A local veterinary clinic says it has been notified that the two coyotes who were euthanized in Saskatoon recently were both positive for Canine Distemper. The Acadia Veterinary Clinic posted on social media to provide a warning to local dog owners.
The clinic says Distemper is a serious viral disease that attacks the respiratory, digestive and nervous systems in domestic dogs. Symptoms in wildlife often resemble closely to rabies which is why extreme caution should always be taken when encountering any animal behaving abnormally. Acadia Veterinary Clinic says puppies and unvaccinated dogs are at highest risk of infection.
The clinic says distemper can be fatal in up to 50 per cent of unvaccinated dogs and those which survive often have permanent neurological damage. They urge dog owners to have their animals vaccinated and to avoid areas where there has been an outbreak or exposure to the disease. It is mostly spread through airborne exposure or shared items (food/water bowls). Infected animals can shed the virus for months and it can also pass from a mother dog to its puppies while pregnant. Symptoms of distemper are usually severe purulent discharge from the eyes, fever, nasal discharge, and lethargy. If the virus attacks the central nervous system, muscle twitching, seizures or gum chewing and other neurological signs can be seen.
On March 18th, patrol officers with the Saskatoon Police Service responded to the 600 block of Feheregyhazi Boulevard in the Aspen Ridge neighbourhood after a caller said a coyote was lying in an alley acting strangely. Police located the animal, confirmed it was in distress and euthanized the coyote. Over the noon hour the same day another call came in regarding a sick coyote but this time at the Sutherland Dog Park near Central Avenue and Fedoruk Drive. This too was an animal in distress and it was safely euthanized. While at the dog park the officer was approached by another person who said they’d seen a third coyote acting strangely in the park. That animal fled before it could be euthanized. If you see any animals that could pose a threat to public safety call the police immediately. If it is an emergency call 911.
