Question: Hello doctor, I am writing to you because I recently had a case of my puppy of about three and a half months with suspected Distemper, she was given treatment by reference of people with dogs and this disease, she was given 0.5mg prednisolone, unfortunately my dog died, and I am left with so many unknowns, it could have affected the use of this medicine, please I await your response. Thanks.
Response: Distemper or canine distemper is a highly contagious multisystemic viral disease that affects dogs. There is no effective antiviral treatment, so treatment is symptomatic. That is why the most important thing is prevention. Puppies It is very important to vaccinate the puppies from 45 days and comply with the reinforcements every 21 days until the cycle is completed. And annual vaccination is necessary so that our dogs are protected, in my practice I have had cases of seeing adult patients die from this virus due to lack of annual reinforcements. Having said this and answering your question, remember that there are many people who have experience because they are breeders or have time with their pets, and with very good intentions they wanted to help you, but when it comes to a sick animal and even more so if it is this type of disease that is very delicate, you must put your pet in the hands of the veterinarian who is the one who will outline the guidelines of the treatment that should be carried out, Distemper is a disease that when the neurological symptoms arrive, the patients die and those who survive the treatment, which is very difficult, are left with serious sequelae throughout their lives. The medications you gave him had nothing to do with his death, Distemper is a disease where mortality is more than 95% mortality.
