Canine Distemper Vaccine: What You Need to Know

Canine distemper is a serious and highly contagious disease that affects dogs worldwide. It's essential to know the facts about the canine distemper vaccine to protect your furry friend.

The canine distemper vaccine is a core vaccine that's typically administered to puppies between 6 to 16 weeks old. This vaccine is usually given in combination with other vaccines, such as parvovirus and adenovirus.

There are two types of canine distemper vaccines: modified live virus (MLV) and killed virus (KV) vaccines. MLV vaccines are more effective but can cause mild side effects in some dogs. KV vaccines are generally safer but may not provide as strong immunity.

The canine distemper vaccine is usually given as a series of injections, with the first dose given at 6 to 8 weeks of age, and subsequent doses given 3 to 4 weeks apart.

Discover more: How Is Canine Distemper Transmitted

Vaccinating your dog against canine distemper is the best course of action, especially when they're 1 year old and receiving the Distemper + Parvovirus, MLV vaccine.

The risk of an adverse event to the current CDV vaccine is low, but it's essential to follow the recommended vaccination schedule to minimize risks.

CDV vaccines should never be given before 6 weeks of age, as they can cause severe post-vaccinal encephalitis (PVE).

The only combined distemper and parvovirus vaccine that fits Dr. Dodds' protocol is manufactured by Merck (Nobivac DPV).

If you can't obtain the Nobivac DPV vaccine, you can use a standalone CDV vaccine like NeoVac-D from NeoTech or a CDV vaccine from Zoetis that comes with the measles virus for puppies (Vanguard DM).

The risk of a reaction to the Rockborn and Snyder Hill strain is ~ 1:100,000, while the Onderstepoort strain has a rate of reaction of ~ 1:500,000.

The recombinant canine distemper vaccine (rCDV) cannot cause PVE, but unfortunately, the manufacturer, Boehringer Ingelheim, no longer makes it.

Widespread vaccination of domestic dogs is essential to prevent the spread of canine distemper virus, especially with the potential increasing virulence of emerging strains.

You can prevent canine distemper by vaccinating your pup with canine distemper modified live virus (MLV) vaccines when they're 6 weeks old and at 3- to 4-week intervals until 16 weeks old.

For your interest: Canine Parvovirus Prevention

Alternatively, measles virus vaccine can induce immunity to canine distemper virus in the presence of relatively greater amounts of maternal distemper antibodies.

Dr. W. Jean Dodds' vaccination protocol against CDV includes vaccinating your dog at 9-10 weeks of age with Distemper + Parvovirus, MLV, and again at 14-15 weeks of age with the same vaccine.

The risk of an adverse event from the current CDV vaccine is low, but it's essential to know the facts. CDV vaccines should never be given before 6 weeks of age as they can cause severe post-vaccinal encephalitis (PVE).

The risk of a serious adverse event like PVE is relatively low, with an estimated 900 out of 90 million companion dogs in the United States experiencing it if vaccinated with the Rockborn and Snyder Hill strain. The Onderstepoort strain has a lower risk, with an estimated 180 out of 90 million dogs experiencing it.

The risk of immune suppression and PVE increases when the distemper vaccine is combined with the adenovirus-2 vaccine, particularly in puppies. This is why some veterinarians, like Dr. Dodds, do not advocate for the combination of the two at a young age.

Related reading: Canine Age

The risk of an adverse event from the current distemper virus vaccine is low, but it's crucial to wait until your puppy is at least 6 weeks old before vaccinating, as it can cause severe post-vaccinal encephalitis (PVE).

The risk of a reaction to the Rockborn and Snyder Hill strain is about 1 in 100,000, which translates to about 900 serious adverse events out of 90 million companion dogs in the US.

The rate of reaction to the Onderstepoort strain is even lower, at about 1 in 500,000, but this strain is less potent against distemper virus.

Combining the distemper vaccine with the adenovirus-2 vaccine increases the risk of immune suppression and PVE, particularly in puppies.

Fortunately, the recombinant canine distemper vaccine (rCDV) cannot cause PVE, but it's no longer widely available due to the manufacturer's discontinuation.

Vaccine non-responders are dogs that have a genetic trait preventing them from mounting immunity to a specific disease from the vaccine. This means they'll always be susceptible to that disease.

