A contagious virus, Canine Distemper, has been detected in a dog at an animal shelter in the Las Vegas area. The Animal Foundation confirmed that the dog, located in the 89101 area, tested positive for the virus on Saturday.
Canine distemper is a serious viral infection that affects a dog’s respiratory, gastrointestinal, and nervous systems. It is highly contagious and can be transmitted through the air, direct contact, or contaminated surfaces. Symptoms include fever, coughing, vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, and even paralysis.
The shelter, which is currently housing over 600 animals, has taken swift action to protect the other pets. It is isolating symptomatic dogs, testing and monitoring those exposed to the virus, and contacting adopters and rescues who have received potentially exposed dogs. While all animals that enter the shelter are vaccinated against distemper, the shelter notes that it takes a few weeks for the vaccine to fully protect them.
Pet owners are encouraged to keep their pets’ vaccinations up to date to safeguard them from this virus. The shelter is closely monitoring the situation and working to minimize the risk of further spread.