Barrydowne Animal Hospital in Sudbury, Ont., has confirmed a canine distemper virus (CDV) case. The hospital issued a statement describing the virus as “a highly contagious and potentially deadly disease,” and cautioned that the infected dog might have exposed other dogs while shedding the virus. However, no additional cases have been confirmed at this time.

Describing the discovery as “unfortunate,” Barrydowne Animal Hospital urged dog owners to take precautions to protect their pets.

As per The Sudbury Star, the hospital provided a detailed list of clinical signs that could indicate a CDV infection. Milder cases may show lethargy, decreased appetite, fever, and respiratory issues. However, in young dogs or those with inadequate immunity, the symptoms can be far more severe and vary depending on the affected body system:

• Respiratory signs: Difficulty breathing, coughing, shortness of breath, nasal or ocular discharge, and conjunctivitis.
• Gastrointestinal signs: Vomiting, diarrhea (often with blood), and straining.
• Neurological signs: Skin sensitivity, neck stiffness, balance issues, abnormal eye movements (nystagmus), circling, behavioural changes, seizures, limb weakness, and muscle twitching.
• Ocular signs: Dry eye, red eye, thick yellow or green ocular discharge, and light sensitivity.
• Dermatologic signs: Pustular dermatitis in puppies and hyperkeratosis, which involves thickening or hardening of the nasal or digital pads.