What is canine distemper? Canine distemper in dogs: symptoms, diagnosis, treatment. Symptoms, signs by which plague can be recognized

Canine distemper is viral disease, which is quite resistant to many external influences. Retains resistance at low temperatures - up to twenty-four degrees with a minus mark. At high temperatures it loses its pathogenic functionality. But you can also neutralize the virus using a two percent solution of sodium hydroxide, a one percent solution of formaldehyde, and Demp’s solution.

Young individuals are especially sensitive to distemper - puppies aged from three months up to one year.

During this period, a change in the dentition occurs, the growth of the skeleton and muscles is intense, as a result of which immunity is at a rather low level. Often the cause is poor sanitation and improper care of the animal. As a rule, babies who are on breastfeeding, are protected from infection due to the fact that antibodies against distemper enter the puppy’s body along with mother’s milk, but there are exceptions.

Often the cause of plague is poor sanitation.

Dog breeds and distemper

All breeds of dogs are susceptible to the disease.

All breeds are susceptible to the disease. The peak of pathology occurs in spring and autumn. Sources of infection are sick individuals. Carriers – humans, birds, insects.

What are the signs and symptoms of a dog with distemper?

The latent course lasts about three weeks.

With distemper, a dog's body temperature rises.

The disease does not manifest itself in any way, and the animal does not change its usual behavior. There are several forms:

• hyperacute course;
• acute form;
• chronic type;
• typical manifestation;
• atypical manifestation;
• lightning form.

Common signs are a rise in body temperature, but in babies the temperature may not rise. Ultra-acute form implies significant and sharp hyperthermia of the body, the animal stops eating, a coma occurs and after two or three days the animal dies.

Acute form

Acute form characterized by a duration of about a month, depending on general immunity pet.

The acute form of the disease is characterized by weakness and apathy in the dog.

• A feverish state is observed, body temperature up to forty-one degrees, which lasts for ten days or more.
• Weakness, oppression, apathy are visible.
• Basic reflexes are partially or completely lost.
• , fear loud sounds and photophobia, the animal hides and refuses food.
• Possible attacks of nausea and vomiting.
• Cracks and crusting are visible on the mucous membranes of the nose and on the outer surface.

Damage to the body

It is characteristic that plague can affect different systems body. As a result, the symptoms will be slightly different.

Distemper in dogs can affect different systems of the body.

Respiratory system

Defeat respiratory system characterized by purulent and nasal cavities.

Damage to the respiratory system is characterized by blockage of the nasal passages.

The nasal passages are blocked by a purulent mass, as a result of which breathing becomes difficult and the dog sniffles. The tonsils become inflamed and pain occurs. Diarrhea may then occur. Body temperature rises rapidly.

Intestinal system

Intestinal damage manifests itself in the form of frequent fainting states and a complete lack of appetite.

When the intestinal system is damaged, the dog often begins to drink.

Cutaneous plague is expressed in the appearance of blisters.

The temperature with this form of flow does not rise or rises to a rather insignificant level. In general, the patient feels fine and, apart from blisters on the skin, nothing bothers him. This state of affairs indicates the presence of a mild form of pathology.

Nervous system

The nervous origin of plague is expressed in a significant increase in body temperature, while appetite is preserved.

The dog may become lame.

• The animal's behavior changes, signs are observed nervous disorder– aggression, nervousness, irritability.
• Muscle tremors are visible. Lameness, paralysis, or all four, one or more may occur. If, as a result of paralysis of the limbs, paralysis of the heart or respiratory muscles occurs - sudden death.
• The presence of seizures similar to one inevitably leads to the death of the animal.
• Typically, the signs nerve damage are present for several months, less often they persist even after the animal’s recovery, until the end of its life, appearing periodically. Usually this state of affairs occurs at the end of any form of the disease.

The first symptoms do not begin in the fourth week or after apparent remission.

Damage to the fingertips

It happens that when all of the above symptoms occur, regardless of the type of plague, the fingertips may harden. Moreover, such a feature common to all types and can occur at any stage of the disease.

The fingertips may become hard.

Feature acute course the ability to transition to a chronic type of disease process appears.

In this case, alternation and constipation are possible. Severe exhaustion, loss of appetite or decreased activity, ruffled and dull coat. Eye discharge that dries out and crusts form in the corners of the eyes. In this case, recovery does not occur and ends in death.

Treatment at home

Integrated treatment approach – the right way to improve efficiency.

There is no universal remedy for the treatment of plague, however, you can select a set of drugs that, through coordinated interaction, will contribute to recovery.

General treatment in any form includes the introduction of the following solutions:

• methenamine – 40%;
• calcium gluconate - 10%;
• glucose – 40%;
• sodium chloride isotonic;
• diphenhydramine – 1%;
• ascorbic acid – 5%.

Treatment includes the administration of a solution of methenamine.

It is noteworthy that solutions should be prepared immediately before administration, under sterile conditions. It is administered by infusion, in a course of ten days.

Scheme

The drug Proserin is used subcutaneously.

1. Apply subcutaneously prozerin, strychnine solution for the prevention and treatment of paresis.
2. Eliminates cramps and muscle spasms mydocalm .
3. Reduces intracranial pressure – magnesium sulfate solution, furosemide .
4. Defeat of the central nervous system eliminated by applying parooccipital blockade, aminazine solution, sodium barbital .
5. The pet's agitated state is reduced by prescribing phenobarbital, benzonal, glutamic acid, folic acid .
6. Treatment continues for three weeks without interruption.
7. Used in parallel subcutaneous injections of novocaine course for ten days.
8. If present epileptic seizures, treatment recommended finlipsin, pagluferal .
9. Bacterial infection eliminated by antibiotic therapy, which includes the following drugs: chloramphenicol, norsulfazole, streptomycin, clofaran, kefzol, gentamicin.
10. As for specific treatment, serum is injected , containing antibodies from animals that have recovered from the disease and have entered complete remission.
11. To maintain general condition body and strengthening the immune system, it is advisable to use immunomodulators and immunostimulants.
12. IN for preventive purposes Heart medications are recommended - sulfocamphocaine, cocarboxylase.
13. Vitamin therapy of group B – B1, B6, B12, with parallel use of pantathen, nicotinamide.
14. Severe intoxication amenable to intravenous treatment with Ringer's solution.

The dog should be fed small portions of minced meat.

• They are fed finely chopped meat or minced meat in small portions.
• You can give a raw egg, but no more than twice a week.
• It is recommended to use low-fat cottage cheese and kefir.
• It is recommended to adhere to the diet even after recovery occurs.
• To avoid the transition to the nervous stage of the disease, you can give a decoction of motherwort.

Vaccination

Today there is effective vaccine against plague.

Vanguard is an imported vaccine against plague. Has proven itself well.

Domestic manufacturer - KF-668, EPM. Imported vaccines - hexodog, pentodog, vanguard, kanvak.

Video about distemper in dogs

Distemper in dogs is a serious viral disease, scientifically called canine distemper or Carré's disease. The mortality rate caused by this pathology ranges from 30 to 90%. A particularly dangerous period for dogs and their owners is the mid-season. The peak of the epidemic occurs in spring and autumn.

