Recently I read an article from the Telegraph about dogs’ guilty looks and how they might not always be a sure sign that they’ve done something wrong. Reading it confirmed my thought process during a situation we experienced with our boxer mix, Sally, during her transition from her foster home to her forever home with us.

I walk back into my office after returning home from grocery shopping, and Sally immediately drops her head low to her bed, guilt written all over her face. My eyebrow arches, and I start walking around the house to see what trouble she had gotten into while we were gone. The trash bin is still standing upright and unscathed, and the cats’ dish is still full of kibble. Nothing at all seems out of place. I’m left scratching my head.

As a result of seeing a higher-than-usual number of distemper outbreaks this year, the Arizona Humane Society (AHS) has issued a community health alert to all pet owners. States such as Florida, Ohio and Georgia have also seen earlier-than-usual occurrences of this dangerous disease and extra caution is urged nationally.  Typically, distemper outbreaks arise in the spring due to an increased number of puppies, however this year, signs of the disease are appearing much earlier.

Two New Strains of Distemper
There is evidence to suggest that two new strains of distemper indigenous to Europe have made their way to the U.S. While the typical incubation period for distemper is typically 1-2 weeks, the new strains may have even longer incubation periods.

Worse, while traditionally distemper was thought of as a disease that primarily affected puppies who have not had all of their “puppy” shots; these strains are now appearing in elderly pets with unconfirmed vaccination histories.