Anything For Animals

posted by admin on Jun 3

Can steam cleaning stop the distemper virus?

Any precautionary measures taken can help to reduce the likelihood of dogs contracting distemper - as with any other disease or infection - and steam cleaming can be a part of the prevention process.

Distemper is passed on when the virus is shed in the urine, faeces, vomit, drool from an infected animal, as well as in the discharge from the nose and eyes. As a result, it is assumed that inhalation is the most likely route of infection so reducing this form of transmission is essential in distemper control.

However, steam cleaning alone cannot ’stop’ the distemper virus - as only the vaccination and a really healthy immune system response can prevent your dog becoming infected with distemper if it actually comes into contact with the virus.

There are however, many of ways to limit the chances of your dogs coming into contact with the virus, including but not exclusive of the following - which of course will help to prevent a huge number of other illness as well:

Concerning the dogs themselves:

• Get you dog vaccinated at the earliest opportunity and keeping up-to-date with boosters.
• Limit the contact of puppies with dogs or other puppies from different sources prior to vaccination.
• Do not purchase or sell your puppy from mixed litter groups from different sources.
• Do not keep puppies from different litters and locations together in kennels or pet shops.
• Do not mix unvaccinated dogs from different locations in kennels or large enclosures.

Concerning their environments:

• Steam clean any large outdoor or indoor areas used by different dogs.
• Use lime/bleach/anti-bacterial/anti-viral pet-safe products around kennels and yards and clean regularly.
• Never put another animal into an uncleaned kennel or run previously used by another dog.
• Quarantine new/unknown animals from existing animals until it’s health or vaccination record is complete to your satisfaction.
• Make sure all animals are wormed and treated for parasites as this can affect their ability to fight off the virus.
• Isolate any sick animals from the healthy individuals to reduce contamination.
• Secure your yard or garden from stray dogs, foxes, racoons, etc to limit their contact with your pets.

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