Canine Distemper in Dogs - What It Is, How to Recognize the Symptoms and Protect Your Pet

Canine distemper is one of the most dangerous infectious diseases in dogs. It is a highly contagious viral disease that can affect the respiratory, digestive and nervous systems, causing serious health complications and, in some cases, the animal’s death.

On September 23, 2026, the Food and Veterinary Service (PVD) reported that canine distemper had been laboratory-confirmed in wild foxes in Ādaži municipality. This case is an important reminder for dog owners to check their dog’s vaccination status.

Although distemper is a serious disease, the good news is that an effective vaccine is available.

What is canine distemper?

Canine distemper is an infectious disease caused by the canine distemper virus (CDV). It belongs to the genus Morbillivirus and is related to the human measles virus.

Once inside the body, the virus first multiplies in the lymphatic tissue, affects the immune system and can later spread to various organ systems.

The course of the disease can vary greatly - from relatively mild symptoms to severe damage to the respiratory system, neurological disorders and a fatal outcome.

The infection is especially dangerous for unvaccinated animals.

Which animals can get distemper?

Not only domestic dogs but also various wild animal species can get distemper.

Animals susceptible to the infection include:

• domestic dogs;
• foxes;
• raccoon dogs;
• wolves;
• ferrets and several other members of the weasel family;
• certain other wild carnivore species.

It is in wild animal populations that the virus can keep circulating and pose a risk of infection to unvaccinated pets.

Is canine distemper dangerous to humans?

No. Canine distemper is not considered a human infectious disease. It is not the same as rabies, and people do not get distemper.

Domestic cats are also generally not susceptible to the canine distemper virus. It is important not to confuse this disease with feline panleukopenia, which is sometimes colloquially called “feline distemper” - these are two different infectious diseases.

How can a dog become infected with distemper?

The distemper virus mainly spreads through respiratory secretions and droplets from infected animals, which enter the environment when they breathe, cough or sneeze.

A dog can become infected:

• through direct contact with a sick animal;
• by inhaling infectious respiratory droplets;
• through contact with the secretions of infected animals;
• in some cases, through indirect contact with contaminated objects or surroundings.

The distemper virus is not particularly resistant in the external environment, but this does not mean that contact with a potentially infected animal or its secretions is safe.

Special caution should be taken on walks in forests and other areas where contact with wild animals is possible.

Symptoms of distemper in dogs

One of the most dangerous features of the disease is that distemper symptoms can initially resemble other, much more common illnesses.

The first signs may be non-specific, and the disease does not show itself in the same way in every animal.

Early symptoms

At the beginning of the disease, there may be:

• fever;
• apathy and weakness;
• reduced appetite;
• discharge from the eyes and nose;
• coughing;
• difficulty breathing.

Digestive problems

As the disease progresses, the following may also appear:

• vomiting;
• diarrhea;
• dehydration;
• marked weakness.

Neurological symptoms

In more severe cases, the virus can affect the central nervous system.

Possible signs include:

• muscle twitching;
• coordination problems;
• unsteady gait;
• head tilt;
• seizures;
• paralysis;
• disorientation and behavioral changes.

Important! Neurological symptoms can also appear later - after the initial respiratory or digestive signs have already subsided.

Some animals also develop thickening of the skin on the nose and paw pads, known as hyperkeratosis. Because of this sign, the disease is also known in English as “hard pad disease”.

How dangerous is canine distemper?

Canine distemper is a potentially fatal infectious disease.

Its severity depends on the animal’s age, the state of its immune system, its vaccination status and how far the disease has spread in the body.

Puppies and unvaccinated dogs are at a particularly high risk of severe illness.

Some animals may be left with long-term or permanent neurological problems after recovering.

Can canine distemper be cured?

There is currently no specific treatment that reliably eliminates the distemper virus from an animal’s body.

That doesn’t mean, however, that a sick animal cannot be helped.

Veterinary treatment is mainly supportive and, depending on the symptoms, may include:

• fluid therapy;
• nutritional support and support of body functions;
• treatment of secondary bacterial infections;
• medication to control seizures;
• respiratory support;
• intensive monitoring and care.

The prognosis depends on the severity of the disease, especially on whether the nervous system is involved.

That is exactly why, in the case of distemper, prevention matters far more than the possibility of treating the disease.

How to protect your dog from distemper?

1. Regular vaccination

Vaccination is the main and most effective way to protect your dog from distemper.

The distemper vaccine is part of the core vaccination program for dogs.

Puppy vaccination usually starts at around 6-8 weeks of age, depending on the vaccine used and the individual animal’s situation.

This is followed by revaccination according to the chosen vaccination program.

For adult dogs, vaccination intervals may vary depending on the product used, previous vaccination history and the veterinarian’s assessment.

2. Check your dog’s vaccination passport

If you are not sure whether your dog is vaccinated against distemper, you can check this in its vaccination passport.

How to do it?

1. Open your dog’s vaccination passport.
2. Find the “Other vaccinations” section.
3. Look at the sticker or name of the vaccine given.
4. Look for the letter D, which stands for distemper.
5. Check the vaccination date and the next revaccination date indicated.

One common combination of vaccine abbreviations is DHPPi.

In this combination:

• D - distemper;
• H - infectious hepatitis;
• P - parvovirus infection;
• Pi - parainfluenza.

Vaccine names and abbreviations may differ between manufacturers.

It is also important to understand that a single vaccine sticker does not always confirm a fully completed vaccination course, especially in puppies.

If the vaccination records are unclear or the revaccination date has been missed, contact a veterinarian to assess the further vaccination plan needed.

3. Avoid contact with wild animals

Given the confirmed distemper cases in foxes in Ādaži municipality, the PVD especially urges dog owners to be careful on walks.

When walking in forests and other natural areas:

• keep your dog on a leash;
• don’t allow contact with foxes, raccoon dogs and other wild animals;
• don’t let your dog sniff, lick or touch dead wild animals;
• avoid contact with suspicious wild animal secretions.

If your dog has nevertheless been in contact with a potentially infected animal, contact a veterinarian, even if your dog does not yet show any symptoms.

What to do if you suspect distemper in your dog?

If your dog is not vaccinated or its vaccination status is unknown, and it develops respiratory, digestive or neurological symptoms, a veterinary consultation is needed.

Before coming to the clinic, always call ahead and let us know that you suspect an infectious disease.

This is important so that the clinic can arrange to receive the patient safely and reduce the risk to other animals.

Distemper cannot be diagnosed on symptoms alone. The veterinarian assesses the medical history, vaccination status and clinical signs and, if necessary, performs laboratory tests.

If you are not sure about your dog’s vaccination status, check the passport or contact a veterinarian.

At Dr. Nartiša Veterinary Clinic, we will help assess your dog’s vaccination history and, if needed, vaccinate your dog.

Appointments and consultations: +371 29188182