What you need to know about the virus

Routes of infection

Infection with the canine distemper virus occurs in two ways:

1. Through the respiratory tract.
2. Through organs digestive tract.

Once the virus enters an animal's body, it spreads quickly through circulatory system on all internal organs and lymph nodes.

How does the virus enter the external environment?

Sick dogs release the virus into the external environment along with physiological secretions: saliva, feces, urine, blood, sweat, mucus from the nose, discharge from the eyes.

Getting into environment, the plague virus remains viable:

• in mucus and feces – from 7 to 10 days;
• dried or chilled – up to several months;
• in lyophilized form (frozen and placed in a vacuum) – more than a year.

The virus is destroyed under the influence of high temperatures and UV rays, so in the summer, dogs rarely become infected with distemper. Some disinfectants also have a destructive effect on the virus.

How can a dog become infected?

A dog can catch the virus through direct contact with sick wild and domestic animals, through coughing and sneezing, as well as through care and hygiene items: bowls, clothes, leashes. Blood-sucking insects and some species of rodents can spread canine plague.

Since the virus lives in the environment for a long time, danger awaits dogs while walking. The owner himself can bring the infection into the house on dirty shoes or street clothes.

Incubation period

The hidden (latent) phase of the disease lasts about a week, but in exceptional cases this time can be reduced to a couple of days or, conversely, increased to 21 days. In some cases, the incubation period lasts up to 2-3 months. At this time no visible signs there is no disease yet, but the animal is already infectious to others and spreads the virus everywhere.

Risk group

The predisposition to this viral pathology depends on the age of the animal, its breed and genotype.

Puppies and unvaccinated young dogs are at risk for this disease. The offspring of unvaccinated dogs aged 2 to 7 months are especially vulnerable.. Such animals are more likely to become infected and become seriously ill with complications. One of the most common complications is pneumonia.

Dog breeds such as dogs and huskies are vulnerable to this disease. Approximately 20% of individuals have a genotype with a weakened immune response to the canine distemper virus. But, mongrel stray dogs are the most often affected.

Prognosis for recovery

The prognosis for recovery depends on several factors: vaccination status, speed of diagnosis, age of the animal, general health and clinical picture pathology.

Any dog ​​can get distemper, however, the prospects for recovery for purebred dogs are not as encouraging as for mongrels. An adult animal is likely to be able to overcome the disease, but puppies under the age of one year mostly die. But even if they can be cured, developmental delays affect the baby’s health for life.

Important! If a nursing bitch gets sick with distemper, then most often the puppies get a mild form of the disease and receive passive immunity for life.

Symptoms of distemper in dogs

The symptoms of canine plague are very extensive. The clinical picture is similar to other diseases of a viral and non-viral nature, and the virus spreads instantly. Therefore, there is no need to try to make a diagnosis yourself; when the first alarming or suspicious symptoms appear, immediately show the dog to a veterinarian.

Signs indicating plague:

• conjunctivitis (serous, bilateral) – purulent discharge from the eyes;
• photophobia (photophobia) - the animal hides in secluded corners of the home, avoids sunlight, looks for shaded areas on the street;
• redness of the eyes;
• sneezing;
• cloudy discharge from the nose;
• dry obsessive cough, turning into wet;
• breathing problems (shortness of breath);
• increased salivation;
• dandruff;
• depression;
• digestive disorders - bloating, vomiting, diarrhea;
• skin rash in the abdominal area;
• anorexia, weight loss;
• abnormal thickening of the footpads or nose (hyperkeratosis);
• apathy, lethargy, indifference to games;
• problems with coordination of movements - “drunk gait”;
• frequent chewing movements with salivation;
• paralysis, convulsions, muscle spasms, epileptic seizures.

For each animal, the clinical picture may be different depending on which organs and systems are affected by the virus. Sick pets may exhibit some or all of these signs. If at least one of the symptoms appears, call a veterinarian!

Important! The initial stage of distemper is characterized by fever, the dog's body temperature rises to 41°C.

Classification of pathology

According to the severity and form of the course

• chronic form - characterized by short-term awakening and attenuation of the disease;
• acute form, accompanied by all of the above symptoms;
• hyperacute form, observed as often as acute; but with it, the death of the dog occurs very quickly - within 2-3 days, and the symptoms of the disease are high temperature, refusal to eat;
• lightning-fast form, leads to the instant death of the dog without any external manifestations.

Important! A dog that has suffered from distemper often subsequently has mental problems; it may lack a sense of smell and have decreased vision.

By location

1. Pneumonic plague- this is the entry of the virus into the respiratory tract, as a result of which a high temperature rises, a paroxysmal cough begins, as well as diarrhea, vomiting, discharge from the nose and eyes.
   
2. Intestinal plague- this is incessant vomiting, diarrhea, which has a very bad smell. The dog refuses to eat, black spots appear on the teeth, and possible loss of consciousness from dehydration and exhaustion.
   
3. Cutaneous plague The easiest type of disease to diagnose. It is characterized by the appearance of a rash on the body - on the nose, paw pads, ears. Soon the rash turns into sores, which begin to itch, bleed and become inflamed. With proper treatment, recovery soon occurs, but without treatment, the dog dies from infection.
   
4. Nervous plague affects the nervous system. The dog becomes detached, convulsions appear, loss of coordination, limbs fail and, as a result, death occurs from muscle spasm of the respiratory and heart organs.
   
5. The mildest form of distemper is considered to be hardening of the foot pads (hyperkeratosis). It is preceded by intestinal and pulmonary symptoms in a mild form.
   

Important! Dogs diagnosed with nerve distemper die almost 100%.

Stages of canine plague

There are two stages of the disease:

• Feverish– initial, treatable with a low percentage of animal mortality. May last 4-6 weeks.
• Nervous– develops after fever with ineffective therapy. The stage is rapidly progressing. In most cases within 15-30 days nervous stage animals die.

Diagnosis of distemper in dogs

The difficulty in diagnosing this viral infection lies in the fact that it is possible to make a diagnosis based on a clinical blood test only on the 5th-6th day of infection. By this time, a sufficient amount of specific immunoglobulins, produced by the dog’s body in response to the disease, accumulates in the blood.

If the dog was once vaccinated against canine distemper, these immunoglobulins will be present in its blood, which also prevents a correct diagnosis.

Laboratory testing of animal secretions (nasal mucus, urine) is the second method of diagnosis, but it is not 100% informative. Experienced veterinarians can diagnose distemper in a living animal by analyzing the clinical picture and history. But with this approach it is important to exclude everything possible diseases with similar symptoms.

Treatment of plague

Professional treatment

Prescribes a treatment regimen veterinarian depending on the stage of the disease (febrile, nervous). The dog owner should seek veterinary help as early as possible so as not to miss the febrile stage. The earlier therapy is started, the higher the chances of cure and saving the pet’s life.

Therapeutic measures during the febrile stage of distemper are aimed at maintaining the dog’s body and suppressing the virus.

1. Administration of hyperimmune serum is effective up to 10 days after the onset of the first symptoms. Specific immunoglobulins are administered once in a large dosage. In more late dates- application is useless.
2. Interferon drugs - to neutralize the life processes of the virus.
3. Immunostimulants are the most effective group drugs against canine distemper.
4. Antiviral chemotherapy - methenamine.
5. Calcium-containing preparations compensate for the lack of calcium that occurs during the plague.
6. Vitamin therapy – B vitamins, rutin, ascorbic acid.
7. Antibiotic therapy.
8. Symptomatic treatment. It is prescribed in each case individually depending on the form of the disease.

