- What is canine distemper?
- How does a dog get distemper?
- Dog distemper symptoms: what to look for
- How vets diagnose it
- Treatment: what supportive care looks like
- Can a dog survive distemper? And how long does it take?
- How to know if your dog is recovering from distemper
- Prevention: the DAPP vaccine and puppy vaccination schedule
- Does pet insurance cover distemper in dogs?
- Before we go
- Frequently Asked Questions
Canine distemper is one of the most serious viral diseases a dog can get, and it moves fast. There’s no cure, it can affect nearly every system in your dog’s body, and it’s highly contagious. If you’re reading this because your dog is sick and you’re trying to figure out what you’re dealing with, you’re in the right place. If you’re here because you want to make sure your dog never gets it, that’s a great reason too.
The good news: canine distemper is almost entirely preventable with a vaccine your vet likely already recommends. The hard part is knowing what to do if your dog is already showing signs. This article covers everything, including what recovery actually looks like week by week.
TL;DR
- Canine distemper is a serious, contagious viral disease with no cure. Treatment is supportive, meaning your vet manages symptoms and complications while your dog’s immune system does the fighting.
- Early signs look a lot like a bad cold: runny nose, eye discharge, and fever. Neurological signs like seizures or “chewing gum fits” come later and signal a more serious stage.
- The DAPP vaccine (a core vaccine given as part of the standard puppy vaccination schedule) is highly effective at preventing distemper entirely.
- Recovery is possible, especially in vaccinated or otherwise healthy dogs, but it can take weeks. Some dogs are left with lasting neurological effects, sometimes called “old dog distemper.”
- A Lemonade Preventive Care add-on can help cover the cost of core vaccines and routine vet visits. If your dog gets sick, illness coverage may help with supportive care costs, as long as the condition isn’t pre-existing and develops after the 14-day illness waiting period.
What is canine distemper?
Canine distemper is caused by the canine distemper virus (CDV), a close relative of the measles virus in humans. It attacks a dog’s respiratory system, digestive system, and nervous system, often all at once. Puppies and unvaccinated dogs are most at risk, but even older dogs can get it if they’ve never been vaccinated or if their immunity has lapsed.
Distemper in dogs is sometimes called “hard pad disease” because one of its distinctive signs is a hardening and thickening of the paw pads and nose. It’s a clue that something more serious than a cold is going on.
How does a dog get distemper?
The canine distemper virus spreads through airborne droplets, meaning your dog can breathe it in from a sick dog nearby. It also spreads through direct contact with an infected dog’s saliva, urine, or other bodily fluids. Shared food bowls, toys, and bedding can all carry the virus.
Wildlife are a hidden reservoir for CDV. Raccoons, foxes, skunks, and ferrets can carry and spread the virus, so even dogs who don’t interact with other dogs aren’t completely off the hook if they spend time outdoors in areas where wildlife roam.
Dog distemper symptoms: what to look for
Distemper tends to move through the body in stages. Knowing the signs at each stage can help you act quickly.
Early signs (days 3 to 14 after exposure)
- Thick, yellowish discharge from the eyes and nose: Often the first thing owners notice. Easy to mistake for a cold or allergies, but in an unvaccinated dog this warrants a same-day vet call.
- Fever: Sometimes occurring in two waves. Your dog may feel warm to the touch, especially around the ears.
- Coughing, sneezing, and labored breathing: Respiratory symptoms that progress rather than improve. If breathing seems labored, treat it as urgent.
- Loss of appetite and lethargy: Common early signs. Combined with discharge and fever in an unvaccinated dog, this is a vet visit today, not next week.
- Vomiting or diarrhea: Can accompany the early respiratory phase.
Later signs (weeks 2 to 4 and beyond)
- Hardening of the paw pads and nose: The classic “hard pad disease” sign. If you’re seeing this alongside other symptoms, distemper is high on the list.
- Neurological signs: muscle twitching, circling, head tilting, and seizures: If your dog is showing any neurological signs, that’s an emergency. Get to a vet immediately.
- “Chewing gum fits”: A specific type of seizure where the jaw moves rhythmically, like the dog is chewing. These are a hallmark neurological sign of distemper and require emergency care.
- Partial or full paralysis in severe cases: A sign of advanced disease. Emergency care is required.
How vets diagnose it
Your vet will start with a physical exam and your dog’s vaccination history. Confirming distemper usually requires a PCR test (polymerase chain reaction), a highly sensitive test that detects the virus’s genetic material directly in your dog’s body fluids, like eye discharge, nasal swabs, or urine. It’s more accurate than older tests and can catch the virus earlier.
Treatment: what supportive care looks like
There’s no antiviral medication that kills the canine distemper virus. Treatment is all about supportive care, meaning your vet helps your dog stay strong enough to fight the virus on its own. That typically includes:
- IV fluids to prevent dehydration
- Antibiotics to treat or prevent secondary bacterial infections that take hold because the immune system is weakened
- Anti-nausea and anti-diarrheal medications
- Anticonvulsants to manage seizures
- Nutritional support if your dog isn’t eating
Dogs with severe neurological signs may need hospitalization. Secondary infections are one of the biggest threats, so catching and treating them early matters a lot.
Can a dog survive distemper? And how long does it take?
Yes, dogs can and do survive distemper, but the outcome depends heavily on age, overall health, vaccination status, and how quickly treatment begins. Puppies and immunocompromised dogs have the hardest time. Adult dogs who receive prompt supportive care have a better chance.
