My dog has distemper symptoms. Are there home remedies I can try?

If your pet was diagnosed by a vet with Distemper then your vet should treat Sky according to the symptoms, Distemper is a viral disease and there is no treatment for it but medications can be given to help deal with the disease such as antibiotics for example.

IT is very possible that Cookie has distemper but I will say it is not very common in the united states. I have seen a few cases but they were from rescue dogs in over crowded situations. I would first make sure Cookie has a good exam by a vet to confirm that distemper is the problem. Other disease can look like distemper for example low blood sugar and a liver shunt in small and young dogs will cause seizures. Typically distemper causes neurologic disease and the best way to help is with supportive care with your vet. This includes hospitalization with medications for seizures and muscle relaxation. until the patient recovers even possibly supplemental feedings. I hope that helps and hopefully it is not distemper and Cookie will make a fast recovery

I am so sorry to hear that her disease has progressed. Unfortunately if distemper starts to cause neurological symptoms then it is unlikely that she will recover. Typically seizure activity will follow in the near future. I am so sorry to relay this poor prognosis. However, every patient is different and there is always a chance of improvement. I would encourage you to consider having a follow up appointment with your veterinarian for a reassessment . Thank you for using Pet Coach.

If your dog has been diagnosed with distemper virus you definitely need to seek veterinary care immediately - this is not something that can be treated at home. Distemper has a high mortality rate and is highly contagious. I would not recommend starting antibiotics without the direct supervision of a veterinarian who has performed a physical exam.

Typically dextrose is given when their blood sugar is low. A low bloo sugar is a result of not eating and it can cause weakness and seizures. Distemper can be fatal. It has potential to cause respiraory symptomas and GI problems and in advanced cases it attacks the nervous system and cause a head bob and seizures. It is not always a fast progression, so they can be sick for weeks before getting better or worse. It is a viral infection so suportive care is all you do to wait for their body to fight the virus off. make sure the secondar bacterial infections stay under control with antibiotics, keep the fever under control and make sure they are eating and drinking well

Unfortunately, with distemper there is not much you can do for them. There is no treatment, only supportive care which is already being done. If it progresses to the neurological form, the chance of recovery is minimal. They are doing all the treatment they can based on your description. Nothing else can really be done other than trying to force feed him, which many animals do not take to having done. If they want to try something, I would recommend force feeding either canned dog food or human meat flavored baby foods (in a jar). I am really sorry that his has happened to Rex. Distemper can be easily prevented with vaccination. So, let your friends know that in future all their dogs need to be vaccinated. As puppies they get a series of 3 vaccinations and then as an adult it should be boostered every year. Below is a link to an excellent article about canine distemper. https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/distemper-in-dogs

Unfortunately, distemper is a seriously debilitating disease and there is no cure. We can only try to limit the damage done by the virus. This often entails nerve and brain damage, and upper respiratory problems. The upper respiratory problems can often be alleviated, however the nerve damage is permanent. When it is mild, the dog can have a good quality of life. At this time supportive care is the only option and you will have to wait it out and see what damage will be permanent. It is a nasty disease, and I am very sorry your pup is affected.