The "Common Diseases of Dogs and Cats for Veterinarians" course is designed to provide veterinarians with a comprehensive understanding of the most prevalent diseases affecting dogs and cats. Through this course, veterinarians will gain the knowledge and skills necessary to diagnose, treat, and manage these conditions effectively. The course will cover various aspects of common diseases, including etiology, clinical presentation, diagnostic approaches, treatment options, and preventive measures.
Viral shedding occurs by 7 days following infection. CDV is
commonly spread by aerosol or droplet exposure; however, it can be isolated
from most other body tissues and secretions, including urine. Transplacental
infection can occur from viremic dams. Virus can be excreted up to 60 to 90
days after infection, although shorter periods of shedding are more typical.
Contact among recently infected (subclinical or diseased) animals maintains the
virus in a population, and a constant supply of puppies helps provide a susceptible
population for infection. Although immunity to virulent canine distemper is
prolonged or lifelong, it is not as absolute after vaccination. Dogs that do
not receive periodic immunizations can lose their protection and become
infected after stress, immunosuppression, or contact with diseased individuals.
Many susceptible dogs can become subclinically infected but clear the virus
from the body without showing signs of illness. Although most recovered dogs
clear the virus completely, some may harbor virus in their CNS. The prevalence
rate of spontaneous distemper in cosmopolitan dogs is greatest between 3 and 6
months of age, correlating with the loss of maternal-derived antibodies (MDAs)
in puppies after weaning. In contrast, in susceptible, isolated populations of
dogs, the disease is severe and widespread, affecting all ages.