The symptoms of the early stages of distemper include:
- Gunky/runny nose
- Dry eyes
- Dry/cracking nose
- Dry/cracking pads of feet
- Vomiting and diarrhea
- Fever
However, not all dogs get all of these symptoms, nor do they get them in any particular order. And there are other diseases that can easily mimic distemper. The problem is that by the time the vet sends out samples to a lab to check for distemper antibodies, the disease will have advanced too far for the NDV-induced serum to do the job it is designed to do.
According to Dr. Al Sears, who is supported by statistics compiled by Kind Hearts In Action, distemper dogs treated with the NDV-induced serum before going through the sixth day of symptoms can show a survival rate in the high 90s. But this means that dogs owners and vets must race against the clock to stop this disease.
You need a diagnosis, but you also need to act fast in case this is distemper. Dr. Sears recommends sending blood samples to the lab anyway, but still to treat immediately as if it is distemper because if you’re right, you have saved the dog. If you’re wrong and it is not distemper, the NDV treatment does not harm the dog.
From Dr. Sears:
“The best test for rapidly diagnosing ACUTE distemper is to do what is called a brush border smear of the cells of the lining of the bladder. These cells ALWAYS have inclusions if distemper is present. So, easy to collect, easy to stain (quick dip) and instantly diagnosed inclusions in these cells are carmine red and para nuclear. These inclusions will NOT be present in long term distemper cases.
“Any medical person can tell you how to get cells from the bladder. Urinary catheter. Empty bladder, flush with saline and collect some of the last saline. Spin down the saline and remove the cells. Place on slide and dry stain with diff-quick. Very common stain used by most medics or lab people who use medical microscopy. Everyone? I should hope so. Very fast, very cheap, very accurate for Dx of distemper. If present then Distemper. If negative, then either Kennel Cough or Respiratory Herpes or Toxoplasmosis.”
If you are looking for a vet who can treat your distemper dog with the NDV treatments, write to us and tell us:
- Where you are
- Whether you have a diagnosis
- What symptoms you are seeing
- Whether there have been seizures
- How old the dog is and what breed
We offer hope, not a guarantee. Not every dog can be saved, but more dogs are saved when their owners are willing to try and when vets are willing to listen.
