Canine distemper virus causes severe multi-systemic disease with high mortality and significant welfare impact in unvaccinated dog populations.
Dogs with distemper experience a prolonged, severe disease course affecting multiple organ systems simultaneously. Respiratory distress, profuse discharge, diarrhea, vomiting, and neurological dysfunction including seizures cause sustained suffering over weeks. Neurological distemper survivors often have permanent hard pad, seizure disorders, and myoclonic spasms that reduce quality of life indefinitely. Shelter populations and unvaccinated dogs in high-density settings are at greatest risk. Core vaccination is one of the most cost-effective welfare interventions available, preventing suffering with minimal vaccine-associated risk.