What is Distemper in Dogs
Canine distemper is a highly contagious, often fatal viral disease that affects the respiratory, gastrointestinal (GI), nervous system, and other organs.
Unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated dogs and puppies are at highest risk.
This disease primarily spreads from one dog to another through direct contact, such as coughing and sneezing but other bodily fluids like urine, vomit, and stool can also contain the virus. Contact with an infected animal is the most common way for distemper to spread, but shared food bowls and contaminated supplies, surfaces, and equipment can also pose a risk.
Distemper in dogs can be prevented through a core vaccine given by your vet. All dogs should remain current on this vaccine throughout their lives. Fortunately, due to widespread vaccination against distemper, the disease is less common than it once was.
Distemper in dogs can become serious very quickly, which is why it’s important to bring your dog to vet promptly if you suspect this disease. The earlier treatment is started, the better the chance of recovery.
If left untreated, distemper in dogs is often fatal, especially in puppies.
Written by Dr. Mariella Roberts, Veterinary Surgeon, Animal Trust Vets CIC | Published March 2025 | Review date March 2027 | This advice is for UK pets only and is not a replacement for seeing a vet
Distemper symptoms
Distemper in dogs initially causes the following symptoms:
Yellow or green eye discharge
Nasal discharge
Coughing
Sneezing
Depression
Vomiting
Reduced eating
Diarrhoea
As the disease progresses, dogs can develop:
Tremors
Chewing motions of the jaw
Seizures
Partial or complete paralysis
Pneumonia (lungs infection)
Crusting of the nose and foot pads
Severe vomiting and diarrhoea
When to contact your vet
If and when your dog starts showing the above symptoms, especially if he/she is not vaccinated.
Diagnosis
Your vet will start with a thorough physical exam to check for abnormalities, such as eye or nose discharge, abnormal lung or heart sounds, and signs of dehydration.
Your vet will want to know when symptoms began, whether your dog is up to date on his distemper vaccine, and if he/she has been in close contact with any other animals recently.
If symptoms and history align with distemper, your vet can do diagnostic testing like PCR (antibody) to detect the actual virus or antibody tests to determine a dog’s exposure to the virus. Depending on the test chosen, various samples can be used including to the blood, urine, and eye or nose discharge.
Distemper treatment
The treatment for distemper is aimed at reducing the intensity of signs and symptoms.
As with most viral infections, there is no specific treatment for distemper. Antibiotics are not effective against viruses but help control the secondary bacterial infections that often occur with distemper. The treatment for distemper is aimed at reducing the intensity of the symptoms. This is achieved with hospitalisation to provide the patient with intensive nursing care, fluid treatment into the vein, and treatment to reduce symptoms for the vomiting, diarrhoea, cough, etc. Anti-seizure medications may be required in some cases.
Distemper vaccine / prevention
Fortunately, there are highly effective vaccines to protect dogs from this deadly disease. These vaccines are given to puppies with other routine vaccines usually at 8 weeks of age and then repeated after 4 weeks.
After the initial puppy vaccine boosters, additional distemper boosters should be given to adult dogs every three years.
Outlook
Distemper in dogs can be a devastating disease, and some dogs may not recover despite treatment. Recovery depends on several factors, primarily involving the dog’s immune response to infection. If a dog recovers from Distemper, they are likely immune to reinfection for a prolonged time, perhaps even for life.
Some dogs that recover from Distemper may have been left with muscle twitches or seizures. Others may develop neurologic signs in the weeks following recovery or years later.