Important!

At this stage, it is important to prevent an overdose of antipyretic drugs, antibiotics and immunostimulants.

Therapy for the nervous stage of plague involves the use of drugs that suppress immune reactions that destroy the brain.

1. Antiviral therapy - ribavirin, comedon.
2. Calcium preparations.
3. Vitamin therapy.
4. Immunosuppressive drugs (corticosteroids) – hydrocortisone, dexamethasone.
5. Anticonvulsants – finlepsin, prozerin, mydocalm.

Important!

At the nervous stage, the use of hyperimmune serum is unacceptable - this will lead to an irreparable result, the dog’s brain will begin to deteriorate faster.

Traditional methods

Let us make a reservation that the safety and effectiveness of traditional methods of treating distemper are denied by professional veterinarians.

• Vodka. Depending on the size of the dog, 30-50 grams of vodka are poured into the mouth. This is done with a medical syringe without a needle.
• Cocktail made from vodka and eggs. Take 100 ml of vodka, 1 raw egg, 1 teaspoon of honey. Mix everything in a blender and feed the resulting mixture to the dog.

According to reviews from owners, vodka can only help at the initial stage of the disease. It is best to use it in combination with medications.

Important!

You should not self-medicate; your doctor must determine a treatment regimen.

What should the owner of a sick dog do?

Sick dogs are hospitalized and quarantined so as not to infect other animals. The exact timing of isolation is determined by the veterinarian, based on the degree of pathology, the severity of its course, the clinical picture and the general condition of the animal.

Recovered dogs pose a danger to their relatives for several weeks or months - they may still be infectious. The owner must ensure that they do not come into contact with other pets.

Everything that the sick animal has come into contact with must be disinfected. This applies to surfaces, bedding (if the dog was allowed to sleep with its owners), dog supplies, beds, and toys.

How does canine plague affect your health?

Individuals who have recovered from the disease may be left with damage to the brain and central nervous system, which manifests itself several years after the illness. This usually occurs in older dogs. They may experience convulsive conditions and other disturbances in the functioning of the nervous system and brain activity.

Prevention

Cannot be completely fenced off healthy pet from contact with the virus. Therefore, there are only two methods of prevention:

Important!

Carnivore plague is a disease with a very high mortality rate, do not neglect preventive measures!

Stories of owners and veterinarians

Stepan Petrovich, shepherd owner:“We adopted a shepherd dog for foster care; the dog was already three years old. A few weeks later she developed symptoms of ARVI; they thought she caught a cold in a draft. They took him to the veterinarian, where they examined the animal, did tests and diagnosed it with distemper. The vet said that we contacted early- it saved the animal. We were prescribed: anandin (antiviral), immunomodulators, vitamins, glucose and calcium. The dog was rescued. And some owners are asked to euthanize their pets. It’s good that they didn’t advise us to do that.”

Igor Nikolaevich, veterinarian:“I’m tired of telling my clients not to torture poor sick animals.” traditional medicine. If you want to drink vodka, drink it yourself! Distemper is a fatal disease; people like this are not to be trifled with and there is no time for experiments. Even a correctly selected professional treatment regimen does not always provide a guaranteed cure. It all depends on the immune system of each dog. Do not hesitate, contact the clinic immediately. And remember that vaccination is the only chance to save your pet from this disease.”

Video:

Canine distemper, canine distemper- a viral disease characterized by damage to the respiratory, digestive, skin organs, and sometimes meningitis and encephalomyelitis. Dogs of all ages are affected, but more often from 1 month to 2 years. Predatory mammals, including marine ones, are susceptible to the disease. Terriers and boxers are relatively stable. The person is not sick.

Causes and development of the disease

The causative agent - an RNA containing morbillivirus of the paramyxovirus family - enters the dog's body through the nose or mouth. It penetrates the lymphoid tissue and spreads with blood and lymph throughout the body. Reproducing in the epithelial cells of the digestive tract, respiratory organs, genitourinary organs, vascular endothelium, the virus has a cytopathic effect, creates conditions for the vital activity of saprophytic and pathogenic microflora, disrupts the functioning of organs and tissues, and sensitizes the body. Having crossed the blood-brain barrier, the virus causes inflammation of the membranes of the brain and spinal cord (meningitis), which spreads to the substance of the brain and spinal cord (encephalomyelitis). In the pathogenesis of the nervous stage of plague great importance has demyelination of the substance of the brain and spinal cord due to the formation immune complexes and the damaging effects of macrophages. Penetrating through the placental barrier, the virus causes intrauterine infection of fetuses. IN in some cases The virus survives in the dog’s body for a long time without causing clinical signs of disease. Such dogs are capable of infecting other animals.

Clinical signs of distemper in dogs are very diverse - from asymptomatic virus carriage to a lightning-fast, violent course. The duration of the disease ranges from several days to several months. If the clinical picture of the disease is dominated by signs of damage to the respiratory organs, they speak of the pneumonic form of plague, the nervous system - the nervous form, etc.

However, this division is conditional. The forms of plague with predominant symptoms of damage to the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts are of independent importance. Skin lesions can occur in respiratory and intestinal forms of plague, and the nervous form is only the final, but not obligatory stage of the disease.

Canine distemper begins when one or more of the following symptoms appear: pustular or macular rash on the inner thighs and groin, runny nose, diarrhea, depression, temporary refusal to feed, redness of the conjunctiva. As a rule, body temperature rises; however miniature poodles and some other breeds of dogs, as well as small puppies, plague can occur when normal temperature. The animal is hiding in dark place, walks reluctantly. The skin becomes dry. The nasal mirror is dry, with a pronounced microrelief. The skin on the fingertips cracks, callus of the skin (hyperkeratosis) on the elbows and hock joints, as well as fine focal baldness, is possible. Nasal discharge, initially clear, becomes mucopurulent. Mucopurulent exudate accumulates in the corners of the eyes. Possible clouding of the cornea (keratitis), redness and sticking of the inflamed eyelids (blepharitis). Shortness of breath appears, wheezing is heard in the lungs (bronchopneumonia). The intestinal form of plague is characterized by damage predominantly gastrointestinal tract- vomiting, diarrhea.

In approximately half of cases, the central nervous system is affected. Most often, nervous symptoms appear 3.5-4 weeks after the onset of the disease. If you are not careful with your dog, you may not notice the first signs of plague and then treatment is ineffective in most cases. The first sign of the nervous stage of the disease is tics of the muscles of the head, fore and hind limbs.

The intensity of the tics increases. Animals begin to whine, especially at night. Weakness of the hind limbs appears, skin sensitivity increases and then decreases. If the active process ends here, then the animal continues to experience hyperkinesis, paresis and paralysis for a long time or for life. Otherwise, meningoencephalomyelitis, accompanied by severe intoxication, ends in the death of the animal.

Occasionally, the nervous form of plague in dogs appears immediately or several days after the appearance of precursors of the disease. In this case, the disease occurs in the form of meningitis and quickly ends in death.

