possibly dystemper

Question
I have a sick pup well she's 6weeks old the end of may. I think she has dystempra but am unsure can you help me?

Answer
Hi Yvonne,

For a puppy, distemper can be a life-threatening disease.

Distemper may be misdiagnosed in its early stages because it begins as an upper respiratory infection resembling a cold, including fever of 103-105 degrees (normal for a dog is 100-102.5), loss of appetite, listlessness, and a watery discharge from eyes and nose. But dogs do not get colds like people do, so if you were to see these symptoms, you should call your vet clinic immediately.

Within a few days, the discharge turns yellow and becomes thick and sticky and the pup has a dry cough, and may have diarrhea and vomiting. Within the first two weeks of the disease, the symptoms may come and go.

Some dogs shake off the disease after this stage, but others progress into pneumonia and neurological involvement. Seizures, encephalitis, partial paralysis, head-tilting, chorea (jerking or twitching) and other neurological signs can follow. Some dogs also experience a hardening of the nose leather and the footpads. Even if the initial disease has been mild, these symptoms can show up weeks later.

The virus can also persist in the system, attacking the spleen, thymus gland and lymph nodes of the immune system and creating immune deficiencies that allow bacterial infections to gain hold.

Treatment consists of fluids to prevent dehydration, antibiotics to treat or prevent secondary infection, drugs to stop diarrhea and vomiting, and anti-convulsants and sedatives to control seizures.

If so you much as suspect Distemper in a 6 week old puppy, you should seek vet care immediately.

I hope I've been a help.

Patti