(Photo Credit: Bear Creek Animal Clinic)

By Nathaniel Leigh

Animal disease

Bear Creek Animal Clinic reporting multiple cases of distemper in dogs

Dec 10, 2024 | 5:13 PM

Bear Creek Animal Clinic is warning the public to be on the lookout for signs of distemper in their pets.

Practice manager Loni Boychuck says multiple veterinary clinics have seen incidences of the disease in dogs over the last few weeks.

“Most of those we can see kind of stem from about four to five central cases,” Boychuck says. “And then they would have been litters or other dogs that were associated with those four to five original ones. But at least 15 dogs that we have seen [have distemper] for sure.

Boychuck says distemper is one of the core diseases Bear Creek vaccinated for and warns it is highly contagious and is spread through coughing, nose to nose contact, and indirect contact through contaminated objects.

Boychuck adds distemper comes in two forms: respiratory conditions and neurological conditions.

“One of the big indicators is you see discharge from the eyes and nose, it is kind of traditional obvious symptom,” she says. “The other sign we see is neurological,. From there they can end of with seizures, tremors, ataxia so they’re not walking properly, and nystagmus where their eyes are moving back and forth.”

The prognosis for dogs is typically poor once they have reached the neurological form of distemper.

Boychuck says you should get your pet checked as soon as possible if they seem different.

“Once it’s out in the environment, it’s hard to control it,” she says. “Especially this time of year, because it does thrive in a cool moist environment. And it can be spread by wildlife too. So, even if you’re out on a farm if there are coyotes, foxes, or wolves or anything like that, they can also be carrying it.”

You are encouraged to call your regular clinic if you are unsure if they have been vaccinated for distemper.