It can also be spread by coming in contact with feces, urine, nasal discharge, or contaminated food and water (J. Zhao et al. / Antiviral Research 122 (2015) 1–11). Canine distemper attack a dog’s lymph nodes, there it copies itself and attacks the gastrointestinal, respiratory tracts, brain and spinal cord. The disease also is responsible for leukopenia, a reduction of the white blood count in the blood. This allows secondary infections to affect the animal (J. Zhao et al. / Antiviral Research 122 (2015) 1–113). Depending on the dog’s immune status and age, will determine if it can survive. In dogs, 50% of the dog infected with distemper die (2). The death rates of canine distemper virus vary among different species of animals. Canine distemper does not affect domestic cats. The death rate of canine distemper in large felines, like lions is 30%. Ferrets infected with canine distemper have a 100% death rate (J. Zhao et al. / Antiviral Research 122 (2015) 1–11). Other wildlife like mink and foxes have a high mortality rate due to secondary …show more content…
During the first phase of the canine distemper virus, a dog will have a high fever of a temperature reading 103 ° F or greater. Another major symptom of the canine distemper virus are watery discharge from nose and eyes that can cause conjunctivitis, and an infection of the lymph nodes (2). A dog that is infected will become lethargic, have constant coughing, and eventually become anorexic. In the second phase, canine distemper can cause a dog to still have a high fever and it can also cause an infection of the parenchymal tissues such as the digestive tract. This can cause symptoms like, vomiting, dehydration and diarrhea. The respiratory tract can also be infected causing hard breathing and even causing secondary infections like pneumonia (2). Canine distemper can also affect the skin, mainly the nose and the pads on the feet. Hyperkeratosis, also called the hard pad disease will make the pads and the nose skin to harden (2). Canine distemper can also affect the enamel of young dogs. In later phases of the canine distemper virus, the virus will start attacking the brain and spinal cord of the dog causing the dog to have seizures and even