What should I do if my border collie gets canine distemper?
Recently, canine distemper has become a hot topic in the pet circle, especially the treatment and care of highly intelligent dogs such as Border Collies after infection. Canine distemper is a highly contagious disease caused by the canine distemper virus that is extremely dangerous to puppies and unvaccinated dogs. Here is a comprehensive guide to Border Collie distemper, including symptoms, treatment and prevention.
1. Common symptoms of canine distemper
The symptoms of canine distemper are diverse, and it is easily misdiagnosed as a cold or gastroenteritis in the early stage. The following are the typical symptoms of border collies infected with canine distemper:
| Symptom classification | Specific performance |
|---|---|
| respiratory symptoms | Cough, runny nose, difficulty breathing |
| gastrointestinal symptoms | Vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite |
| neurological symptoms | Convulsions, ataxia, muscle tremors |
| Other symptoms | Increased eye discharge and hardened foot pads |
2. Emergency treatment of border collie distemper
1.Quarantine immediately: Canine distemper is highly contagious and needs to be isolated from other pets.
2.Medical testing: Use canine distemper test paper or PCR test to confirm the diagnosis to avoid misdiagnosis.
3.supportive care:The following are common treatment options used by veterinarians:
| Treatment direction | Specific measures |
|---|---|
| Antiviral | Monoclonal antibodies, interferons |
| Control secondary infections | Antibiotics (such as cephalosporins) |
| Symptomatic treatment | Antiemetics, antidiarrheals, rehydration |
| Enhance immunity | Immunoglobulin, Vitamin C |
3. Key points of home care
1.environmental management: Keep warm (25-28℃) and disinfect daily (glutaraldehyde disinfectant is recommended).
2.nutritional support: Feed intestinal prescription food or homemade liquid food (such as chicken porridge), small and frequent meals.
3.Symptom monitoring: Record daily body temperature (normal value 38-39℃), frequency of defecation and mental state.
4. Prevention is better than cure
According to pet hospital statistics, the infection rate of fully vaccinated Border Collie is less than 3%:
| Vaccine type | Vaccination time | protection rate |
|---|---|---|
| Core Vaccine (DHPPi) | Starting from the age of 45 days, puppies should receive 3 consecutive injections | 92% |
| boost immunity | 1 time per year | 95% |
5. Things to note during the recovery period
1.neurological sequelae: About 20% of recovered dogs will have intermittent convulsions and need to take long-term nerve stabilizers.
2.Immunity reconstruction: Avoid strenuous exercise within 3 months after recovery, and supplement immune enhancers such as lactoferrin.
3.Environmental disinfection: The virus can survive in the environment for several months and needs to be treated with a combination of ultraviolet light + disinfectant.
Special reminder:Recently, mutated strains of canine distemper virus have appeared in many places, and traditional test strips may produce false negatives. If the border shepherd has suspected symptoms but tests negative, it is recommended to undergo a nucleic acid test (accuracy rate is 99%).
With timely treatment and scientific care, the cure rate of canine distemper in Border Collies can reach 60-70% (approximately 40% for puppies). The key is to grasp the golden treatment period of 5 days before the onset of illness, and do not delay medical treatment due to mild symptoms.
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