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===Clinical Signs===

===Clinical Signs===

Canine distemper is characterised by a biphasic fever, with the first peak 3-6 days post-infection and the second peak several days later and intermittently thereafter. Pyrexia is ussualy associated with ocular and nasal discharges, depression and anorexia. Gastrointestinal and/or respiratory signs follow the initial fever, and these are often enhanced by secondary bacterial infection.

Canine distemper is characterised by a biphasic fever, with the first peak 3-6 days post-infection and the second peak several days later and intermittently thereafter. Pyrexia is ussualy associated with ocular and nasal discharges, depression and anorexia. Gastrointestinal and/or respiratory signs follow the initial fever, and these are often enhanced by secondary bacterial infection. Lesions may occur on the retina and optic neuritis can develop. Some strains of CDV aslo cause hyperkeratosis of the footpads and the nose. In neonates, hypoplasia of the tooth enamal is common following infection, causing "distemper rings".

Many, but not all, infected dogs develop CNS signs after systemic disease but this is dependent on the strain of the virus. Either the white matter or the grey matter may be affected. Grey matter disease affects the cerebral coretx, brainstem and spinal cord, and may give a non-suppurative meningitis, seizures, stupor, hysteria or ataxia. Dogs with grey matter disease may die within 2-3 weeks, recover, or alterntatively progress to white matter disease. In this, mutlifocal lesions mean that the signs are variable: cerebellovestibular signs are common, as well as spinal cord paresis, ataxia and occasionaly myoclonus. Once white matter disease has developed, some dogs die with a non-inflammatory, demyelinating disease 4-5 weeks after intial systemic infection. Other animals may recover with minimal injury to the CNS.

Many, but not all, infected dogs develop CNS signs after systemic disease but this is dependent on the strain of the virus. Either the white matter or the grey matter may be affected. Grey matter disease affects the cerebral coretx, brainstem and spinal cord, and may give a non-suppurative meningitis, seizures, stupor, hysteria or ataxia. Dogs with grey matter disease may die within 2-3 weeks, recover, or alterntatively progress to white matter disease. In this, mutlifocal lesions mean that the signs are variable: cerebellovestibular signs are common, as well as spinal cord paresis, ataxia and occasionaly myoclonus. Once white matter disease has developed, some dogs die with a non-inflammatory, demyelinating disease 4-5 weeks after intial systemic infection. Other animals may recover with minimal injury to the CNS.