Distemper is a viral disease spread between animals in close contact with one another, making an animal shelter the prime environment for the spread of this illness. For those who run or work in an animal shelter, it is important to know how to stop the spread of distemper and other contagious diseases.
Things You'll Need
- Animal crates/cages
- Distemper vaccinations
Instructions
Start with Vaccination
Vaccinate all dogs in the shelter against distemper. This is the best and most important step in preventing the spread of the disease. Puppies can be vaccinated as early as six weeks of age, and vaccinations should be updated every three years.
Separate older dogs from younger dogs. This is another way to control the spread of distemper throughout the shelter. Have extra pet cages on hand in the event that animals must be separated from one another. Older dogs are much more likely to have built up an immunity to distemper, but if they are dealing with other illnesses, or have a weakened immune system due to age, it is possible for them to contract the disease if they are not up-to-date on their vaccinations. The disease is airborne, so simple mopping and cleaning is not enough to halt its spread.
Keep your animals well-protected from wild animals. Dogs can get distemper from other dogs, but they can also get it from wild animals that are prone to the disease as well. Coyotes, raccoons, foxes and even ferrets are a few examples of animals that are also susceptible to distemper.
Know the signs. Knowing the signs of distemper like the back of your hand is important if you work at an animal shelter because it can be the difference between having one dog with distemper and having ten of them infected with the disease. The symptoms of canine distemper include vomiting, diarrhea and neurological problems.
Administer prompt treatment. There is no cure for distemper, but administering treatment promptly may be the difference between a sick animal and a dead animal. Sick animals should be well fed, kept warm, and secluded from any other animals. It's also important to keep your hands well-washed to prevent the spread of other diseases to a dog with distemper, as his immune system is weakened.