Several transmission routes of canine distemper and parvovirus

There are many ways in which the canine distemper（CDV) and canine parvovirus(CPV) can be transmitted, which can cause many dog owners to have questions. They may wonder, “My dog never goes out, how could it have caught distemper or parvovirus? And how did it become sick after being vaccinated? My dog only had a slight cold, so how did the vet discover it had distemper?” Some owners may even suspect that the vet is deceiving them for profit.

Below are some of the general pathways for the transmission of CDV and CPV.

1.CDV and CPV can be transmitted from the mother:

This refers to the situation where the mother dog, after recovery, still carries the pathogen within her body, which is then passed on to the puppies during pregnancy. However, the virus remains dormant and generally does not cause disease.

The virus needs a carrier to activate it. When the dog’s body condition declines, such as when it has a cold or diarrhea, its immune system will work overtime. When the immune system is weakened, the dog’s condition can worsen, and the dormant CDV and CPV within the body may become activated. This is the common situation where the initial symptoms are cold or diarrhea, and several tests show negative or weakly positive results. Finally, the dog may die of distemper or parvovirus. Many owners may ask, “How can this happen? I’ve been tested and found not to be infected!” This is the reason why.

2.CDC and CPV can be acquired through contact:

• Gastrointestinal contact infection, such as through food, feces, saliva, blood, living quarters, and utensils. This is known as pure contact infection.

• Respiratory infection, which in addition to the above pathways, includes airborne transmission (through suspended particles in the air), which is difficult to control. Therefore, early immunization is necessary!

3.Artificial infection of CDV and CPV:

Refers to vaccination (artificially implanting the virus). However, the problem often arises from the premise that your dog is in very good health before vaccination. What if it is sub-healthy? What if it already has a minor illness? If you overlook this, your dog may have problems!

In addition, treating artificially infected dogs is usually more difficult and can lead to complications from multiple viruses. The choice of medication is limited, making it difficult to know where to start!