Anything For Animals

posted by admin on May 28

Can you get canine distemper in raccoons and is there such a thing as skunk distemper?

There are many species of animal that can carry and become affected by distemper, including raccoons, skunks, foxes, badgers, mink and ferrets, and as with dogs it has high morbidity rates and variable mortality rates depending on the animal involved.

If you find that any of these mammals (all within the ‘dog’ family) are frequently using your yard as a pass-through or home, then you must protect your dog with the vaccine. You will never be able to make sure that your pet didn’t come into contact with the urine or faeces of an infected animal on your land or in local woods accidentally inhaling the infected virus - so you shouldn’t take the risk.

As wild animals will soil anywhere they go, and particularly with scent marking, there will be a high risk of your dog catching the virus if any of the wild animals became infected and then wandered onto your land or into nearby woods.

If you find or notice dead or sick animals around your property and your dog is not vaccinated than it may be advisable to either vaccinate him then, or to take the wild animal to a local vet for testing and react on their findings - however, as there is currently no cure for distemper, your dog may have to live with the consequences of your decision.

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