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Canine Distemper
Canine distemper is a contagious,
incurable, often fatal, multi-systemic viral disease that
affects the
respiratory, gastrointestinal, and central nervous systems. Distemper is caused
by the canine distemper virus (CDV).
Incidence
Canine distemper occurs worldwide, and once was the leading cause of death in
unvaccinated
puppies. Widespread vaccination programs have dramatically reduced
its incidence.
CDV occurs among domestic dogs and
many other carnivores, including raccoons, skunks, and
foxes. CDV is fairly
common in wildlife. The development of a vaccine in the early 1960s led to
a
dramatic reduction in the number of infected domestic dogs. It tends to occur
now only as
sporadic outbreaks.
Young puppies between 3 and
6 months old are most susceptible to infection and disease
and are more likely
to die than infected adults. Non-immunized older dogs are also highly
susceptible to infection and disease. Non-immunized dogs that have contact with
other
non-immunized dogs or with wild carnivores have a greater risk of
developing canine
distemper.
Transmission
Infected dogs shed the virus through bodily secretions and excretions,
especially respiratory
secretions. The primary mode of transmission is airborne
viral particles that dogs
breathe in. Dogs in recovery may continue to shed the
virus for several weeks after
symptoms disappear, but they no longer shed the
virus once they are fully recovered.
It is possible for humans to
contract an asymptomatic (subclinical) CDV infection. Anyone
who’s been
immunized against measles (a related virus) is protected against CDV as well.
Symptoms
Macrophages
(cells that ingest foreign disease-carrying organisms, like viruses and
bacteria)
carry the inhaled virus to nearby lymph nodes where it begins
replicating (reproducing). It
spreads rapidly through the lymphatic
tissue and infects all the lymphoid organs within
2 to 5 days. By days six to
nine, the virus spreads to the blood (viremia). It then spreads to
the surface
epithelium (cell lining) of the respiratory, gastrointestinal, urogenital, and
central
nervous systems, where it begins doing the damage that causes the
symptoms.
Early symptoms include fever, loss
of appetite, and mild eye inflammation that may only last a
day or two. Symptoms
become more serious and noticeable as the disease progresses.
The initial
symptom is fever (103ºF to 106ºF), which usually peaks 3 to 6 days
after infection.
The fever often goes unnoticed and may peak again a few days
later. Dogs may experience eye
and nose discharge, depression, and anorexia.
After the fever, symptoms vary considerably,
depending on the strain of the
virus and the dog’s immunity.
Many dogs experience gastrointestinal
and respiratory symptoms, such as:
- Conjunctivitis (discharge from
the eye)
- Diarrhea
- Fever (usually present but
unnoticed)
- Pneumonia (cough, labored
breathing)
- Rhinitis (runny nose)
- Vomiting
These symptoms are often exacerbated
by secondary bacterial infections. Dogs almost always
develop encephalomyelitis
(an inflammation of the brain and spinal cord), the symptoms of
which are
variable and progressive. Most dogs that die from distemper, die from
neurological
complications such as the following:
- Ataxia (muscle incoordination)
- Depression
- Hyperesthesia (increased
sensitivity to sensory stimuli, such as pain or touch)
Myoclonus (muscle twitching or
spasm), which can become disabling
Paralysis
Paresis (partial or incomplete
paralysis)
Progressive deterioration of
mental abilities
Progressive deterioration of
motor skills
Seizures that can affect any
part of the body (One type of seizure that affects the head,
and is unique
to distemper is sometimes referred to as a “chewing gum fit” because the
dog appears to be chewing gum.)
Many dogs experience symptoms of
the eye:
- Inflammation of the eye
(either keratoconjunctivitis, inflammation of the cornea
and conjunctiva, or chorioretinitis, inflammation of the choroid and retina)
Lesions on the retina
(the innermost layer of the eye)
Optic neuritis
(inflammation of the optic nerve which leads to blindness)
Two relatively minor conditions that
often become chronic, even in dogs that recover are:
- Enamel hypoplasia (unenameled
teeth that erode quickly in puppies whose permanent
teeth haven’t erupted
yet - the virus kills all the cells that make teeth enamel)
Hyperkeratosis (hardening of
the foot pads and nose)
In utero infection of fetuses
is rare, but can happen. This can lead to spontaneous abortion,
persistent
infection in newborn puppies, or the birth of normal looking puppies that
rapidly
develop symptoms and die within 4 to 6 weeks.
Dogs, Distemper and Transfer
Factor Plus
Testimonial By Dr. Baruch Rosen, M.D.
As a physician of nearly thirty years, I was well aware
that no antibiotic would protect against
the ravages of viral disease,
particularly canine distemper which shows similarities to HIV. My
seven month
old white haired Shepard was adopted from a local shelter and was initially
joyful
and healthy. Within three weeks he developed coarse bronchitis with heavy
mucus drainage
of the nose and eyes. Our well intentioned vet believed the
problem to be kennel cough and
started antibiotics. Over the next ten days Romeo
failed to improve, but instead experienced
seven hard and long grand mall
seizures in one weekend, a partial paralysis of the hind quarters
which made him
fall flat when attempting to walk and a "spaced-out gaze" of non-recognition.
Blood studies confirmed distemper and showed a white cell count (lymphocytes) of
only 264
slightly more than ten percent of normal. Our vet plus a second
out-of-state consulting vet,
an expert in distemper were very sympathetic and
advised me to prepare myself to
euthanize Romeo.
The heartache was compounded when Chico, my thirteen
month old Chihuahua developed
similar symptoms of hard coughing and heavy mucus
drainage from the eyes. Reviewing his
shot record, I learned he was mistakenly
given only one distemper immunization, leaving him
inadequately protected; and
by licking Romeo's mucus and drinking from his water dish had
contracted the infection.
Knowing little to nothing about canine distemper, I
turned to the internet and luckily stumbled
on to
Transfer Factor Plus,
a preparation which enhances and stimulates the body's own
immune system to
fight against all pathogens, viral or otherwise. My thirty years in medicine
told me this was the only solution. I hurriedly became a distributor to get the
product and
started Chico and Romeo on one cap daily encased in one teaspoonful
of raw hamburger.
Over the next two weeks all cough and mucus drainage ceased.
Romeo's follow-up blood
count had risen to normal range at 2217 and he surprised
to whole family by jumping a
five foot wall. He romps and plays all day long
with Chico, now responds normally to his
name and appears to be his old joyful
self again.
Having witnessed the recoveries of Chico and Romeo, and
after further study, all family
members are taking
Transfer Factor Plus™,
one cap daily; our insurance policy to protect
against a faltering immune
system, the inevitable consequence of aging and exposure to
environmental
pollution and toxins. As for my distributorship status, I fully intend to spread
t
he word to all my colleagues and good friends.
Dr. Baruch Rosen, M.D.
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