Dogs constantly have a high temperature (up to 42 degrees Celsius), vomiting, drooling, aggressiveness, convulsions, unsteady gait, and gluttony are possible. The animals groan, fall into a comatose state and soon die. There are no tics.

The third type of nervous form of plague is characterized by first rare (1-2 per month), and then increasingly frequent generalized tonic convulsions. Convulsions occur like epileptic seizures. After a certain period of time, tics and night pain may appear; the temperature rises to 40-41 degrees Celsius and the animals die, being in a comatose state.

Dogs who have recovered from the disease may have hyperkeratosis, structural disturbances and darkening of tooth enamel, dyspeptic symptoms and increased sensitivity to various biological and chemical factors.

The diagnosis during life is made based on an analysis of the clinical picture. Pathognomonic symptoms are hyperkeratoses of the nasal planum and the skin of the extremities in combination with rash, rhinitis and conjunctivitis at an elevated temperature, as a rule. The nervous form of plague in the presence of tics is easily diagnosed; in their absence, it is necessary to differentiate the plague from helminthic infestation (lack of fever), rabies (paralysis of the swallowing muscles), epilepsy (lack of fever, catarrhal phenomena etc.). The intestinal form of plague is differentiated from parvoviral enteritis (lasts 4-7 days, constant vomiting, refusal of food and water), adenoviral and corona viral infections(short duration). Retrospective serodiagnosis is possible. Of the laboratory indicators, leukocytosis is important, increase in ESR and anemia.

Treatment of canine distemper depends on which syndrome predominates - respiratory, intestinal or cutaneous. However, in any case, it is necessary to use hyperimmune serum against canine distemper at a dose of 1-2 ml/kg, subcutaneously, or hyperimmune gammaglobulin. The administration is repeated after 24 hours and after 7 days. You must first do a sensitivity test by injecting 0.5-1 ml of serum subcutaneously 4-6 hours before the main dose. Timely use of anti-plague serum leads in most cases to recovery within 7-10 days. The use of hyperimmune serum 2-3 weeks after the onset of the disease, as well as in the nervous form, can sharply worsen the dog’s condition. The use of anti-measles gammaglobulin and other human globulins is ineffective.

The use of antibiotics is mandatory. If there is no data microbiological analysis semisynthetic penicillins (ampicillin, oxacillin, carbenicillin), cephalosporins (cefazolin, claforan), aminoglycosides (gentamicin, amikacin, tobramycin), macrolides (erythromycin, tylosin), biseptol, abactal, zanocin (tarivid) are used. A combination of an antibiotic with biseptol or an antibiotic with a quinolone derivative is justified. The course of treatment is 7-10 days.

It is better to use oral forms of antimicrobial agents.

Only in cases of pneumonia or bronchopneumonia is the use of injectable drugs indicated. For longer treatment, nystatin or levorin is given orally to prevent candidiasis. If the temperature does not decrease and the dog’s health does not improve, it is necessary to change the antibiotic, and if this is not possible, double the dose. In the intestinal form of plague, the use of local antimicrobial agents is justified - polymyxin M sulfate, phthalazole, salazodimethoxin, as well as decoctions and infusions of anti-inflammatory and astringent herbal remedies.

In the first days of illness, it is used to desensitize the body. antihistamines(diphenhydramine, diazolin, diprazine, suprastin), as well as glucocorticoids (prednisolone, triamcinolone, dexamethasone). In the future, multivitamin preparations are indicated (“Aerovit”, “Glutamevit”, “Kvadevit”, etc.).

Mucopurulent discharge from the eyes and nose is removed with cotton wool wound on a match, the eyes are washed with tea leaves, drops of zinc sulfate, Sofradex, dexamethasone suspension are instilled, or hydrocortisone ointment is applied. The nasal planum is lubricated with baby cream or face cream. Areas of skin covered with a rash are treated with aerosols containing anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial agents(“Oxycort”, “Polcortolone”).

For bronchopneumonia, mucolytic (mucaltin, bromhexine, sodium bicarbonate, broncholitin), antitussive (libexin, glaucine hydrochloride) and bronchodilator (aminophylline) agents are used. In case of severe intoxication, forced diuresis with furosemide. If the temperature exceeds 40 degrees Celsius, the dog is given antipyretics 2-3 times a day - acetylsalicylic acid or paracetamol.

The most difficult form of distemper to treat is the nervous form of distemper in dogs.

It is necessary that the dog owner is aware of the most likely outcome of the disease - the death of the animal, as well as possible residual effects in the event of recovery. The use of hyperimmune serum in the nervous form of plague is ineffective. Drug therapy in the active stage of the process includes the use of increased doses of glucocorticoids (prednisolone 2-10 mg/kg/day, triamcinolone 1.5-8 mg/kg/day, dexamethasone 0.2-1 mg/kg/day), analgesics ( analgin 0.25 g/10 kg 2-3 times a day, suppositories “Cefekon”), sedatives and sleeping pills(phenobarbital 2 mg/kg 2-3 times a day, aminazine 2-5 mg/kg 1-2 times a day, diazepam 0.1-0.5 mg/kg 2-3 times a day, elenium at the same dose ), vitamins (thiamine, pyridoxine, cyanocobalamin), glutamic acid (10 mg/kg 2-3 times a day), diuretics (furosemide 1-2 mg/kg 2 times a day, uregitis 3-5 mg/kg 1 time per day), kinonor or interferon (intramuscular contents of 1 ampoule 2 times a day).

After a decrease in temperature, nootropic drugs are used to combat paresis and paralysis (piracetam 10-20 mg/kg 3 times a day, aminalon 20 mg/kg 3 times a day, pyriditol 5 mg/kg 3 times a day), cholinomimetics (prozerin, oxazil, kalimin), absorbable and stimulating drugs (duplex, potassium iodide, bismoverol, tissue preparations). Massage, darsonvalization, irradiation with visible and ultraviolet light are indicated. Multivitamin therapy is required.

To prevent canine distemper, vaccination is used. In exceptional cases, for example, if another dog in the apartment is sick with plague, they resort to prophylaxis with anti-plague serum, but serum immunity is short-lived (2-3 weeks) and there is a threat of sensitization of the dog’s body with serum proteins. At room temperature, the plague virus can survive external environment within 3 months

Canine distemper - the popular name, the true name of the disease - viral plague carnivores (VChP). From the name it follows that not only dogs suffer from it, but they are the ones who are most sensitive, which is why the disease is associated with dogs. The reason for the name is the high mortality rate of animals - up to 90% in the absence of treatment. But don’t despair when a dog gets sick with distemper; recovery is possible if the owner approaches treatment with maximum responsibility.

The causative agent of the disease

An RNA virus of the Paramyxoviridae family of the Morbillivirus genus. In terms of antigenic characteristics, the virus is more similar to human measles than to the bubonic plague of the Middle Ages. In other words, the anti-measles serum effectively (but experimentally) fights canine distemper. This is worth paying attention to, because... After a pet has suffered from canine measles, its resistance to canine distemper increases sharply.

The virus is resistant to environmental influences. It retains the ability to become infected in a dried state for up to 4 months, and in the cold for up to 9 months. Heating to 45 o C will lead to the death of the virion only after 2 weeks, to 60 o C - only after half an hour. Only heating to 100 o C kills the virus in 1-2 minutes. Solutions of formalin, bleach and other common disinfectants kill the virus, but only after 1-3 hours of continuous exposure.

