WA STATE - DISTEMPER OUTBREAK - Page 1

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by hodie on 21 April 2010 - 19:04

For those of you who live in Washington, you might want to be sure you read this:

CANINE DISTEMPER, WILDLIFE - USA (03): (WASHINGTON) RACCOON
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http://www.promedmail.org


Date: Fri 16 Apr 2010
Source: The Seattle Times [edited]
<http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/bellevueblog/2011627351_petownerscautionedafterdistemperbreaksoutineastsidewildlife.html?syndication=rss>


Distemper, a serious and highly contagious animal disease, has broken out
among raccoons on the Eastside, and health officials are encouraging dog
and ferret owners to make sure their animals are vaccinated and kept away
from wildlife.

On Friday [16 Apr 2010], King County health officials learned that 2 dead
raccoons -- one from Bellevue, the other from Redmond -- tested positive
for the disease. Several dead raccoons have also been picked up in
Issaquah, and are assumed to have died of distemper as well, said King
County spokeswoman Christine Lange.

Humans and cats aren't affected by canine distemper, but it's highly
contagious among dogs, ferrets, raccoons, coyotes, skunks, weasels, and
harbor seals. "Dogs are normally vaccinated against canine distemper, but
the disease has become generally uncommon and some pet owners are not
getting their pets vaccinated," said Sharon Hopkins, the veterinarian for
Public Health -- Seattle & King County, in a press release from the King
County health agency, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, and
PAWS. If you don't know whether your pet has been vaccinated, call your
veterinarian, Hopkins said.

Distemper causes encephalitis, or inflammation of the brain, in animals.
Infected animals may have runny eyes and stagger, tremble, foam at the
mouth or snap, according to veterinarians. It can be transmitted by bodily
fluids, including urine and feces, and is nearly always fatal, Lange said.

animules

by animules on 21 April 2010 - 20:04

Thanks Hodie.

Mystere

by Mystere on 21 April 2010 - 23:04

This is something we were warned about in a First Aid seminar that Cascade hosted this past weekend. 

Between this type of thing, my " 'possum-killing bitch,"  and the parvo-idiots in the area, I have half an inclination to just keep my dogs inside!!





 


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