My mom has a puppy with distemper and my daughter and I have been around him. We are planning on getting a puppy in a few weeks, but now I'm worried that our puppy might get infected. What should we do?
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It is spread by contact with the infected dog's blood, saliva or urine. It can also be spread through the air by a sneeze or cough. It can also be spread by shared food/water dishes. I would keep my new puppy away until it was vaccinated.
The Canine Distemper Virus can be transmitted through the urine and feces of infected dogs, but the primary method of transmission is through airborne viral particles breathed in by the dog. Dogs in the recovery phase of the disease may continue to shed the virus for several weeks, although once they are fully cured, the danger of infecting others is past. The CDV virus is susceptible to most disinfectants, so routine cleaning of the living quarters of infected dogs will minimize the spread of the disease.
yes, definitely keep the poor sick puppy quarantined, and make sure to clean up very well after all possibility of exposure is eliminated.
I have read that you should dispose of everything that the sick dog had - toys, dishes, etc - and that the rest of the house should be cleaned thoroughly with Lysol, or 20% bleach/80% water solution. Many folks say that 1 month is sufficient time for the virus to be not effective, but some advocate waiting up to a year before introducing a young dog into the home. Vaccinations of course should prevent the new dog from getting it.
distemper is passed thru body fluids but also can pass with dropplets in the air....if a dog coughs etc. near another dog.
It is sad that a puppy has such a terrible disease and although recovery can be a very long process I hope it will recover good health.
It does appear that it will be safe for you to acquire a new puppy as long as the puppy receives immunization before you bring it home. Once that is done, you should be able to continue to visit your mother even if her puppy is still sick.
However, exposure to distemper in a dog can make you a carrier of the disease, even though it shows no symptoms. The only safe thing to do is to immunize any other animals before you bring them home. Also, if humans have been immunized against measles, they are protected from CDV as well.
I have found a couple of sites that give a lot of information about this virus and maybe some information for your mother;
www.petplace.com/
www.marvistavet.com/
Canine Distemper
puppiesCanine distemper is a contagious and serious disease caused by a virus that attacks the respiratory, gastrointestinal and nervous systems of puppies and dogs.
The virus can also be found in wildlife such as foxes, wolves, coyotes, raccoons, skunks, mink and ferrets and has been reported in lions, tigers, leopards and other wild cats as well as seals.
How is canine distemper spread?
Veterinarians
Educate clients with the Canine Distemper brochure, also available in Spanish (Moquillo).
Puppies and dogs most often become infected through airborne exposure (through sneezing or coughing) to the virus from an infected dog or wild animal. The virus can also be transmitted by shared food and water bowls and equipment. Infected dogs can shed the virus for months, and mother dogs can pass the virus through the placenta to their puppies.
Because canine distemper also impacts wildlife populations, contact between wild animals and domestic dogs can facilitate the spread of the virus. Canine distemper outbreaks in local raccoon populations can signal increased risk for pet dogs in the area.
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