Spread of the disease

Almost all types of carnivorous animals suffer from distemper. Separately, it is worth highlighting domestic cats, since they tolerate HCP most easily; in fact, there is not a single case of manifestation of the disease. At the same time, as a result of research, it has been established that 10-30% of all cats in different countries of the world have had the disease and have antibodies in their blood.

Attention! If a dog and a cat live in the house, then in the absence of vaccination the pet has a higher chance of getting distemper.

There is a conditional breed predisposition to the disease. The most severely ill dogs are the following breeds: huskies, shelties and collies, poodles, Pekingese, Staffies and German shepherds.

How does plague infection occur?

A particular danger lies in the fact that the virus begins to be released in a sick animal even before the onset of clinical manifestations of the disease. The animal also infects other household inhabitants for another 7-10 days after recovery.

The main source of the virus is a sick animal. When infected, the pathogen is released from:

• feces;
• urine;
• sputum from the lungs;
• saliva;
• discharge from the lacrimal glands;
• then from the sweat glands;
• pus from skin pustules.

The virus is quite stable in the external environment, so infection occurs not only through direct contact with a sick animal ( by airborne droplets). With indirect contact, the risks of infection are also quite high: through care and maintenance items (water, food, toys, sleeping mats) or, for example, through clothing in which the owner (breeder) came into contact with a sick animal and then went to a healthy one.

By the way, that’s why, before you start new dog after dying from plague, all objects in contact with it should be destroyed and quarantined for 3 to 6 months so that the virus has time to die without a new source of food. Also, to avoid risks, it is better to take the next puppy vaccinated immediately.

Probability of infection

Outbreaks of plague become less frequent in the summer, but in general, infection can occur at any time of the year. The frequency of infection is affected by high humidity in spring and autumn. The weakening of the immune system after illness also has an effect. colds. Immunosuppressive diseases (which are difficult to tolerate), poor feeding, and lack of hygiene standards in the room increase the chance of developing HCP.

Course of the disease

The pathogen often penetrates through the mucous membranes of the respiratory system and enters the pulmonary lymphatic system. The main place of virus reproduction is immune cells (macrophages, lymphocytes, monocytes) and lymph nodes. During the first 7-10 days, the virus covers the entire immune system body. Because of this, ICP is often complicated by bacterial and fungal diseases.

The virus then spreads through the blood and lymph and enters all tissues and organs. Despite systematic defeat, the disease often manifests itself in the form of 1 or several syndromes that develop simultaneously or alternately replace each other. A week later, infection of the nervous system begins. After 3-4 weeks, signs of damage to the nervous system begin to appear.

The chronic course is also mainly manifested by the nervous syndrome of distemper. These include changes in the animal's character, paralysis and paresis, and epileptic seizures. At further development the disease causes the death of the animal from extensive paralysis of vital nerve centers responsible for heartbeat and breathing.

Incubation period and forms

The incubation period ranges from 2-4 days to 2-3 weeks. The only symptom of distemper in dogs at this time may be lethargy and decreased appetite. There are fulminant, acute, subacute and chronic course. There are also pulmonary, skin, intestinal, nervous and other forms of the disease. Separate form serves as “hard paw” - a skin disease manifested by soreness and pronounced hyperkeratosis of the pads on the paws.

Lightning form

The immediate form usually develops in unvaccinated puppies in the first 1-2 months of life. This form is characterized by the absence of any symptoms other than high fever. Death occurs within a day or even several hours, so in reality it is impossible to fight this form.

Acute form

In general, the acute course is similar to lightning, only more extended in time. First, the dogs' temperature rises to 41-42 o C, their appetite disappears, and convulsions or paralysis may occur. On the 2nd or 3rd day, a coma develops and the death of the animal occurs.

Subacute form

The first symptom of distemper in dogs is fever. It usually lasts 1-2 days, but can be observed for 1-2 weeks, after which the fever becomes remitting (disappears and returns). At the first stage, depression, fearfulness, dry nose and loss of appetite are noticeable. After 2-3 days, symptoms characteristic of the disease develop.

Symptoms

Epizootological literature sources identify 7 different clinical syndromes:

• cutaneous (cutaneous plague);
• respiratory (pulmonary form);
• ophthalmological;
• urogenital;
• nutritional (intestinal);
• osteoporotic;
• nervous (nervous form).

But in practice the most common ones are:

• generalized form that includes everything possible symptoms(in 90-95% of cases),
• nutritional, turning into nervous,
• nervous,
• ophthalmological.

Other forms are found (diagnosed) extremely rarely.

Skin syndrome

• Develops in the first 2-3 days. The cutaneous form may be present throughout the course of the disease, but often disappears after 1-2 weeks.
• The skin is affected subcutaneous tissue, typical localization is the inner thighs and groin area. Damage to the abdomen may be observed, and less commonly, to the inner surface of the forelimbs and ears.
• Red spots appear. Later, nodules form in their place, and then bubbles with a diameter of 1-10 mm. They are filled with serous or purulent yellow-green exudate; after the vesicle ruptures, the liquid flows out and forms brown crusts.
• After recovery, all bubbles disappear without a trace.

Respiratory syndrome

• Develops one of the first or first (instead of cutaneous form), within 2-3 days or a week.
• The upper, middle and lower respiratory tracts are affected, the order of involvement in the disease is from the nose to the lungs.
• The temperature increases slightly – by 1-1.5°C. Fever has two peaks of temperature rise, the first rise - at the very beginning of the disease, as a rule, remains unnoticed. The second peak of the rise is observed with discharge from the nose and eyes.
• Nasal discharge is initially serous-mucous, then becomes purulent. They dry quickly, leaving crusts on the nose and nasal passages. This causes inconvenience to the animal; the dog often sneezes, scratches its nose with its paws or on objects, trying to clean it. Due to heavy discharge, the dog loses its sense of smell.
• The cough is initially dry, but after 3-4 days it becomes wet. The noise is first heard only in the large bronchi, and then moves into the lower respiratory tract - into the bronchioles and alveoli.
• With adequate treatment, the symptoms disappear after 1-2 weeks, but the sense of smell is restored only after 1-2 months.

Ophthalmic syndrome

• Develops 1-2 weeks after infection.
• The eyeballs are affected; in advanced cases, the disease spreads to the optic nerve and then to the visual part of the brain.
• First, hyperemia and swelling of the conjunctiva develops. Initially, serous-mucous discharge from the eyes is observed, then it becomes purulent. The discharge accumulates in the corners of the eyes, is very abundant, after cleaning, it appears again the next day. If you do not wipe them away, the discharge sticks to the eyelids, which is why the dog often cannot open his eyes.
• The pet tries to hide in a dark place and reacts painfully to light. When spreading to deep layers eyeball (choroid, retina and optic nerve) the dog completely or partially loses vision. The iris becomes green in color. In case of defeat optic nerve The pupils dilate and there is no reaction to light.
• At timely treatment When the deep layers of the eyeball are not affected, complete restoration of vision is observed. In severe cases, partial or total loss vision.

