Distemper outbreak across Amarillo
As Amarillo grapples with a rise in COVID cases, another illness is striking another resident population. Dogs. Across the Yellow City canines are catching distemper, a deadly disease, and it’s spurring some changes for the city. (ABC 7 Amarillo-David Furtado)
AMARILLO, Texas (KVII) — As Amarillo grapples with a rise in COVID-19 cases, another deadly illness is striking the city's dogs. An outbreak of distemper has prompted a temporary halt on surrenders and in-person adoptions at Amarillo Animal Management and Welfare to help curb the spread, since the disease is so easily transmitted.
“It can be on the bottom of your foot,” said Victoria Medley, Director of Amarillo Animal Management & Welfare. “If you reach down and pet one through the cage and then touch another one, you can pass it.”
Medley says the virus can live for 3-4 hours at room temperature.
Dr. Ryan McKnight with Hope Veterinary Clinic said he's seeing five to ten cases a week of distemper.
“Most obvious signs that we see are dogs or puppies that develop a green ocular or nasal discharge,” said Dr. McKnight. “[They] have a lot of sneezing or coughing, but then also get a lot of hardening of the keratin and their skin. (The) paw pads and their nose becomes very hard and kind of cracked.”
If left untreated, it can infect the dog's nervous system.
“They start having seizures or uncontrollable twitching or tremors. At that point, when we have a dog like that, the prognosis is very poor and usually is recommended to euthanize," said Dr. McKnight.
Dr. McKnight said this appears to be the worst outbreak of distemper in at least ten years.
They both say the only way to ensure your pet's safety is to vaccinate them. McKnight suggests, after the six-week round of shots for puppies, they get a booster every one to three years.
For now, limit your dog’s contact with other pets and keep an eye out for those symptoms, which could take days or weeks to develop.