Photo Credit: Minnesota DNR
Reported cases of disease in raccoons that can infect dogs is on the rise across the state. The DNR’s Dr. Michelle Carstensen says canine distemper can spread through the air or by direct contact with urine, feces, blood or saliva. She says while symptoms in a dog can be managed, there is not a cure.
“The animal would appear to have a fever, go off feed, have some vomiting and also some discharge from the eyes or the nose. That’s kind of the common early signs.”
Carstensen says there is no cure for canine distemper and it’s often deadly:
“Unfortunately the mortality rate is quite high in young dogs. And puppies that are exposed to canine distemper it can be high as 80-percent. In adult dogs it’s less, than 50-percent. Kind of depends on the strain of the virus.”
Cases of canine distemper have been confirmed in Olmsted County and Yellow Medicine County and sick raccoons also have been reported in Dodge, Winona and Kandiyohi counties. Carstensen says the best way to protect your dog is to be sure you are current on vaccinations.
Full interview with the DNR’s Dr. Michelle Carstensen: