Canine distemper remains a serious disease causing significant suffering. Vaccination provides complete protection against this preventable welfare harm.
Dogs dying from distemper suffer prolonged multi-system disease - respiratory distress, GI upset, and in survivors, progressive neurological signs including seizures. The disease is entirely preventable through core vaccination. Wildlife reservoir species that develop distemper also suffer - and present a persistent exposure risk for unvaccinated dogs. Vaccination protects against a preventable source of severe suffering.