A dangerous distemper outbreak is spreading across Dallas and Plano. The outbreak could easily kill your dogs if they are not vaccinated. HAVE YOUR PETS VACCINATED! Make sure they are up to date on all their shots. Distemper vaccinations are only good for 1 year.
Collin County is running a $10 distemper clinic this weekend. Pet owners can bring in dogs and cats for a $10 distemper vaccination from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday at Collin County Animal Services in McKinney. No appointments are needed.
Distemper is an infectious viral disease. Symptoms include partial paralysis, seizures, fever, and vomiting. Once a dog shown signs of seizure, there is not much else to do but to put the dog to sleep.
The distemper virus can survive six months in open air. Animal experts say it could literally wipe out the local raccoon population as it also endangers our pets. It almost wiped out our little Chihuahua rescue Birdie.
When we were rehabbing our distemper rescue dog Birdie, it was very hard to watch her needlessly suffer as her near death experience was avoidable with a vaccination. She is doing great now and thriving in her new home
The distemper outbreak is so bad it is effecting the In Sync Exotics Cat rescue. Their big cats are very sick, and in jeopardy of dying from distemper
Plano issued warnings on its animal shelter Facebook page and the city’s website, urging pet owners to:
- vaccinate their dogs and cats
- keep pets away from wildlife
- avoid leaving food outdoors
“Anything that attracts the wildlife is going to increase the chances that your pets are going to be exposed to any diseases they may be carrying,” said Jamie Cantrell, Plano Animal Services manager. Cantrell said North Texans should be especially wary of raccoons that appear to be tame.
“We’ve actually had people tell us, ‘He was so sweet and being friendly to me,'” said Cantrell. “And that’s really not the case. It’s just the disease has basically done brain damage, and it has changed its personality. It’s still able to bite. They still could hurt someone.”
People can’t contract distemper, but the virus can easily spread to dogs and cats that are not vaccinated. Many people to not know about distemper or how it is so easily spread. Do your part to help educate your neighbors about the importance of vaccinating their pets. When everyone stays educated and vaccinated – it helps keep the entire neighborhood population of pets well.