18/01/2022
If you live within the City of Pryor, you may have seen these cute masked bandits around on your back porch or in your yard.
We have had several cases of disoriented raccoons being caught by Pryor Animal Control. Some of these raccoons have tested POSITIVE for distemper.
Distemper can affect most mammals, Including our domesticated house pets.
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), “distemper is often fatal, and dogs that survive usually have permanent, irreparable nervous system damage.”
Cats can also catch distemper, but there is no known vaccine at this time.
This would probably be a good time to mention Baylisascaris procyonis- the raccoon roundworm while we’re here.
Raccoon roundworm is the infection by a roundworm called Baylisascaris procyonis carried primarily by raccoons. This worm can infect people and a variety of other animals, including dogs. Human infections are rare, but can be severe if the worm invades the eye, organs, or the brain.
These parasites can be prevented by regular administration of anthelmintics.
We always recommend yearly boosters for your pets, and this is one of the reasons why. If your pet hasn’t received a booster in a while, now would be a great time to do so!