[Shabie]

Hi, I'm hoping you can clarify some information that my vet gave me today. I was given an approxmately 8 month old yorkie terrier/mix male puppy over Christmas, the dog had received his first shots. I took him to the vet today because I saw worms in his stool. She treated him for worms and will give him his second shots in a couple of weeks. Upon examining his teeth, she made the comment that he had been exposed to distemper She said not to worry that he had surrived and she could tell this because his teeth were yellow. Can you shed some light on this for me? What does that mean to me and to Tuff, is he immune from the disease or what? Tuff shows no signs of distemper that I have read about but could he develop them? I also read that you don't want to give him the standard mixed Parvo shot if he has survived distemper I would appreciate any information you might have.

Thanks so much!!

[Daveyo]

First look at the paws of the dog and tell me its condition. Is it hard like wood or soft?? Secondly then look at the eyes of the dog, does it tear a lot with goop????? If so it might have tear duct damage on the drainage area inside the eyelids. If the teeth are yellow, do you see rings on the teeth and enamel damage. Dogs that survive Distemper is less than 5% If no enamel damage or ring, and no pad hardening and no eye tear draining outside excessively (or it also might have dry eye condition and it is painful if that is the case) then your dog most likely did not have Distemper. Yellowing teeth might need a good brushing with toothpaste.

If you do see all the signs as I asked above then it is highly probable it had Distemper. The question next for you and for me is when the seizures will begin known as the OLD Dog Encephalititis. Since your dog is 8 months old it can happen from that point to about 8 years later. Don't know. Only way to confirm is doing the CSF tap and test it for specific Distemper Antibodies in that fluid. If positive, well you have a choice and can save the dog. We will cross that bridge if this comes to pass.

At 8 months assuming no distemper (a titer check can verify this for you too as well) you better get those shots going at 1/2 shots every 7 -9 days. Then wait a week no shot. Then do the third 1/2 shot set. Small dogs have a hard time taking a full dose it hits them hard.

After this get that Rabies under your belt. There is no cure for Rabies.

Then deworm the dog every 3 weeks for 3 months straight after the VET clears this current problem. After that once a month. Also give him heart guard once a month. Last of all a good bath once a month. Dogs love a bath by all means.

Whether or not the dog had Distemper, it does not matter. Never give a mix of Parvo with Distemper vaccine, and if you do >>>>>give only killed virus and not modified live virus. Yorkies really react to this a lot.

Safest way to be sure of the dogs immunity is doing the titer check. If very low on specific diseases then a shot is in order. If high leave it alone.

Let me know what the exam to my questions are as of answers.

Hope this answers your questions.

[stulchinsky]

First look at the paws of the dog and tell me its condition. Is it hard like wood or soft?? Secondly then look at the eyes of the dog, does it tear a lot with goop????? If so it might have tear duct damage on the drainage area inside the eyelids. If the teeth are yellow, do you see rings on the teeth and enamel damage. Dogs that survive Distemper is less than 5% If no enamel damage or ring, and no pad hardening and no eye tear draining outside excessively (or it also might have dry eye condition and it is painful if that is the case) then your dog most likely did not have Distemper. Yellowing teeth might need a good brushing with toothpaste.

If you do see all the signs as I asked above then it is highly probable it had Distemper. The question next for you and for me is when the seizures will begin known as the OLD Dog Encephalititis. Since your dog is 8 months old it can happen from that point to about 8 years later. Don't know. Only way to confirm is doing the CSF tap and test it for specific Distemper Antibodies in that fluid. If positive, well you have a choice and can save the dog. We will cross that bridge if this comes to pass.

At 8 months assuming no distemper (a titer check can verify this for you too as well) you better get those shots going at 1/2 shots every 7 -9 days. Then wait a week no shot. Then do the third 1/2 shot set. Small dogs have a hard time taking a full dose it hits them hard. ...

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