What is distemper.?

Question

I asked a question earlyer about my dog ,& no We have not took her to her frist vet visit yet .We have not had her for very long and she is about 7 mo.'s old .
I whent to cheak on her and now addishion to her ; sheeding ,no appatite, dandruff,& throwing up ; she is now foaming at the mouth. OH, NO My SWEET DOG is GOING to Dye :.(
I think it could be to late .

I can't Take her to the vet now ,I have no way to get there right now.WE just moved and do not now where the vet is .I wish God could work a merical.

AND YES! I LOVE MY SWEET DOG SOOOOOOOOOOOO...... MUCH .......I just WANT to CRY .

Lauren M Are you a Vet?!At frist I thought so & Thank you for the INFO ,But then you stated taking to me like I am dum ,HOW RUD .
I Have ONE MORE Question : Does anyone know ,How long after have a pet with distemper,when can you get a pet again, BECAUSE I now It stays in the air for a very loooooong ....time?

OH !and YES !,MY HUSBAND JUST CALLED THE VET!

offlights, thank you ,Your so sweet.

Answer 1

Get off the computer and take her to a vet NOW!!!!!!!!!!!

Distemper is a contagious virus. It has nothing to do with a dog's temperament, contrary to what many people seem to think.

Answer 2

Distemper is a highly contageous virus.Dogs carrying distemper shed the virus in all body secretionsSome symptoms are watery discharge from nose and eyes,fever,loss of appetite, lethargy,pus blisters can appear on the abdomen, the nasal discharge changes from watery to thick & yellow,there may also be vomiting & diarreha.In more advanced stages seizures may occur in addition to the above symptoms. Distemper appears 6-9 days after exposure.

Distemper is nothing at all like rabies. It also has nothing to do with temperament.

If left untreated or allowed to get to the advanced stages the dog usually dies.
This illness MUST be treated by a vet as soon as possible if the outcome is to be favorable.

It is important that puppies be vaccianted for distemper/parvo at 8 weeks (not before), 12 weeks and 16 weeks.

Answer 3

Distemper is a serious viral disease of dogs THAT CAN BE VACCINATED FOR very successfully. If a dog contracts distemper, it is most often fatal, if not, it can result in neurological damage like severe seizures, inability to walk, tremors, etc plus many other problems that often necessitate euthanasia. If your dog is vomiting and not eating, she should see a vet RIGHT AWAY. Especially an unvaccinated puppy could have many things including Parvo virus and distemper, which are both very serious. Even if it is not a viral disease, the not eating and vomiting can lead to rapid dehydration which is very serious, especially for puppies. Get your dog to a vet RIGHT AWAY! It can only get worse without treatment.

Here's more info on Distemper:

Canine distemper is a paramyxovirus, which appear very similar to the paramyxovirus causing human measles. The virus in the canine can affect a wide range of organs including the skin, brain, eyes, intestinal and respiratory tracts. The virus is transmitted through the air in addition to body secretions such as urine. Dogs of any age can be affected, however, most are puppies less than 6 months of age.

What are the symptoms?

Thickened and hard foot pad on a dog, typical of canine distemperDistemper virus can affect many systems of the body. The most common signs are nasal and eye discharge, coughing, diarrhea, vomiting, and seizures. Mildly affected dogs may only cough and be misdiagnosed as "kennel cough." Others may develop pneumonia. Puppies that recover may have severe enamel damage. The nose and foot pads of the young dog may become thickened, hence the nickname "hardpad disease."

What are the risks?

Teeth with a loss of enamel due to distemperDistemper is serious and can spread rapidly through a kennel, especially if unvaccinated individuals are present. Not all patients will die, however, a significant number may. Dogs of every age are susceptible, however, the very young and old have the highest death rate. Death rates may be as high as 75%. It is erroneously believed by some that all older dogs have a natural immunity. Although some may have immunity, many do not. Patients that recover from distemper may suffer permanent damage to vision as well as the nervous system. Puppies which recover can have severely mottled teeth due to abnormalities of the developing enamel.

How is canine distemper treated and prevented?

There is no specific treatment for canine distemper. Therapy is largely supportive. Intravenous fluids are administered to prevent dehydration. Anti-seizure medications can be used if neurologic signs develop.

Excellent vaccines have been developed to prevent distemper. The vaccines have been widely used for many years and have made significant strides in reducing the frequency of this disease. In the past, vaccines comprised of the human measles virus were occasionally utilized as a preventive. Using measles vaccines is a seldom practiced procedure today. Excellent vaccines with minimal side effects are available to give to puppies and dogs of every age. It must be emphasized that many older dogs do not develop a life long immunity to distemper. The vaccinations should be given yearly for life.

EDIT: God isn't going to save your freakin' dog! You have the internet, look up a local vet on www.switchboard.com or use a phone book. Call them and tell them what is going on. They will tell you to bring her right in and how to get there. Don't wait. Her death will be your fault, not God's.

Answer 4

TAKE HER TO THE VET!!!!! Foaming of the mouth could be RABIES, which is very dangerous to you and your family. Distemper causes cold like symptoms..runny nose, eyes along with gastrointenstinal upsets such as diarrhea and vomiting. Distemper can cause severe neurological problems and death if left untreated. At this point, I would be less concerned with WHAT she has and MORE concerned with keeping her alive...please get OFF the computer and take her to the vet if you care about her at all!!!!

Answer 5

DISTEMPER IS A DISEASE. AND WHAT MIGHT BE HAPPENING IS THAT YOUR BABY HAS CANTRACTED PARVOVIRUS A VERY COMMON AND VERY DEADLY DISEASE WHICH THE SYMPTOMS YOU DISCIBED SOUND LIKE. HAS YOU RDOG BEEN IN AN AREA FREQUENTED BY THER OLDER DOGS? IF YE STHEN THAT IS PROBABLY THE CULPRIT. THERE IS A HOMEOPATHIC REMEDY THAT I KNOW OF IS GATORADE AND BOILED RICE. EVEN IF YOU HAVE TO FORCE FEED HIM DO IT. THE VET WILL NOT USUALLY TREAT PARVO.

Answer 6

Jean, this is your third question about this dog in the last two hours. Virtually everyone is giving you the same advice. TAKE THE DOG TO THE VET!!!! NOW!

Answer 7

I didn't know what distemper was untill I read the answers. I just wanted to say that your dog will be in my prayers. I hope she gets well soon.

Answer 8

well my advice would be to take her to the vet now!!! Distemper is a contagious often fatal virus diesease amoung dogs. It changes there behaviour.

Answer 9

Bring her to the vet NOW! Get off of the computer and GO!

Answer 10

Ditto Melissa and Jaxchick!