Canine Distemper: A case Report

History and Observations

A 1.5 year old Labrador bitch of approx. 20 kg weight was presented at Veterinary Hospital, Mathura U,P, with history of diarrhea from last night, vomiting anorexia, depressed behavior, ocular and scanty nasal discharge and involuntary movement of jaw were observed since last 2 days. Bitch was parturated 1 month before and gave birth to 4 pups. By conversation with owner.

On distant examination, animal behavior was found quiet and depressed. No visible change was seen, except occasionally chewing gum fits . Clinical examination of the animal showed high temperature (104degree F) increased heart beat (140 bpm) without any arrhythmia, increased respiration (54 bpm) and slight increase in capillary refill time (CRT< 3 second).

Along with ocular discharge, blephritis and cloudiness of eyes was observed. The foot pad of the animal was found to be hard because of hyper keratinization . While blood chemistry analysis, complete blood count showed lymphopenia.

Diagnosis

On the basis of clinical signs and symptoms especially distemper myoclonus and hardening of foot pad due to hyper keratinization the disease was diagnosed as Canine distemper. The complete blood count revealed lymphopenia, decrease in mean value of Packed cell volume (PCV) 30%, total erythrocytic count (TEC) 4.4×106 /μL and Hemoglobin (Hb) 10.2 g/dL may be due to effect on hematopoietic system by CDV

Treatment

There is no specific anti–viral drug for this disease so symptomatic treatment was done.

• The treatment included anti–pyretic (inj. ketoprofen @ 2mg/kg) to reduce the fever, 3rd generation broad spectrum anti–biotic (inj.Ceftriaxone sodium @ 25mg/kg b.w) to avoid secondary bacterial infection.
• To check diarrhoea and dehydration inj.Metronidazole @ 10mg/kg b.w and inj. ringer lactate @ 15ml/kg b.w was given respectively.
• From 2nd day to onward, with fluid therapy with Ketoprofen syrup @ 2mg/kg b.w once a day, Cephalexin (Keflex syrup) @15mg/kg 2 times a day and gravinat syrup @ 3mg/kg b.w after feeding was recommended.  A multi–vitamin powder (Bendoz powder) was added in feed @ 10g/day to support the animal. Same treatment was repeated for 3rd, 4^th and 5th days.
• Vitamin A also play an important role for the treatment of canine distemper but mechanism is still unknown

Most of times the recently weaned pups get this infection because at this stage the maternal immunity that is coming from milk are at its lowest level . Therefore it is recommended to vaccinate the dogs at 3 month of age. Depending on the age and immune status of host incubation period varies between 1–4 weeks of different strains.50% mortality is seen in this disease without clinical signs to severe clinical signs. As cold environment favors virus so the disease mostly occur in winter season.

All body secretions or excretion will contain virus in acute cases. In this case fever, cutaneous rashes, anorexia, diarrhoea blisters on the abdominal region ocular and nasal discharge which is serous in nature along with conjunctivitis, blephritis and cloudiness of eye mostly visible.

Gastrointestinal signs become complicated when secondary infection occur. Progressive neurological signs are seen .Myoclonus, ataxia, plegia, and nystagmus are includes in nervous signs .

Presence of distemper myoclonus and hyperkeratinization and lymphopenia in blood report

confirm the disease as Canine Distemper. Because myoclonus and keratinization of foot pad are considered as the pathognomonic signs of this disease

Prevention

At this time the only thing that we can do to prevent this disease is vaccination. By vaccination at regular intervals will help us a lot to control this disease until the specific treatment is not discover.