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Treatment
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There
is
currently no specific cure for Canine Distemper Virus infection.
The approach to treatment of animals with this virus is to try and
reduce the severity of the clinical signs that manifest as a result of
infection (Deem et al., 2000). All of the actions taken with a
dog infected
with Distemper are supportive, non-specific, and (unfortunately)
frequently unrewarding (Nelson and Couto, 2003). The sick animal
should be kept
in a clean, warm area that is free of drafts. You should keep
this animal away from other animals or places where other animals may
go to prevent transmission of the virus to other animals (Greene,
2006). Fluid therapy may prove helpful
if
the sick dog is dehydrated. B vitamins and Vitamin A may also
help to replace losses/stimulate appetite if the animal is vomiting or
has diarrhea (Greene, 2006).
In dealing with a case of Canine
Distemper antibiotics
may be given in order to deal with secondary or concurrent
bacterial infections (Deem et al., 2000). It is not
uncommon
to see a
secondary invasion of an animal by bacteria when in a weakened
state. Two common places to find a bacterial
infection in these cases are in the respiratory tract, as well as in
the gastrointestinal tract (Greene, 2006). In treating these
secondary infections, the appropriate antibiotic for the organism and
site of infection should be used (Nelson and Couto, 2003). If the
antibiotic of
choice is not effective, or a susceptibility
test shows resistance to
the antibiotic, then a new drug should be used. In addition to
treatment of a bacterial infection, drugs may be utilized in order to
reduce vomiting/diarrhea if necessary (Nelson and Couto, 2003).
Drugs may also be the used to reduce
seizures as well as decrease inflammation of the central nervous
system (Deem et al., 2000). Neurologic
treatment is
often not as successful as treatment of other systems
(Greene, 2006). The use of anti-inflammatory doses of glucocorticosteroids, in the absence
of systemic disease, may be used
to control other neurologic signs such as blindness or papillary
dilation from optic neuritis (however the beneficial effects are not
well documented) (Nelson and Couto, 2003; Greene, 2006). Some
examples of drugs used
for dealing with central nervous system (cns) disease in Distemper
infections include; dexamethasone (to reduce cns edema), diazepam for
seizures, and phenobarbital for prevention of seizures (Greene, 2006).
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