AffectedAnimals:
Distemper effects dogs, ferrets, skunks, raccoons, and foxes.

Overview:
Impossible to cure and sometimes fatal, canine distemper is a serious viral illness that attacks a dog's body on all fronts. The disease may harden the paws and nose, damage the teeth, make breathing difficult and diminish the appetite. Even more disturbingly, canine distemper affects a dog's nervous system, often resulting in seizures and paralysis. Dogs who do not die from this disease usually suffer later in life from recurring neurological problems, such as nervous twitches and seizures.

The virus is highly contagious. It is passed typically by aerosolization, in which droplets containing the virus are expelled into the air through the infected animal's breath and nasal secretions. Fortunately, there is a vaccine. Until the virus is completely eradicated, however, supportive care is the only relief available to the animals that contract it.