There is no doubt that this one disease was responsible for dog population control in days prior to preventive inoculations.
So feared by dog owners and once the scourge of dogs, distemper is now rapidly dwindling in incidence. Although still a menace in some areas, in others it has been practically eliminated and is approaching the status of human poliomyelitis in its infrequency. The control of distemper is ass eloquent demonstration of the excellent results of cooperation between researchers, veterinarians, and dog owners.
Distemper is a disease of the epithelial tissue, which covers the body inside and out. All of the mucous membranes, such as the lining of the nose, the mouth, the tissue around the eyes, the intestinal lining, the internal genital organs, and the bladder lining, are attacked, as are the glands and those cells that secrete substances.
Although the incubation period is five to seven days, some dogs appear to develop signs of distemper many weeks after known exposure. Puppies taken from shelters that cannot afford to give inoculations may be normal until five days from exposure, at which time they have a sudden elevation of temperature to perhaps 504° F. At this time vomiting and listlessness are evident, as well as photophobia,or a fear of light, in many cases. In a few days the temperature returns to normal and the dog acts better, but for only a day or two, and then the temperature rises again to 504° F or higher. It is thought by many that the initial viral attack weakens the dog no that opportunist bacteria, which are always present, can flourish in the damaged tissue. In any event, a dry cough, purulent eye and nose discharges, diarrhea, and vomiting may all be present.
