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Dogs suffering distemper should be treated in isolation with barrier nursing to prevent spread to other dogs. Treatment is supportive, including intravenous fluid therapy to correct the deficit cause by vomiting and diarrhoea and antiobiotics to reduce secondary infections. Anticonvulsants such as phenobarbital and potassium bromide may be necessary to control seizures. Although corticosteroids may alleviate clinical signs in the short term, they should be used with caution as they augment the immunosuppression caused by CDV and may enhance viral dissemination. Animals should be rested and fed a diet appropriate to the severity of their gastrointestinal signs.
Dogs suffering distemper should be treated in isolation with barrier nursing to prevent spread to other dogs. Treatment is supportive, including intravenous fluid therapy to correct the deficit cause by vomiting and diarrhoea and antiobiotics to reduce secondary infections. Anticonvulsants such as phenobarbital and potassium bromide may be necessary to control seizures. Although corticosteroids may alleviate clinical signs in the short term, they should be used with caution as they augment the immunosuppression caused by CDV and may enhance viral dissemination. Animals should be rested and fed a diet appropriate to the severity of their gastrointestinal signs.
Vaccination is key to controlling canine distemper. Modified live vaccines are available, and are considered a "core" vaccination for dogs. Puppies can receive their first vaccinationbetween six and 16 weeks of age, usually at 2 - 3 week intervals. This multiple dose regimen is necessary because the maternal antibody in puppies greatly hampers the efficacy of vaccination by neutralizing viral antigen.
Vaccination is key to controlling canine distemper. Modified live vaccines are available, and are considered a "core" vaccination for dogs. Puppies can receive their first vaccination between 6 and 8 weeks of age, and must be given at least two doses of CDV vaccine with the final does being adminstered after 12 weeks of age. This multiple dose regimen is necessary because the maternal antibody in puppies greatly hampers the efficacy of vaccination by neutralising viral antigen. Modified live vaccines should not be used in pregnant bitches, and may cause fatal disease in certain wildlife species. Therefore a killed vaccine is available for use in, for example, red pandas.
==Prognosis==
==Prognosis==