Canine Distemper in Dogs: Understanding Seizures and Recovery

Canine distemper is a serious viral disease that rarely resolves on its own. Without prompt and proper treatment, it can unfortunately be fatal for dogs. It's crucial to understand the signs and seek veterinary help immediately.

Canine distemper, caused by the canine distemper virus, does not get better on its own. Untreated, it often leads to severe illness and death. Common early symptoms include lethargy, loss of appetite, vomiting, and diarrhea. As the disease progresses, you may observe more concerning signs like seizures, increased nasal and ocular discharge, and hardening of the footpads. Treatment typically involves a combination of supportive care to manage symptoms and targeted treatments such as anti-inflammatory and antiviral medications to combat the virus.

Symptoms of Canine Distemper

Clinically, canine distemper presents with a variety of symptoms. These include a fluctuating fever, a significant reduction or complete loss of appetite, marked lethargy often accompanied by excessive sleepiness, a dull coat that appears unkempt, coughing frequently associated with phlegm production, sneezing, often quite frequent, a runny nose that tends to be thick and yellow, teary eyes, often with brown or cloudy discharge, and an increased buildup of eye crust, which can be so extreme that it makes opening the eyes difficult. In advanced stages you will see cracked skin most notably on the footpads or nose. Additionally neurological signs such as seizures, fits, foaming at the mouth, tremors, and "dancing" movements may occur, and in some cases, unfortunately, the disease can result in sudden death.

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