Predisposing Causes

In distemper, as in all similar diseases, there are predisposing causes. Anything that weakens the constitution, or that tends to debilitate, or lessen the animal's resisting power would be predisposing causes. An animal that has a weakened constitution inherited from the sire or dam, from any cause, for instance from in-breeding, injudicious mating, or from diseased parents. We will say, then, that age, environment, condition of the constitution at the time of exposure, individuality, etc:, are all important. The sudden alteration in the environment, like a change of weather, or of feeding, exposure to damp and cold, exhaustion, a long journey, the exciting and unnatural conditions of shows generally, with the crowding together of large numbers of dogs that have lived under different conditions, etc., badly drained, ill-ventilated kennels with insufficient disinfecting and feeding, poor food or over feeding, and too little exercise, are all favorable to the spread of the disease.

"Animals Affected - Distemper is found in the dog, cat, fox, wolf, hyena, prairie dog and monkey.

Clinical Symptoms

Symptoms of canine distemper are manifold and rather complicated. They involve the ocular, respiratory and digestive mucous membranes; also the nervous system and outer integument of skin. For the purpose of description we will divide them under the following different heads:

Symptoms Of Commencement

The period of incubation is usually from four to fourteen days. Elevation of temperature is the first symptom noticeable in this disease. The next symptom that will be noticed is some disturbance in the general condition. The animal will seem to be chilly and have shivering spells, the nose is hot and dry, the skin is hard and the hair becomes harsh and dry. The animal loses his appetite, is restless and seems depressed, and soon tires on slight exertion. Vomiting may occur.

Symptom On The Outer Integument

There is sometimes a characteristic skin eruption in distemper. The eruption generally occurs on the inner facia of the thighs, and on the abdomen, or it may cover the whole body. It first appears as small red spots, generally scattered. Sometimes, but very rarely, they are confluent, then there is a change and they appear as small blisters filled with serum, and later on this changes to pus. They are about the size of a small bean, then dry up very soon and form yellowish scabs and crusts. These scabs fall off and leave a red, circular spot on the skin, and these spots are some time in disappearing. Sometimes pit and ulcerations are formed, on account of the dog scratching these spots. Occasionally this trouble is only slight and confined to parts of the body, but at times it extends over the whole surface of the body. When the trouble is very extensive there is a fetid odor given off from the body, the hair falling off in places. Occasionally a slight skin eruption is the only symptom that is observed, but in these cases the disease is of a very mild form.

Symptoms Shown By The Eyes

In the majority of cases there is a catarrhal conjunctivitis. The eye watery, the eyelids injected, the conjunctiva is red and swollen, and as the light causes the animal pain he seeks the dark. At first the exudate is serious, later on it becomes mucous, and still later on it becomes purulent, in color light gray or yellowish. This discharge collects in the corner of the eye or runs down over the face, forms yellowish crusts on the edges of the eyelids, and very frequently glues the lids together during the night. Lesions of the cornea may be caused by the corrosive action of the secretion, and the resulting inflammation of the surrounding membranes. The animal scratching and rubbing the parts producing further injury. Nutritive troubles which follow also assist. There is at first a slight swelling which afterward forms an ulceration. After this process has ceased and healing takes place there is left white spots or dark pigmentation one the cornea. The inflammation may extend when the whole eye becomes acutely inflamed and breaks down. The eye symptom accompanied by a fever is sometimes the only symptoms of the disease.

Respiratory Symptoms

There is usually an inflammation of the mucous membrane of the air passages of a catarrhal nature. We have, first, catarrh of the nose, marked by sneezing, and the animal will rub or wipe his nose with his.paws. There is generally an increasing discharge from both nostrils, at first serous, then mucous, and later on purulent, and generally quite an odor to this discharge. There is a sniffling respiration. The nose sometimes dry and cracked, and ulceration covering the membranes of the nasal fossa. When the discharge is very profuse the trouble extends to the turbinated bones and sinuses. In catarrh of the larynx we have a loud, hoarse, dry cough, which causes the animal a great deal of discomfort. Later on it becomes moist and looser, and there is usually a discharge. On account of reflex action this cough sometimes produces vomiting. There is not much difficulty in respiration when the larynx alone is affected, but when the bronchial tubes become involved and the inflammation extends downward and produces bronchitis, there is a very great increase in respiration, and a very painful, distressing cough.

Symptoms Of The Digestive Tract

In catarrh of the stomach, which occurs in this disease, there is generally complete loss of appetite, and the animal vomits a frothy liquid. There is a fetid diarrhea, or infrequent defecation and intense thirst. The discharge from the bowels is of a liquid consistency, generally muco-purulent, and may be streaked with blood, while the abdomen will be found to be very painful on pressure.

Nervous Symptoms

The animal's senses are very dull and he seems much depressed. There may be deep coma, or periods of excitement occur, nervousness and delirium; these periods generally short, terminating in depression. There may be twitching of the muscles, especially of the head and limbs. At times there is twitching of the muscles of the lower jaw that causes the saliva to foam; again there will be only a chattering of the teeth. The animal will wander without aim, or run around as if lost. A haggard appearance of the eyes, the head thrown backward, the animal perhaps having convulsions. There may be motor paralysis, the animal unsteady in its actions, may drag his legs or there may be loss of power in the posterior extremities, the animal being unable to stand. There is sometimes loss of control of the bladder and lower bowel, when the urine and feces are involuntarily evacuated. When an animal is in a poor state of health, being senemic and in a generally run down condition, he is generally attacked with very severe nervous symptoms. Serious weakness of the heart may occur. Some constitutions seem to succumb easily, while others seem to withstand more acute attacks.