Nutritional syndrome

• The intestines and stomach become inflamed (gastroenteritis).
• Usually develops 1-2 weeks after the animal is infected.
• Common symptoms are loss of appetite, frequent vomiting and diarrhea not associated with food intake. Diarrhea periodically changes to constipation. As a result intestinal form dogs and its symptoms develop dehydration and exhaustion.
• After recovery, the symptoms of gastroenteritis disappear without a trace.

Urogenital syndrome

• Kidneys become inflamed bladder, ureters.
• It is observed quite rarely, the development of the syndrome occurs 1-2 weeks after infection.
• Only in isolated cases are severe disorders of the excretory system observed - fever, loss of appetite, swelling of tissue in the scrotum, neck, head. Characteristic signs are difficulty urinating, impurities of pus or blood are observed in the blood.
• After recovery, inflammation of the urinary system goes away.

Osteoporosis syndrome

• The metaphyses of long tubular bones are affected.
• The syndrome develops only in puppies 6 months of age 1-2 weeks after infection.
• The composition of bones and their natural development are disrupted. As a result, bone deformation and limb bending occur, gait is disrupted, and movement becomes difficult.
• Stop when recovering pathological changes in the bones, but their return to their natural state is no longer possible.

Nervous form

• The cells of the central nervous system - the brain and spinal cord - are affected.
• More often, nervous distemper develops at the very end of the disease, after 3-4 weeks. In this case, a false “recovery” may be observed - a period of 6-7 days when the pet seems healthy.

The syndrome begins with depression, which periodically gives way to excitement. Often, nystagmus is added to the symptoms - oscillatory eye movements (left-right or up-down).

Then a lack of coordination develops with disproportionality of movements, which leads to:

• to shaking the head;
• difficulties in overcoming basic obstacles (stairs);
• frequent, causeless falls out of the blue.

Next, periodically occurring tonic (stiffness) and clonic (rapid movements or trembling) muscle spasms appear. Typically, cramps occur in the extensor muscles. As the disease develops, convulsions cover the dog’s entire body.

A pseudoepileptic seizure begins with an increase in the animal's anxiety. If the pet retains the ability to move, then it runs in circles, unable to stop, it bumps into surrounding objects. This may lead to the misconception that the dog is blind. Hypersalivation is observed - copious flow of saliva from the mouth.

Then a spasm of the facial muscles and a tonic spasm of the whole body occurs. At this moment, the animal loses consciousness for 0.5-2 minutes. Then the seizure gives way to a clonic convulsion, the animal thrashes, makes swimming movements, the facial muscles twitch, because of this the dog can bite its tongue. The pupils of the eyes dilate unnaturally wide, and occasionally involuntary discharge of urine, semen, or feces occurs.

After a seizure, the dog gets up and doesn’t seem to understand what’s happening. She may not recognize the owner, get lost in space, there is a lack of coordination, the dog walks unsteadily, and often falls. If a seizure occurs when the pet can no longer move (limbs are paralyzed), then after the seizure the dog falls asleep.

As the disease progresses, seizures become more frequent and last longer. A different picture may be observed - the seizures remain short, but one is almost immediately followed by another.

An extremely unfavorable symptom is causeless howling. In this case, the dog periodically howls or whines (does not bark); such attacks vary quite widely in duration. Added to this may be excitement, in which the dog itself chews its tail and paws. It is not yet known whether these symptoms are true sign animal suffering.

If the outcome is unfavorable, the disease ends in paresis and paralysis of the limbs. Usually one or both hind limbs are affected. Then the seizures become shorter, and twilight consciousness The dog seems to be losing his mind. Finally, respiratory distress and tachycardia are observed, after which the death of the animal occurs.

The mortality rate for the nervous form is 80-90%. But there is a suspicion that the mortality rate is lower, since owners often euthanize their animals, unable to bear their suffering. Even in case of recovery, some signs of the disease remain forever (periodic convulsions, loss of vision, lameness)! Relapses of the disease are also possible, despite the fact that the immunity developed is long-lasting and durable.

Chronic form

Nervous distemper in dogs can develop independently, bypassing the acute or subacute form, but more often occurs after visible recovery from VChP. Also chronic development Distemper can occur in case of unsuccessful vaccination of puppies.

Chronic recurrent encephalomyelitis

• Typically occurs in dogs older than 5-6 years.
• In this form, relapses are replaced by remissions. Typically, over time, relapses increase in duration (from 7-9 weeks to 3 months). With them, the dog experiences progressive atrophy and weakness of the muscles of the limbs (usually the hind ones). During seizures, the animal keeps its head down and is in continuous motion, making movements of unequal lengths with different limbs.
• The chronic form, with proper care, improvement and mitigation of relapses is possible, complete recovery is impossible.

Multifocal chronic encephalomyelitis

• Typically seen in dogs aged 4-8 years.
• Parts of the brain and spinal cord are affected.
• Recovery is impossible; with good care, death can be delayed.

Often with this syndrome there is no previous acute or subacute form of plague. The disease is expressed in poor coordination, weakness of the animal, and periodic causeless falls. Signs gradually intensify over time long period time (up to a year). There is loss of vision on one or both sides.

Then they begin periodic attacks with convulsions, paralysis of the limbs. After this, paralysis of the hind limbs develops and the pet is completely unable to move independently. In the final stage, respiratory failure, tachycardia and death of the animal are observed.

Diffuse sclerosing encephalitis

• It is more common in dogs older than 6 years.
• Parts of the brain are affected.
• The disease develops over several months or even a year, after which it inevitably ends in death.

First observed depressive state, periodically alternating with excitement and motor activity, with frequent circular movements. The animal can take a “thoughtful pose” - put its head on surrounding objects and stand there for hours.

Over time, the dog loses vision and intellectual abilities decrease:

• the pet ceases to recognize its owners;
• all acquired skills are lost;
• the dog cannot guess about basic things (what to do with food or water).

Post-vaccination encephalitis

• Develops in puppies aged 2 to 6 months, after vaccination 1-2 weeks later.
• Parts of the brain are affected.
• The prognosis is guarded, the chances of recovery or death are 50/50.

Initially, the pet experiences anorexia, depression and fever. Then the dog's character and behavior changes. For example, a pet becomes aggressive towards all surrounding people and animals and even towards its owner. Or, on the contrary, a depressed depressive state may occur. The dog wanders in circles for no reason, whines or howls. Then seizures develop, coordination of movements is impaired, and blindness occurs.

Chronic skin syndrome (hard feet)

• Occurs in dogs at any age.
• The paw pads are affected, and much less commonly, the nasal planum.
• Usually observed after transfer acute form plague. It is characterized by hyperkeratosis of the nose and paw pads - the growth and keratinization of the outer layers of the skin. The form of distemper received the name “hard-footed” because hyperkeratosis of the paw pads is observed much more often.
• The keratinized layers of the skin become hard, rough, and constantly crack. A bacterial infection can develop in the cracks, in which case it becomes painful for the pet to move.
• With high-quality and timely treatment of the skin form, the chances of recovery are 80%.

The bottom line is what dog owners should actually pay attention to in order to understand that their pet is sick:

• severe depression and apathy,
• loss of appetite and sometimes lack of thirst (does not eat or drink),
• high body temperature (up to 39.6-41°C),
• purulent discharge from the eyes and/or nose,
• unexplained lameness
• sometimes wheezing in the lungs (rare).