In the most severe cases, death can occur within two to five weeks of infection, often from neurological complications or overwhelming secondary infections. But many dogs survive, especially with early, aggressive supportive care.
How to know if your dog is recovering from distemper
Recovery from distemper is slow, non-linear, and sometimes confusing. Here’s what improvement generally looks like over time.
Weeks 1 to 2: stabilization
The first sign of improvement is usually appetite returning and fewer episodes of vomiting or diarrhea. Fever may start to break. Your dog might still be very tired and have eye or nasal discharge, but if those early respiratory symptoms are stabilizing rather than worsening, that’s a good sign.
Weeks 3 to 4: slow progress
Energy starts to return in small increments. Discharge reduces. If neurological signs were present, they may plateau or very gradually improve. This is also when some dogs develop new neurological symptoms even as they seem to be getting better in other ways, so keep your vet closely in the loop.
Week 4 and beyond: what lingers
Some dogs recover fully. Others are left with lasting effects: a residual twitch, a slight head tilt, or ongoing seizure activity. This long-term neurological aftermath is sometimes called “old dog distemper” or old dog encephalitis, a condition where the virus leaves behind chronic inflammation in the brain that shows up months or even years later, often in dogs who appeared to recover. It’s rare, but it’s real, and it’s worth knowing about.
Prevention: the DAPP vaccine and puppy vaccination schedule
The single most effective thing you can do is vaccinate. The DAPP vaccine (which protects against distemper, adenovirus, parvovirus, and parainfluenza) is a core vaccine, meaning it’s recommended for virtually every dog. It’s part of the standard puppy vaccination schedule and requires boosters throughout your dog’s life.
Puppies typically receive their first DAPP shot at six to eight weeks of age, with follow-up doses every three to four weeks until they’re around 16 weeks old. After that, a booster at one year and then every one to three years depending on your vet’s recommendation. A lapsed vaccine is a real vulnerability, so if you’re not sure when your dog was last vaccinated, ask your vet.
Does pet insurance cover distemper in dogs?
Treating distemper isn’t cheap. Hospitalization, IV fluids, anticonvulsants, and days or weeks of monitoring add up quickly.
If your dog develops distemper after your Lemonade Pet policy is active, illness coverage can help with the cost of supportive care, as long as the condition isn’t pre-existing and develops after the 14-day illness waiting period has passed. That’s the key thing to know: if your dog is already sick, you can’t enroll and have that illness covered retroactively. Coverage has to be in place before the diagnosis.
Lemonade also offers a Preventive Care add-on that can help cover the cost of core vaccines like DAPP and routine vet visits, which is exactly how you keep distemper from becoming a problem in the first place.
Before we go
Canine distemper is scary, but it’s also one of the most preventable diseases your dog can face. If your dog is vaccinated and up to date, you’re already doing the most important thing. If they’re not, or if you’re not sure, call your vet today and get it sorted. And if your dog is currently sick and you’re watching for signs of recovery, know that slow progress is still progress. Keep working closely with your vet, track the changes you’re seeing, and don’t hesitate to ask about anything that worries you. You’re your dog’s best advocate right now.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the first signs of distemper in a dog?
Early signs look a lot like a respiratory infection: fever, runny nose, watery or goopy eye discharge, coughing, and lethargy. Some dogs also vomit or have diarrhea. If those symptoms are followed by neurological changes like twitching, circling, or seizures, distemper is a serious possibility and you should see a vet immediately.
Can a vaccinated dog get distemper?
It’s very unlikely but not impossible, especially if the vaccine series was incomplete, the dog was exposed before immunity fully developed, or boosters lapsed. Vaccination dramatically reduces the risk, and vaccinated dogs who do get exposed typically have much milder disease.
What is “old dog distemper”?
Old dog distemper, also called old dog encephalitis, is a rare condition where the canine distemper virus causes chronic brain inflammation that emerges months or years after the original infection, even in dogs who seemed to recover fully. It typically affects middle-aged to older dogs and causes progressive neurological symptoms.
How is distemper diagnosed in dogs?
Vets typically use a PCR test, which detects the virus’s genetic material in samples like nasal or eye discharge. This is more accurate and faster than older methods. Your vet will also factor in your dog’s symptoms, vaccination history, and physical exam findings.
Is distemper contagious to other pets in my home?
Yes. The canine distemper virus spreads easily between dogs through airborne droplets and direct contact. Ferrets are also susceptible. If one dog in your home is diagnosed with distemper, other unvaccinated dogs should be kept away and monitored closely. Cats are not affected by canine distemper virus.
A few quick words, because we <3 our lawyers: This post is general in nature, and any statement in it doesn’t alter the terms, conditions, exclusions, or limitations of the policies issued, which differ according to your state of residence. You’re encouraged to discuss your specific circumstances with your own professional advisors. The purpose of this post is merely to provide you with info and insights you can use to make such discussions more productive! Naturally, all comments by, or references to, third parties represent their own views, and Lemonade assumes no responsibility for them. Coverage may not be available in all states. Please note that statements about coverages, policy management, claims processes, Giveback, and customer support apply to policies underwritten by Lemonade Insurance Company or Metromile Insurance Company, a Lemonade company, sold by Lemonade Insurance Agency, LLC. The statements do not apply to policies underwritten by other carriers.
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