African wild dogs face welfare threats from canine distemper and rabies transmitted by domestic dogs living near protected area boundaries.
Canine distemper causes prolonged neurological disease including seizures and dementia before death, representing significant suffering over days to weeks. Rabies causes acute neurological deterioration and death. The social welfare dimension is profound: wild dogs are highly cooperative, and loss of individuals disrupts pup rearing, hunting and pack cohesion. Vaccination programmes for both wild and domestic dogs are among the most welfare-effective interventions available.