Canine Distemper

[livingwith]

we went to the humane society and pick out a golden retriever /husky he was beautiful calm and very nice. my two year old son fell in love with him. we paid the money and took him home.
when you adopt a dog there, they give you a free exam at a vet. we took him right away. he was diagnosed with distemper but we didnt give up. i took care of him day and night for months gave him antibiotics and found he liked peanut butter and would eat that more than anything else. he was the best dog i have ev...Read the full article

[Daveyo]

I read your article here. Months????? I am not surprised at all. Most dogs after having Distemper and survived, on their own which is less than 5% worldwide, will usually die within 8 years from Old Dog Encephalitis. In your case I can only speculate that your dog did have the seizures and then died.

Am I right?????

Now if your dog had the disease when you first see the onset of symptoms, and then give the NDV into the body within the first 6 days from onset,then the dog will live a normal lifespan. After day 7 onward the disease will breach the barrier and you need to do the CSF tap of NDV to stop it there as well.

Anyway, next time you get a dog from any kennel cough place or shop always do this one test and make the VET do it as top priority.

The very best test for rapidly diagnosing ACUTE distemper is to do what is called a brush border smear of the cells of the inside lining of the bladder. These cells ALWAYS have inclusions. So, easy to collect, easy to stain (quick dip) and instantly diagnosed with inclusions in these cells which are carmine red and para nuclear.

Any medical person can tell you how to get cells from the bladder. Urinary catheter. Empty bladder flush with saline and collect some of the last saline. Spin down the saline and remove the cells. Place on slide and dry stain with diff-quick. Very common stain used by most medics or lab people who use medical microscopy. Everyone? I should hope so.

Very fast, very cheap, very accurate for Dx of distemper. If present then Distemper If negative then either kennel cough or respiratory Herpes. NDV can cure these two as well but use only as the last option if all else fails.

Good luck

Daveyo