The City of Tulsa Animal Welfare staff is taking measures to stop the spread of canine distemper virus (CDV) following confirmation of several cases since late March, said Animal Welfare Manager Jean Letcher.

“Three weeks ago, two dogs tested positive for the virus, and since then, more cases have surfaced. This is a new and challenging situation for us.  TAW has not had a CDV outbreak in a decade,” Letcher said.

“We have a very aggressive response strategy and intend to come out of this with confidence and a stronger capacity to help our animals. We are saving as many of our dogs as possible knowing that this may interrupt our regular operations for days, or even weeks.“

Staff has been in consultation with experts at The Shelter Medicine Program at The University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Veterinary Medicine, who have experience in managing CDV in shelters nationwide. The staff is also working with the HSUS Shelter Ally Project.  Letcher said staff is performing two kinds of tests on symptomatic dogs:  blood titer levels and PCR swab tests. Test results are received twice a week due to the time it takes in the lab to culture the samples.

All dogs adopted from TAW have been vaccinated for CDV, but the vaccine is not immediately effective. There is a very small risk of a dog contracting the virus during that time period. The shelter will continue to clear sick dogs for adoption as soon as they have passed two CDV tests. Those tests confirm a dog’s resistance to the virus, and that the dog is not spreading the virus.

In the effort to contain the virus and prevent transmission, citizens who need to surrender a dog to the shelter are asked to delay for two weeks and foster the animal if possible. The shelter continues animal in-take while taking precautions to contain the virus and work with other local animal rescue operations.

CDV is a very serious and sometimes fatal viral illness that affects dogs and other members of the Canidae family. It also affects ferrets. The illness can strike a dog at any age, but young, unvaccinated dogs and puppies are most susceptible to Canine Distemper.  The virus is found in bodily secretions and spread via inhalation. Once inhaled, the virus can move to the lymph nodes and then to the blood, spreading to the respiratory, gastrointestinal, urogenital and central nervous systems.

Despite its seriousness, however, CDV can be treated. Many dogs are subclinical or only mildly affected and can recover uneventfully. Even many of the more seriously affected dogs, including puppies, can recover if they receive the right supportive care.

“CDV is easily prevented. We ask that everyone who has a dog make sure his or her dogs are up to date on the CDV vaccine.  The CDV vaccine is recognized as one of the most effective vaccines and can offer protection within hours. Tulsa Animal Welfare vaccinates every shelter dog in its care,” Letcher said.