The Berrien County Health Department says distemper cases are spiking significantly officials are encouraging community members to monitor for signs of the disease in their dogs and get their pets vaccinated.
Canine distemper is a highly contagious, incurable and deadly disease caused by an airborne virus. It is very resistant to cold temperatures, with the majority of distemper cases in domestic dogs seen in the fall and winter. Officials say dogs catch distemper by having direct contact with another dog or wild animal infected with the disease or contact with food bowls or other objects contaminated by infected animals. Distemper is not known to be transmitted to humans.
“Berrien County is experiencing a significant increase in the number of dogs with distemper, which is leading to deaths that are preventable,” Health Officer Guy Miller said. “The number one action community members can take to help prevent their dogs from catching, spreading and suffering from diseases is by getting them vaccinated against distemper, parvovirus and rabies, among others.
“It’s also important community members understand the responsibilities that come with owning a pet and make sure they can properly care for one before welcoming it in their home. Unwanted, abandoned and mistreated pets end up at the shelter, which puts animals in closer to proximity to one another and increases their chances of catching and spreading diseases to one another and humans.”
Canine distemper symptoms can include:
• Coughing
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Thick yellow discharge from the eyes and nose
• Seizures
• Neurological changes such as aggressiveness, stumbling, lack of alertness, aimless wandering, head tilt and paralysis
If your dog shows any of these signs, keep them away from other animals and reach out to a licensed veterinarian who can recommend supportive care and symptom treatment.
It is recommended dogs get a distemper vaccination once a year for their first two years and then every three years. Berrien County Animal Control offers distemper vaccinations for $25. For more information about BCAC’s vaccine clinics, visit berriencounty.org/1886/Vaccine-Clinics.
Additional details about distemper are available on the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services website.
For more information about the Berrien County Animal Shelter, visit berriencounty.org/211/Animal-Control.
