My vaccinated dog was near distemper. Can he get it without contact?

Vaccinated animals are at a very low risk of acquiring distemper virus and passing it on to other dogs. This is because the virus cannot live without fresh secretions; it is inactivated in minutes outside the dog's body. The infected dog typically infects other dogs via coughing infected respiratory secretions though the virus is shed in most other body secretions, including urine. A dog with distemper, even if recovered from the virus can shed the infection for up to 2-3 months so I would restrict any future contact and monitor for any abnormal clinical signs, including coughing or nasal discharge.

As long as Bruno is fully vaccinated, he should not be in any danger of getting distemper - even if he may have had some brief contact with an infected puppy. The vaccine for this disease is extremely effective, so I wouldn't worry :)

If she has been fully vaccinated then the likelihood of her getting distemper is low. If you have any concerns, however, have her examined by your veterinarian. She may just have a viral respiratory infection. Your vet can do a physical examination, run labwork, and prescribe medications, if needed to treat.

Vaccines in puppies should be given every 3-4 weeks starting at 8 weeks of age. So he can be boostered at 11-12 weeks (looks like he has about a week to go). The chances of him getting something from the unvaccinated dog's owner is pretty minimal but there is always a slight chance. I personally would not be too worried about it but there are a couple things you could do to minimize risk. You could just kindly ask her to wash her hands before petting. The other option is that you don't have to let her pet him at all. You can always say you are busy training him and you would prefer that no one pets him for now if you want to avoid a conflict..... Hope this answers your question. Best wishes!

Thank you for submitting your question. It should be fine to visit. I would change your clothes as soon as you come home and could even shower before interacting with your own dogs. Being adult dogs and fully vaccinated their risk would be minimal. I certainly would not take your dogs to your dogs to your friend's house though. I hope this information helps!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Charlie. Puppies are typically vaccinated for the distemper virus. However, some are never taken to a veterinarian. So I would certainly recommend having Charlie vaccinated now. He would need an initial vaccine and then a booster in 3-4 weeks. This will ensure that he is adequately protected. I hope this information helps!

Your puppy can contract distemper by coming in contact with other dogs that are infected, objects that have been contaminated by infected dogs, or it can be transmitted by wildlife such as raccoons.