If these signs are detected, you should take your pet to the veterinarian as soon as possible, because... the risks of death are high.

Forecast

Canine plague is an extremely dangerous disease. In the absence of treatment, the mortality rate of domestic animals reaches 80-90%. There is no specific treatment effective at all stages of the disease. There are specific serums and immunomodulatory ones antivirals, which help in 90% of cases, but the peculiarity is that they must be administered in the initial 1-3 days of illness. Therefore, one often has to rely on the animal’s immunity and symptomatic therapy.

But with all possible help The probability of a pet dying at the nervous stage is still 40-50%. And even if the animal recovers, there may be “consequences” in the form of blindness, lameness, changes in the pet’s character or epilepsy. To increase the likelihood of a full recovery, you need to overcome the disease before it becomes nervous form. Then the chances are high not only to get rid of the threat of death, but also to completely eliminate all the symptoms of the disease.

Treatment

No veterinarian will immediately guarantee recovery if a diagnosis of canine distemper has been made. The sooner the dog owner notices the deterioration in the health of his pet, the greater the chance of salvation. Treatment is carried out only comprehensively, including general antiviral therapy, symptomatic and supportive. Treatment is neither quick nor cheap.

Treatment includes the following therapies:

• etiotropic, i.e. directly antiviral, aimed at eliminating the cause of the disease (virus);
• symptomatic;
• restorative-replacement, i.e. impact on the entire body at once (removal of general intoxication, removal from a state of dehydration, introduction of vitamins and general stimulants, etc.).

Attention: all drugs listed for the treatment of plague are given for general information only, because with inept selection of treatment regimens, medications can enter into unwanted reactions with corresponding consequences.

All drugs are administered in the form of droppers, as well as intramuscular, intravenous and subcutaneous injections. Any oral forms of medications are allowed to be taken after the gastrointestinal tract has normalized and the urge to vomit has been eliminated. Until this moment, giving something by mouth is pointless and inadvisable!

Specific therapy

For treatment, serum with antibodies from the blood of already recovered animals is used (Giskan 5, Vitacan-S). These drugs provide short-term protection and are most effective during the incubation period and at the initial stage of the disease. Unfortunately, the use of anti-plague serums for acute nervous syndrome is not only ineffective, but even worsens the symptoms and often leads to the death of pets.

The serum is administered in the maximum permissible dosage of 1-1.5 ml, depending on the type of serum, the weight of the animal and its well-being. Injections are given intramuscularly or subcutaneously.

Any serum is foreign proteins, to prevent an allergic reaction, simultaneous administration of 0.5-1 ml of diphenhydramine 1% solution is recommended.

Nonspecific therapy

To provide additional resistance against immunity, leukocyte plasma is administered - the blood plasma of healthy animals, rich in leukocytes. Administered intravenously in an amount of 0.3-0.4 ml/kg of dog weight. Intramuscular and subcutaneous administration is possible; in this case, a 2-2.5% solution of novocaine is added to the plasma in an amount of 1-2 ml. In the absence of a special anti-plague serum, anti-measles gamma globulin is used as a replacement - it is administered intramuscularly in an amount of 1-3 ml daily for 2-3 days in a row.

Nonspecific therapy also includes the introduction of immunomodulators. On initial stages immunostimulants are used, giving preference to those that:

• stimulate the production of interferons: Maxidin, Ribotan, Fosprenil, Cycloferon, Forvet;
• stimulate the synthesis of cytokines: Ribotan, Fosprenil;
• activate the proliferation of lymphocytes: Ribotan, Fosprenil;
• exhibit antiviral effects: Immunofan, Maxidin, Fosprenil.

As can be seen from the list of the most broad action has Fosprenil - this drug is considered the best in veterinary medicine in its antiviral properties. It is administered subcutaneously in a dose of 0.5-1 ml, but it gives an effect only in the first day or three, then its administration is completely pointless. And it is very expensive. It can be administered intravenously, but it is better to administer it subcutaneously or intramuscularly, because often gives serious allergic reactions. Fosprenil dramatically increases the chances of recovery.

Symptomatic treatment

With more later stages diseases in the absence or low effectiveness of specific treatment symptomatic treatment becomes especially important. Since the symptoms of HCP are varied, symptomatic therapy should be based on the presence or absence of syndromes and the degree of their manifestation.

At elevated temperatures

You can simply apply it to your head and paws ( inguinal folds and armpits) cold. A cocktail of 2 ml of analgin and 1 ml of diphenhydramine (in one syringe) is also administered intramuscularly. It is important to observe priority in the set of solutions - first analgin, then diphenhydramine.

For skin syndrome

There are no difficulties in getting through this stage, so the main tasks are keeping the animal clean. Stains and bubbles are treated with antiseptics: hydrogen peroxide, chlorhexidine (0.05%). The crusts are carefully peeled off cotton swabs or cotton pads soaked in antiseptics. To prevent the dog from scratching its skin, you can put a blanket on it, and on the neck and muzzle - Elizabethan collar(sold at a veterinary pharmacy).

For bacterial infection

Carnivore plague very rarely occurs in pure form. A weakened body is almost always accompanied by a secondary bacterial infection - it is this that causes a prolonged increase in body temperature. This is why a course of antibiotic therapy is mandatory! Even if the body temperature is not elevated, but the diagnosis is confirmed, they are still prescribed antibacterial agents. All antibiotics are administered intramuscularly or, if necessary, intravenously at the time of IV placement.

The range of antibiotics for canine distemper is quite extensive, but the most commonly used are:

With long-term treatment with antibiotics (which is a common occurrence with plague), both pathogenic and natural microflora intestines. Therefore, Bifidumbacterin is used to restore it. But they are prescribed only after antibiotics have been removed from the body - 1-2 days after the end of the antibacterial course and when appetite is fully restored.

For nutritional syndrome

The main tasks are the elimination of vomiting, diarrhea, and the correlation of water and electrolyte balance in the body. For this purpose, antiemetics, antacids, and enveloping agents are used.

Antiemetic drugs are administered - Metoclopramide (Cerucal)

To restore dehydration and stimulate gastric motility, Regidron is prescribed (1 sachet package diluted in 1 liter of water). Give water as prescribed by the doctor, depending on the dog’s weight.

Enveloping agents: raw egg white, congee, slimy jelly.

They protect the walls of the intestines and stomach from irritation when eating food or water. They also remove toxins and you can make cocktails from them, to which all the necessary drugs are added.

Antidiarrheal drugs (Loperamide) are given only after the symptoms of intestinal infection have resolved.

In case of exhaustion and dehydration, nutritional, detoxifying and balanced saline solutions: Ringer's, saline with glucose 5% or 40%, Ringer's-Locke. At one time, different solutions can be administered intravenously, the volume of which will be equal to up to 7% of the total body weight of the animal (maximum). In reality, the dog’s condition is assessed, and the volume of fluid administered is calculated by the veterinarian based on the severity of the condition.

With low pressure, the veins may collapse and nothing can be administered intravenously. In this case, subcutaneous drip or jet administration of these solutions is allowed.

