date, no cure for the disease has been developed.

“According to the Garden Route SPCA, this highly contagious viral disease is spread through the air, and by direct or indirect contact with an infected animal,” said Boag.

“Pet owners are thus urged to be on the lookout for any abnormal behaviour in their dogs. Early signs of this disease may include a fever and a discharge from the nose and eyes.

“As the disease progresses, the dog becomes weak and lethargic. Dogs will also show a loss of appetite, and may begin to vomit and have diarrhea. Some patients will develop an involuntary twitching of muscles.”

Given the seriousness of the disease, the potential for suffering and the highly contagious nature of the virus, the humane euthanasia of certain dogs cannot be ruled out, according to a statement released by Tshwane SPCA on January 18, 2019.

Boag said the first alarming cases of canine distemper were reported in Knysna in May 2018, claiming the lives of dozens of dogs and causing nearly 300 animals to be put down.

“The outbreak later spread to Cape Town and Durban, as the number of reported cases rose to that of ‘hot spot’ status. Since then, the outbreak has spread to Gauteng.

“Dog owners should know that because distemper is a viral disease and the animal’s immune system has to fight it unaided, veterinarians can only provide supportive treatment once the dog has been diagnosed as having contracted distemper.