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My dog has distemper and won't eat. What can I do to support him?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Large (61lb +) | Male | unneutered | 1 year and 3 months old | 60 lbs

Hello, A neighbor have a problem since two weeks now with their dog. The local veterinary doctor says the desease is called Canine distemper ( in latin Febris catarrhalis infectiosa canum ). He made him 10 days injections with antiboitic, and pills with Vit B complex, vitamine C and acetille-silicyle), but it do not want to eat. He lost a lot of his weight and today he do not want to eat and barely stay on his bacl legs. What can we do, please help. I will attach a photos of him since week ago.

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2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Dr. Strydom, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on April 23rd, 2020

Unfortunately, with distemper there is not much you can do for them. There is no treatment, only supportive care which is already being done. If it progresses to the neurological form, the chance of recovery is minimal. They are doing all the treatment they can based on your description. Nothing else can really be done other than trying to force feed him, which many animals do not take to having done. If they want to try something, I would recommend force feeding either canned dog food or human meat flavored baby foods (in a jar). I am really sorry that his has happened to Rex. Distemper can be easily prevented with vaccination. So, let your friends know that in future all their dogs need to be vaccinated. As puppies they get a series of 3 vaccinations and then as an adult it should be boostered every year. Below is a link to an excellent article about canine distemper. https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/distemper-in-dogs

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    Answered By Sara Farmer, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on October 8th, 2018

    Once neurologic symptoms (encephalitis) develops secondary to canine distemper virus there is no specific treatment for the disease, and symptoms tend to be progressive. If there are any signs of respiratory or gastrointestinal involvement then antibiotics can help prevent secondary infection, but often the neurologic signs lag behind the others and Golu may hot have any respiratory or gastrointestinal signs at this point. Otherwise treatment is mainly supportive: if he is having seizures then anti-epileptic drugs can help, and occasionally anti-inflammatory drugs like prednisone can help as well although in some cases they can make things worse. Unfortunately I think you are limited in what you'll be able to do without a veterinarian available to prescribe medications. You can focus on providing him with a good quality commercial dog food, taking him outdoors frequently to urinate and defecate and making sure he stays clean, and keeping him on a well padded surface and rotating sides often to prevent pressure sores.

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