Consider reading: Canine Lupus Disease

Some breeds are more likely to be vaccine non-responders, such as Dobermann Pinschers, Rottweilers, and Black Labrador Retrievers, with a prevalence of ~1:1,000 for CPV.

These dogs can still live a fulfilling life, but they shouldn't be used for breeding due to their increased susceptibility.

In fact, a small percentage of Greyhounds, around ~1:5,000, are non-responders to the CDV vaccine.

The canine distemper vaccine is a crucial part of a dog's vaccination protocol, but it's not without its risks and considerations. The risk of an adverse event from the current CDV vaccine is low, but it's essential to follow proper vaccination schedules.

Distemper vaccines should never be given before 6 weeks of age, as they can cause severe post-vaccinal encephalitis (PVE). The risk of PVE is higher when the distemper vaccine is combined with the adenovirus-2 vaccine.

The risk of a serious adverse event like PVE from the Rockborn and Snyder Hill strain is approximately 1 in 100,000, while the Onderstepoort strain has a risk of 1 in 500,000.

There are different types of distemper vaccines available, including the recombinant canine distemper vaccine (rCDV), which cannot cause PVE. However, the manufacturer of rCDV no longer makes it, and it's not available on the market.

Some dogs may not respond to the distemper vaccine due to a genetic trait, which can be a concern for breeders and pet owners. The rate of non-responders varies depending on the breed, with Greyhounds having a rate of approximately 1 in 5,000 and certain breeds like Dobermann Pinschers and Rottweilers having a higher rate of non-responders for the CPV vaccine.

Here's a summary of the distemper vaccine schedule:

Note: This schedule is based on Dr. Dodds' protocol and may need to be adjusted depending on individual circumstances.

Clinical signs of canine distemper can be tricky to spot, especially since they can be similar to those caused by kennel cough. Some dogs may even develop subclinical infections where they shed the virus but don't show any obvious symptoms.

Upper respiratory signs are common, including eye or nose discharge, coughing, and sneezing. Vomiting and diarrhea are also possible, especially in puppies.

Dogs with canine distemper may become lethargic and lose their appetite. In severe cases, they may experience neck or back pain, or even seizures. Myoclonus, a type of twitching, is a strong indicator of CDV infection.

Here are some common clinical signs of canine distemper:

CDV infections can be easily mistaken for CIRDC or "kennel cough" infections, as the clinical signs are often indistinguishable from those caused by other CIRDC pathogens.

Some dogs, particularly those with partial immunity, may develop subclinical infections where they shed the virus but do not show outward signs of illness.

The clinical signs of CDV infection can vary in severity and include upper respiratory signs such as eye or nose discharge, coughing, and sneezing.

Other signs include vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, decreased appetite, neck/back pain or stiffness, and twitching or seizures.

Here are some of the common clinical signs of CDV infection:

It's essential to note that infected dogs are contagious before they even develop signs of the disease, and can remain contagious for months.

Sterilizing immunity is a type of immunity that not only prevents clinical disease but also prevents the animal from being infected with a virus.

The CDV and CPV vaccines are known to produce sterilizing immunity that lasts between 5-7 years. This means that once an animal has been immunized, it will not be able to contract the virus, even if it's exposed to it.

Sterilizing immunity is a significant development in veterinary medicine, allowing for more targeted and effective vaccination strategies.

Diagnosis of Canine Distemper can be a bit tricky, but there are some key steps to take. A preliminary diagnosis is made through clinical evaluation, which involves observing the dog's symptoms and medical history.

Clinical signs in the respiratory and GI systems may be modified by or confused with other conditions, such as parasitism or viral or bacterial infections. This is why it's essential to consider the dog's vaccination status and exposure history.

Discover more: How to Detox a Dog after Vaccines?

Unvaccinated dogs or those of unknown vaccination status should be particularly suspected of having Canine Distemper. RT-PCR and antibody detection tests, such as ELISA and IFA, are used to confirm the presence of the virus or an immune response against it.

Here are the tests used to confirm the presence of Canine Distemper:

These tests can be performed on various samples, including smears of conjunctival, tracheal, nasal, vaginal, or other epithelium, the buffy coat of the blood, transtracheal wash fluid, urine, and bone marrow aspirates.