Canine distemper is a virus that affects the respiratory, gastrointestinal and nervous systems of puppies and dogs. It is often fatal, and dogs who survive typically have irreversible damage to their nervous system.

It is most commonly spread through airborne exposure (sneezing or coughing) but can also be spread through shared food and water bowls and equipment.

Signs of distemper vary greatly as it affects multiple body systems. Signs to watch for include:  

• thick yellow discharge from the eyes and nose 
• fever 
• coughing 
• lethargy 
• diarrhea 
• vomiting 
• reduced appetite  
• thickening and hardening of footpads 
• in severe cases, seizures and neurological signs like stumbling, head tilt, and paralysis

If your dog is showing any signs of illness, contact your veterinarian or an RSPCA Vet Clinic immediately. If you suspect they may have or been exposed to distemper, it is highly recommended you call your veterinary clinic before bringing in your dog.

Veterinarians can diagnose canine distemper through the symptoms and laboratory testing.

Sadly, there is no cure for canine distemper. Due to the severity and contagiousness of the illness, it is often fatal. In some cases supportive care may be provided to manage symptoms while the dog is isolated. However, dogs who survive are often left with permanent damage to their nervous system.

Canine distemper can also be transmitted to ferrets and some wildlife. It is not transmissible to cats or humans.

The most effective way to protect your dog from distemper is to have them vaccinated. Puppies should receive a series of vaccines to help them build immunity, and adult dogs should have their vaccines updated each year.

Check with your veterinarian or contact an RSPCA Vet Clinic to ensure your dog’s vaccinations are up-to-date.

Other steps you can take to minimise the risk include:

1. Practicing good hygiene – the distemper virus can be easily killed with proper cleaning and sanitization.
2. Limiting contact with other dogs, especially those who are unvaccinated or whom you don’t know their vaccination status.

Sadly, the puppy had to be humanely euthanased due to the severity and contagiousness of the illness.

Thankfully, this appears to be an isolated case at this time. A second puppy that was being housed with the ill puppy has been placed in isolation and is undergoing further testing, however is not showing any signs of illness at this time.

RSPCA Victoria has multiple safeguards in place to minimise the transmission of illness among animals, such as providing core vaccines to all dogs who enter their care, which includes distemper.

We also have cleaning and sanitisation procedures in place. A deep clean of the areas where the puppy was housed has also been conducted to further reduce risk. Thankfully, the distemper virus is easy to kill with proper cleaning and sanitation procedures.

The puppy who became ill was surrendered to the RSPCA Inspectorate from the Bayswater area at the end of October. Unfortunately, we do not know where this puppy originally came from or where it may have picked up distemper. It likely came from an unvaccinated dog and/or a dog who is chronically shedding the virus and not showing symptoms.

No matter where you are getting a new puppy or dog, it’s important to ensure that they are coming from a responsible, reputable source who provide health checks and veterinary care to their animals. You should also be able to see where the puppies or dogs are kept and that it is clean and spacious. Please check out RSPCA’s Smart Puppy Buyers Guide for more tips.