Hi guys - I hope u can help me with some first hand experience of dealing with Distemper. Francesca is a 4 months old Maltese. Soon after we brought her home (2.5 months ago) she developed the head-cold symptoms. The vet diagnosed probable Distemper and gave antibiotics. She made a full recovery within days.

During the past few days though she has developed an incoordination of movement in her back legs. While taking her to a new specialist vet for a skin rash (that the initial vet could not fix), I mentioned the leg problem and again he diagnosed Distemper. This was 2 days ago. Since then her back legs got a bit worse (especially when walking on tiles). However she shows none of the other problems (the runny nose, eyes, the vomitting). In fact she eats up a storm. Since the antibiotics don't help the guy put her on homeopathic medicine.

I want to know how soon should I expect some signs of recovery (at this point I'm not prepared to loose her) and more importantly when would I know that we are "over-the-hill". Besides lots of TLC any other things that would help her? Thanks so much for your help!

Would think the best person to ask about her recovery time of her possible diagnossis of distemper would be your specialist vet. I would think a specialist would be very happy to talk you thru this.
Bit confused as to why 2 vets, one of which is a specialist are only diagnosing probable distemper...
I don`t have any personal experience of distemper mind you, but have discussed it a lot with people who have.

Christine, Spain.

As far as I understand, the only test for distemper requires a sample of spinal fluid (which would involve general anesthetic). At this stage, I would not like to have to put the pup though that.

What I find quite strange is the lack of other typical distemper symptoms. Have any of you experienced something similar? Is it possible for the onset of the other symptoms to drag out like this? Or should I maybe look for other possible causes (eg Vestibular Syndrome)

The symptoms of distemper I am told are many and varied, the classic runny eyes & nose, coughing, wheezing are not always present with a distemper case, other symptoms can appear, rashes, general lethargy, lack of appetite, staring coat, vomiting, diarrhoea, twitches, seizures etc. My dog has distemper at the moment (despite him having his vaccines AND boosters) but I fear there is no cure now for him as it has reached his central nervous system and he is showing no signs of recovery. He just sleeps, will not take food (we are resorted to squirting food into him with a syringe - mixing concentrated 'recovery' type food with water), when he does wake he can hardly walk. We have decided enough is enough. This is after I would say some 6 months of symptoms 'presenting' themselves separately and my dog seemed to recover (literally bounce back) each time (I have thought since that maybe his resistance has lowered and lowered due to continuous re-infection, we are in the middle of the country and I am told that foxes can carry it). This 'serious' bout has gone on for more than a week now (started with total lethargy, anorexia and seizures) he rallied for a day or two but relapsed and we have had to give him 24 hour care in that time and take time off work but it seems to no avail. With hindsight I would have sought some homeopathic remedy but I think it is too late with my boy. I have read some good things about homeopathy (over last week - research on the net) and distemper so I think you are doing the right thing because antibiotics don't have any effect on the virus. My vet says some dogs just 'shrug' off distemper without any real long-term problems, whereas others never recover from the first real bout and some, like mine, succumb slowly. It is closely related to the measles virus which for some people can kill and for others they hardly notice that they have it, which was how I reacted to measles when I was young. I think you are doing the best thing for your girl right now and there is no point worrying about the outcome, just do what you can and what you are doing, dealing with symptoms as they arise and if she is only left with a little unsteadiness from her 'bout' with distemper she is a lucky lady. Good luck to her.