There was a sad animal story out of Thailand last week. 72 tigers in two different animal parks died. The initial concern was avian influenza, or bird flu, which despite its name can infect a wide variety of species. However, autopsies revealed a surprising cause of death: canine distemper. In this blogpost, we’ll discuss canine distemper and how you can protect your pets.

Why is Canine Distemper so Devastating?

Canine distemper is caused by a highly contagious virus that spreads easily through respiratory droplets from coughing and sneezing. Before an effective vaccine was developed in the 1920’s, canine distemper would spread rapidly through communities of dogs. Mortality was as high as 80% in puppies and 50% in adult dogs.

Because canine distemper is a viral disease, there is no specific treatment. Veterinarians focus on supportive treatment to manage the clinical signs and treat secondary bacterial infections when needed.

One bright spot in the canine distemper story is humans cannot be infected with this virus, despite the fact it’s closely related to measles.

What Species are at Risk for Canine Distemper?

Many carnivores are susceptible to the distemper virus.

Because the virus is called “canine” distemper, it’s not surprising that members of the Canidae family – including dingo dogs, racoon dogs and wolves – can be infected.

More surprising is that several large cat species – including lions, leopards, cheetahs, jaguars and tigers – are also susceptible. This is notable because canine distemper does not infect domestic house cats.

Members of the Mustelidae family – including ferrets, mink, otters, skunks and wolverines – are also vulnerable to distemper. Bears and pandas can be affected as well.

Because so many species are susceptible, zoos often vaccinate their animals against canine distemper. This is also why your dog is not a welcome visitor at the zoo.

Can Urban Wildlife Contract Canine Distemper?

New York City has so many wild creatures within its five boroughs that we have a department of city government devoted to them. The NYC Parks Department’s Urban Rangers provide great information about the creatures that share our city.

Several species of NYC urban wildlife are suspectable to the canine distemper virus. These include foxes, coyotes and the omnipresent raccoon population.

In the late stages of distemper, infected animals can exhibit abnormal behavior. Since abnormal behavior is also a sign of rabies, always keep your distance from urban wildlife and never approach animals that appear sick or disoriented.

Protecting Your Pets Against Canine Distemper

You can help protect your pets with a few simple steps:

Vaccinate your pets. Safe and effective vaccines are available for dogs and pet ferrets. Follow your veterinarian’s recommendations on vaccination.

Avoid contact with wildlife. Keep your pets away from wild animals that could carry canine distemper or other contagious diseases.

Don’t feed wildlife. Feeding wild animals brings them closer to you and your pets, which increases the risk of disease transmission or injury.