“We have had seven to nine cases of Canine Distemper the past couple of weeks, where not one dog survived,”
said local veterinarian Dr Jacqui Hooton.
This disease in dogs and cats occur mainly in animals who have not had vaccinations up to date and it can be transmitted through direct contact, from one dog to another. It can not be transmitted to humans, but Dr Hooton stated that it can be prevented if the vaccinations are up to date.
“Some say that dogs can only get vaccinated from six weeks, but we do vaccinations from four weeks. It is only three vaccinations as a puppy and one every year. I think it is extremely selfish if owners don’t vaccinate their pets, because diseases can kill them,”
Dr Hooton said further.
Research has shown that distemper can especially occur in shelters with unvaccinated dogs and can appear to be ‘kennel cough’. Shelters then report of a ‘bad kennel cough’, but can then in actual fact be Canine Distemper.
“This disease is not only in specific dogs, but can occur in pedigree dogs to mixed breeds, big or small. It does not have a target, and dogs mostly don’t survive this. They have a one to two percent chance of surviving,”
Dr Hooton added.
She also explained that the symptoms to be aware of is a yellow eye discharge, nasal discharge, cough (not kennel cough) and diarrhoea starts.
“By time of, diarrhoea it is usually too late to cure it. I feel that prevention is better than cure, and that vaccinations against this disease will reduce the animals getting it. The numbers also increase during winter, because of more infections in the air. Antibiotics does help to a certain extent and dogs then gets a feeding tube and an IV (Intervein feeding) is then attached to the dog. The dogs then lose the skin on their nose and eyes, as well as the skin on their feet. They can not stand or swallow and thereafter ulcers in the eye start and they get attacks. Thereafter the bodies just switch off,”
Dr Hooton said.
She also calls out to all pet owners to vaccinate their puppies and adult dogs, at least once a year. She stated the importance of vaccinations and that owners must take the responsibility of taking care of the dogs when they decide on taking up ownership of that pet. “It’s still your choice to take a dog, so take good care of it,” she concluded.
