HOUSTON -- Houston-area veterinarians are seeing an alarming spike in the number of distemper cases in recent months.
The West Alabama Animal Clinic has seen as many as 20 cases. That's unusual considering the clinic has gone years without seeing a single case.
"It's almost always fatal," says Dr. Danielle Rosser, a veterinarian at the clinic. "It starts out as a cold and becomes a gastro-intestinal thing or vice versa, and it eventually gets into the central nervous system. That's why they usually have to be euthanized."
That's exactly what happened to Brett Hurt's new dog.
"It's been like loosing a child," Hurt said.
She is still reeling from the pain of euthanizing her dog, Ralphie, less than a week ago. She got him a month ago from a mobile adoption site set up by a local shelter.
"It was a nightmare, having to hold him before and during to say goodbye," Hurt said.
The virus is spread through coughing and bodily fluids, and puppies between the ages of three to six months are the most susceptible.
"For now, if you have a young dog, you don't want to go to the bayou or park where there may be dogs not as well-vaccinated," said Dr. Rosser.
At a dog park in southwest Houston, of all places, we met a woman named Kat who was aware of the distemper danger.
"There's been a lot of publicity on the distemper," says Behaine. "It comes around annually. Outbreaks happen at shelters and parks."
"I didn't even know there was an outbreak," said fellow dog owner, Alex Stafford. "So it would be a concern. It certainly is now."
Vets warn that owners of puppies that haven't received all of their booster shots should also avoid groomers and any other place that dogs are known to congregate.
