UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program

Preventing canine distemper is part of keeping puppies safe in shelters

Canine distemper, long thought of as nearly extinct in pet dogs in the U.S., has re-emerged in many areas as a significant threat to shelter puppies and unvaccinated adult dogs. Fortunately we have some good tools to fight this disease. For pups and dogs over ~ 5 months of age, the recipe to control distemper is straightforward: combine vaccination immediately on intake with transport, handling and initial housing in a clean environment using clean hands, clothing and equipment.

Puppies less than 5 months old are not as readily protected by vaccination. Some pups will have high levels of maternal antibody which will protect them from infection as well as prevent vaccination. Others will have no maternal antibody, because they were born to a mother who had never been vaccinated or naturally exposed. These puppies will be rapidly protected by vaccination, just as older dogs will be. The problem is puppies in the middle: those that have enough maternal antibody to prevent vaccination but not enough to provide protection. The trouble is, in a shelter we can never know which puppies those will be. Therefore, every shelter puppy needs extra protection from exposure to disease. Prioritize your best housing for puppies: double sided runs separated by a guillotine door are ideal as they allow you to care for puppies without having to handle them or enter the run with dirty feet and clothes. Care for puppies wearing clean, fresh clothing and footwear dedicated to use only in puppy housing areas. To learn more, visit our canine distemper information sheet.