Canine distemper is one of the various health problems that could threaten the life of your beloved Weimaraner. This disease is a contagious, incurable and often fatal disease affecting animals such as dogs. It damages the respiratory, gastrointestinal and central nervous system. Canine distemper is caused by the canine distemper virus (CDV). CDV also affects foxes, wolves, raccoons, skunks and ferrets.

If your Weimaraner is three to six months old, then utmost care is necessary to prevent distemper because it is at this age that dogs are particularly susceptible to it. The virus is spread by infected dogs through bodily secretions and excretions, more particularly respiratory secretions. This airborne disease is transmitted through cough or sneeze. Once it gets through your Weimaraner, it then invades the lymphatic tissue until it reaches the blood, then spreads to the lungs, intestine, bladder and even to the nervous system.

Symptoms of the disease vary depending on the severity of the condition. Mild cases show very few or no sign at all. Fever is usually present three to eight days after infection, with the body temperature of 103 to 106 degrees Fahrenheit. Gastrointestinal and respiratory signs include runny nose, vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, excessive salivation, coughing, loss of appetite and weight loss. As the disease progresses, gastrointestinal and respiratory diseases such as conjunctivitis, rhinitis and diarrhea can also be seen. Since this disease also affects the nervous system, neurological signs may be present. Symptoms within the nervous system include a localized involuntary twitching of muscles, seizures and later convulsions. A dog may also show sensitivity to light, incoordination, circling, increased sensitivity to pain or touch and deterioration of mental and motor capabilities. Most dogs that die from this disease die from neurological complications.

Definitive diagnosis is based by finding virus in the dog's conjunctival cells. Laboratory tests include fluorescent antibody techniques, polymerase chain reaction, virus isolation and ELISA (Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay) tests.

As of now, there is no specific anti-viral drug that will kill the virus in infected dogs. Treating the disease here means treating the symptoms. Vomiting and diarrhea should be controlled to prevent dehydration. Intravenous fluids and nutritional supplements should be administered. Dogs that are unable to eat are given essential vitamins and nutrients through injection.

Since there is no treatment for this disease, measures should be taken to prevent it. Vaccine against canine distemper should be administered to dogs, specifically to puppies six to eight weeks of age. Regular cleaning with disinfectants or detergents should be done to destroy the virus to provide a clean and warm environment.