How long does distemper take to kill a dog, and is there a cure?

Unfortunately this is a serious viral disease which can cause lasting neurological damage. The treatment for CDV (infection with canine distemper virus) is supportive, there is no cure other than the body of Nasus fighting it himself. We can only help him fight it. Vaccination can prevent a dog from getting an infection with CDV. Here is more information: http://www.center.vet.br/cinomose.html

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.

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.

I'm sorry that Bruno suffered from distemper! Your vet was right that there is no cure for distemper, and about 50% of dogs who come down with it pass away. It's fortunately that Bruno was one of the lucky ones to survive, but dogs who do survive often have lasting effects such as the paralysis you are seeing. I would recommend speaking to your vet about seeing if a doggie wheelchair can be made or purchased for Bruno. Dragging his legs on the ground can easily lead to wounds on his legs which can then get infected. A wheelchair will support him and make it easier for him to get around safely. Dogs with distemper typically do not have normal life spans due to the lasting effects of the disease, so to answer your question, Bruno will survive but for how long is truly unknown. I'm sorry I don't have a more definitive answer for you :-(

You did exactly the right thing by contacting your vet. Unfortunately, canine distemper is a deadly disease for which there is no cure, only supportive care, and it may happen that you could lose Bheem Boy to it. I certainly hope that doesn't happen, and be sure to reach out to your vet anytime he shows concerning symptoms.

This is such a difficult decision to make, and ultimately I think it would be a better question for your vet. They know the particulars of her case and have probably noticed trends in her recovery. Distemper is a devastating disease, and sometimes dogs that make it through the acute respiratory phase go on to develop devastating neurologic symptoms. If she has truly shown no improvement it may be best to end her suffering. On the other hand she may need a little more time to improve. Distemper can also be very expensive to treat, so if finances are (understandably) playing a role you should let your vet know this as well. You could also give an arbitrary time frame to see if she improves 24-48 hours or so. There are no wrong answers in a situation like this.

Dogs which develop the neurological stage of distemper have a very poor chance of functional recovery and in the rare cases they do survive for any length of time tend to have permanent neurological side effects and seizures. Euthanasia is recommended to prevent further suffering and prolonged starvation