The canine distemper virus (CDV) causes a highly contagious
disease in dogs known as distemper. Dogs who contract distemper
suffer damage to their gastrointestinal, central nervous and
respiratory systems. Distemper is incurable and often fatal.
Puppies between the ages of three and six months are most
susceptible to the disease, although older dogs and other
carnivorous mammals can also contract distemper. At one time,
distemper was the leading cause of death among puppies that had
not been vaccinated. Since the distemper vaccine was created in
the early 60s, incidents of distemper and distemper related
deaths have dropped considerably. CDV is transmitted via
airborne viral particles that dogs inhale. Infected dogs also
shed the virus through bodily secretions and excretions. In this
manner it is easy for an infected dog to cause the infection of
another dog. Distemper causes a multitude of symptoms that
include various respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms to
central nervous system disorders. A clean, w