For ophthalmic syndrome

The eyes are cleaned daily with a cotton swab soaked in Chlorhexidine or Miramistin. You can also wash your eyes with a solution of boric acid (1-3%) or tanning solutions of tannin, oak bark decoction, or strong tea. After this, antimicrobial drops are instilled: Sofradex or Maxitrol.

When the cornea is clouded, a dionin solution or a lidase solution with 1% novocaine is used.

For respiratory syndrome

Apply water compresses to the neck and rub with warming substances chest animal.

Expectorants (Broncholitin or Ambroxol). Expectorants are given only if wet cough and in the absence of vomiting when the dog began to eat.

Dogs are usually not given antitussive drugs, but wait until the cough becomes wet on its own during antibiotic therapy.

To relieve bronchospasm - Eufillin.

Systemic anti-inflammatory and general tonic agents: Dexamethasone (Prednisolone) or Lauretin S.

The nose is treated with Lugol's solution or a weak solution of boric acid (1-3%).

For urogenital syndrome

Herbal diuretics (Phytolysin).

For difficulty urinating - No-spa, papaverine hydrochloride.

If the ureter is blocked by an inflammatory product, catheterization is performed.

For hard feet

Paw pads and nasal planum are treated with petroleum jelly, sea buckthorn oil, and also treated with exfoliating agents.

For neurological syndrome

At severe pain use painkillers: Baralgin, Ketonal, Travmatin.

At strong excitement a 2.5% solution of chlorpromazine is administered.

Amitriptyline is used to relieve attacks of fear.

For paresis and paralysis, use a 0.05% solution of proserin.

To remove increased tone skeletal muscles Mydocalm is used.

In cases of absence of status epilepticus for improvement cerebral circulation Cerebrolysin can be used.

To reduce intracranial and spinal pressure, use a 25% solution of magnesium sulfate or Lasix (furosemide).

Housing conditions, diet and supportive therapy

A room with a sick dog, or better yet, the entire apartment, should be ventilated. In the cold season - 2-3 times a day for 10-15 minutes; in the summer it is advisable not to close the windows at all. Cleaning should be carried out using disinfectants (Creol, Lysol, bleach solution). The dog itself is cleaned of feces, urine and other secretions.

To clean the animal, use wet wipes or rags. They should be at the optimal temperature - warm. You can cover your pet’s favorite place with disposable diapers, and put a thick oilcloth under them. Used napkins, rags, diapers cannot be washed - throw them away immediately, after wrapping them in plastic bags. It's better to burn it.

Do not allow materials wetted with excretions to enter the environment; throw them away, wrapped in cellophane, or better yet, burn them.

Conditions need to be improved. Create a calm environment in the house and remove any sources of stimulation for your pet. To create darkness, curtain your windows with thick curtains. There should be silence in the house, turn off the intercom, put cell phones on quiet mode. Do not allow your pet to become hypothermic or overheated. It is necessary to provide him with sufficient exercise (walks), but at the same time avoid overwork.

The dog should only be walked on a leash and in places where there are no other animals.

From the moment treatment begins, the dog is prescribed a fasting diet for a day. This will not harm the animal, because... the body needs to be given the opportunity to cleanse itself against the background of IVs and medicinal drugs. Only free access to water is given and rehydrating solutions (rehydron) are poured inside.

The next day, feeding begins with mucous porridges (on meat broth or water) mixed with boiled meat or minced meat. Serving sizes start at ¼ of normal and increase to full within 3-5 days. This is a prevention of gastric constipation and vomiting.

Dairy products are excluded. From 5-7 days you can give acidophilus, yogurt and cottage cheese. It’s good if this coincides with taking probiotics after a course of antibiotic therapy.

From 7-9 days you can simply give boiled meat with vegetables, eggs (preferably quail), low-fat broth. It is not recommended to give raw meat during the period of treatment and recovery.

The dog is six months old. There are symptoms of plague. They injected several cubes of Ceftriaxone. We are in the army, there is no free access to the pharmacy. Is it effective?

Answer

Distemper is an ancient disease that affects four-legged pets. The disease often affects small puppies aged 3 months to 1 year.

The disease is infectious in nature and spreads from a sick dog to a healthy one. A healthy dog ​​can become infected through discharge from the nose or mouth of a sick dog, physiological waste, or household items. It is dangerous to share bowls and bedding with a sick animal. The disease does not pose a danger to humans, but they sometimes become carriers of the virus. It is possible to provide assistance to pets calmly, without fear of infection.

Drug treatment of plague

Distemper is often fatal for a pet, but it will take a fight for life until the end. There are a number of known forms in which recovery is possible.

Distemper belongs to the category of viral infections and must be treated comprehensively. Ideally, the animal needs intravenous injections of drugs:

1. Hexamine solution 40 percent.
2. Calcium gluconate solution or calcium chloride 10 percent.
3. Glucose solution 40 percent.
4. Saline sodium chloride solution.
5. Diphenhydramine solution 1 percent.
6. Ascorbic acid solution 5 percent.

The full course of treatment is 10 days. Depending on the condition, injections are given daily or every other day. To normalize muscle tone, it is permissible to administer mydocalm to the animal to relieve muscle spasms, or proserin for developing paralysis.

When neurological disorders appear, it is prescribed specific treatment. If it develops convulsive syndrome, give the dog finlepsin or pagluferal. Prescribing antibiotics is advisable when a secondary bacterial infection. The drugs are not effective against the plague virus directly. It is possible to administer cephalosporin antibiotics, including ceftriaxone, once a day.

Traditional treatment recipe

In some cases, in the absence of other treatment options, they try to treat the animal with a folk remedy. The composition includes a raw egg, a tablespoon of liquid honey and half a glass of vodka.

The components should be thoroughly mixed, shaken and gradually poured into the dog’s mouth using a disposable plastic syringe or a small-volume syringe. It is recommended to administer the medicine in small quantities throughout the day. According to another scheme: divide the mixture into three equal portions of 50 milliliters each, pour it into the dog in three doses.

Described traditional treatment Using vodka is popular; there are proven cases where dogs were cured of distemper. Typically, the remedy has an effect when the dog is an adult, strong and resilient, with high immunity. The form of the disease should be mild. The treatment method is used exclusively as an additional method. Most researchers have concluded that deterioration from similar treatment will not follow.

Nutrition and care of animals with distemper

An animal suffering from distemper should be isolated from other animals and placed in a separate secluded place. The bedding is chosen to be soft and comfortable. If treatment is carried out at home, the dog is instructed to provide comfortable conditions. A characteristic sign of distemper is photophobia; it is important to place the pet in a warm, dry, dark room, protected from penetration bright light and loud sounds.

It is necessary to periodically clean the eyes, nose and ears pet.

Isolation of the pet is necessary after recovery for three weeks; the dog is considered a carrier and spreader of the infection even after recovery.

The dog's diet is gentle. Acute period requires giving the dog liquid in unlimited quantities and keeping the dog on a strict diet. It is useful to feed your pet low-fat, not too sour cottage cheese, one percent kefir. Give your pet a raw egg twice a week. Boiled lean poultry meat is given in the form of minced meat or puree. It is allowed to feed chicken or turkey meat. To relieve excitement in areas of the central nervous system, it is permissible to give the animal a drink of motherwort tincture or decoction.