Canine distemper, Carré’s disease or commonly known “Distemper” is the dreaded virus that attacks mammals such as foxes, otters, wolves and our beloved unconditional companions: dogs. It is highly contagious and is present in secretions from the nose and tears, which are easily spread by the tiniest droplets; an infected dog can spread the virus up to 4 months after recovery, so even if healthy, it will spread the virus through its fluids. That’s when cleanliness becomes more than essential!
For this reason, it is essential to be extremely cautious when a distemper epidemic arrives since it directly affects the respiratory and digestive systems, and in the worst cases, even the nervous system.
And do you know what the worst thing is? this virus is not only transmitted from an infected dog to a healthy one but also remains in the environment. Therefore, to protect your furry friends, you must learn how to clean and eliminate distemper in the home after infection and keep these family members healthy and strong.
What to do if one of your dogs has overcome distemper and you have more at home?
Before doing anything else, assess whether no one else is infected. Pay attention to basic symptoms such as nasal and eye discharge, coughing, listlessness, loss of appetite and weight, difficulty breathing, vomiting, diarrhea, reddened skin, rashes and hardening of the pads.
Keep in mind that those most affected by this deadly condition are the cubsbut Why? Simple: it is due to the lack of maturity in their immune system, so if you have puppies at home, it is best to take them out of there for a reasonable time until the viral load is neutralized and they are ready to be treated. vaccinated with both doses of listed. Acting fast is the key!
Once any possibility of infection has been ruled out and everyone is healthy, and away from the sick dog, it’s time to start with a thorough check of the dog’s health.thorough cleaning and disinfection of the area where the dog was found is the best way to prevent the virus’s spread for the rest of your home.
How to clean and disinfect the house of distemper?
Although distemper is known worldwide, it is quite difficult to control and cure due to its strong clinical picture, unfortunately, 70% of canines die if not treated in time.
And although it is said that once secretions expel the virus, in a warm environment, it resists little, it is necessary to clean every area with which the infected animal has had contact, from its bed, toys, dishes, to curtains, furniture and floors. Follow these steps:
- Collect belongings: objects such as collars, blankets, bedding, toys, dishes and all those things with which the puppy comes into contact. Once this is done, you have two alternatives: throw them away or wash them with bleach or ammonia.
- Wash them: If you have decided to preserve your dog’s things, soak them for 30 minutes with nine parts water and 1 part bleach or ammonia. Never both!
- Initial cleaning: before pouring any disinfectant, scrub the area with warm water to remove faecal matter, urine or vomit from the surface. Otherwise, these wastes could deactivate the effect of the disinfectant substance.
- Thorough disinfection: for elimination of canine distemper the best choice is products containing quaternary ammonium or chlorine diluted in water. Choose the one that is most accessible to you and apply the solution thoroughly to all contaminated surfaces; leave for 10 minutes and rinse with plenty of water until no residue remains.
Do not forget that before performing this hygiene, you must ventilate the area and wear a mask and gloves to protect yourself from toxic gases harmful to the skin, mucous membranes and respiratory system. And nip this killer virus in the bud!