Distemper Vaccines

Distemper was first formally identified by the French veterinarian Henri Carre in 1905, although it took another 45 years before distemper vaccines were developed. Distemper resembles the human disease measles, but it is often, even usually, lethal to animals. The primary victims of distemper are dogs, so it is essential to administer canine distemper vaccines to any dog or puppy you may have. Non-vaccinated, infected dogs will probably die, but before they do, they may infect other susceptible animals that have not received one of the distemper vaccines.

Distemper Vaccines

There are quite a few animal diseases that are referred to as distemper although they are not all related. Therefore when you are looking for distemper vaccines, it is important to get the distemper vaccines for the animals you need it for and you cannot give a canine distemper vaccination to, say, a horse or a cat.

There are different distemper vaccines for dogs, cats, horses, rabbits, ferrets, raccoons, minks and seals, although the distemper vaccines are not all the same.

By far the most common form of distemper is canine distemper. Equine distemper is also a worldwide disease and distemper vaccines are the only reliable solution.

In most western countries, distemper vaccines are only available from vetinary surgeons, although you may administer distemper vaccines yourself in other countries.

Canine Distemper Vaccination

Canine distemper can be transferred to other animals, but not to cats, although people do talk of feline distemper. If you have dogs, it is imperative to give them a canine distemper vaccination after about three months of age. Many vets will not administer a canine distemper vaccination before then and, because people normally get their puppies at six weeks, the intervening period is very dangerous for puppies. The only viable solution before the canine distemper vaccination is to keep your dog inside.

Distemper In Horses

Distemper in horses is also known as 'strangles' by horse-lovers, because it is an upper respiratory disease. It is extremely contagious and is present in horse populations all over the world. Distemper in horses can be prevented by inoculation. Distemper in horses is more likely to affect young and older horses and is usually passed from infected horses dribbling or sneezing onto straw or hay in barns which is then eaten by other vulnerable horses.

Feline Distemper Vaccination

What is commonly called feline distemper is not distemper at all, at least it is not related to the canine distemper, which is popularly known as hardpad. The feline disease is panleukopenia. You can protect your cat from this disease by asking your vet for a feline distemper vaccination for your cat. A feline distemper vaccination is not expensive, not painful and has no adverse side-effects. If you love your cat then you should get it a feline distemper vaccination.

Distemper In Raccoons

Raccoons rarely live to they age that they could. Raccoons have lived to the ripe old age of 20 years in captivity. In the wild it is a very different story. In the wild they rarely live longer than four years. The primary causes of death in young raccoons are distemper and predation. There is distemper in raccoons so if you have a pet raccoon, vaccination is advisable. Distemper in raccoons can also be spread to other animals if the animal is allowed to run wild.