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My dog has distemper and won't eat. What can I do to support him?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Large (61lb +) | Male | unneutered | 1 year and 3 months old | 60 lbs

Hello, A neighbor have a problem since two weeks now with their dog. The local veterinary doctor says the desease is called Canine distemper ( in latin Febris catarrhalis infectiosa canum ). He made him 10 days injections with antiboitic, and pills with Vit B complex, vitamine C and acetille-silicyle), but it do not want to eat. He lost a lot of his weight and today he do not want to eat and barely stay on his bacl legs. What can we do, please help. I will attach a photos of him since week ago.

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Dr. Strydom, DVM

Answered By Dr. Strydom, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on April 23rd, 2020

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
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Related Answers from Veterinarians

  • Answered By Sara Farmer, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on October 8th, 2018

    Once neurologic symptoms (encephalitis) develops secondary to canine distemper virus there is no specific treatment for the disease, and symptoms tend to be progressive. If there are any signs of respiratory or gastrointestinal involvement then antibiotics can help prevent secondary infection, but often the neurologic signs lag behind the others and Golu may hot have any respiratory or gastrointestinal signs at this point. Otherwise treatment is mainly supportive: if he is having seizures then anti-epileptic drugs can help, and occasionally anti-inflammatory drugs like prednisone can help as well although in some cases they can make things worse. Unfortunately I think you are limited in what you'll be able to do without a veterinarian available to prescribe medications. You can focus on providing him with a good quality commercial dog food, taking him outdoors frequently to urinate and defecate and making sure he stays clean, and keeping him on a well padded surface and rotating sides often to prevent pressure sores.

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    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

Health & Wellness
My dog has distemper. What should I do and what food is best for her?
Unfortunately there is no specific treatment for it and I would recommend to have added some antibiotics prescribed to fight against possible secondary infections. In terms of food, Canine recovery diet or Canine a/d are very energetic type of diets (usually very palatable as well) which are recommended in these situations. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Health & Wellness
My vaccinated dog has distemper, lost weight, won't eat. What can I do?
Poor Pando! It is unusual for a dog to get distemper if properly vaccinated and boostered over their life. It is not impossible though. It is great news if he is getting better from the distemper symptoms but still concerns me that he is suffering from distemper or some other issue with the large amount of weight loss and loss of appetite. I would talk to your vet about rechecking any bloodwork to see what it looks like and also make sure he is on antibiotics. If he isn't eating, he may need to be on intravenous fluids and injectable antibiotics. Also, if possible, you may talk to your vet about doing some x-rays to see what his chest and abdomen looks like to see if there are any additional problems. I have seen dogs with distemper develop pneumonia and other secondary issues. He may also need a feeding tube if he is refusing to eat. It sounds like he has been in good hands but just needs more treatment and maybe even more aggressive treatment to help him continue to improve. Unfortunately, if he truly does have distemper, it is very tough for them to recover. Hang in there and I hope he start to gain weight and improve soon.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Health & Wellness
My dog has distemper. Can he survive? What are the chances of recovery?
I'm sorry Kiku has distemper. Supportive care is the only treatment available for this disease, which can include IV fluids, anti-seizure medications, and medications to help control vomiting and diarrhea. Unfortunately about 80% of puppies who get distemper will die from the disease. His best chance for survival is hospitalization with a vet, so I would take him into one immediately.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
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My dog had distemper. Why are his symptoms worsening after treatment?
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.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Vet Q & A
My unvaccinated dog has distemper. How can I help her survive?
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
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Health & Wellness
My dog has distemper. What can I do to help them recover at home?
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.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Training & Behavior
My dog has distemper symptoms, not eating, mucus. What can I do?
I am sorry to hear that Mackle is so sick. Keeping her hydrated is important. Is she won’t drink then she may need to be hospitalized in IV fluids. However, if she is drinking water well then I usually recommend that my owners take their pets into the bathroom when they shower to help loosen the mucus. There are appetite stimulates that you can ask your veterinarian for such as Entyce or Mirtazipine. Distemper is a virus and must complete its course. As long as it does not cause neurological disorders then most dogs will recover. If she begins seizures then the prognosis is very poor. Best of luck and I hope she improves soon. Thank you for using Pet Coach.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025

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