Virus threatening Valley dogs

PHOENIX -- The Arizona Humane Society has issued a statewide alert to dog owners for two new strains of the deadly distemper virus that potentially has reached Arizona.

Cases have been found in Florida, Georgia and Ohio but not yet here in Arizona. Older pets with unconfirmed vaccination histories and puppies without booster shots are mostly vulnerable.

Symptoms vary from dog to dog, but often include runny eyes and nose, coughing, lack of appetite, and seizures. Many of those symptoms are often associated with other treatable illnesses, which leaves many animals mistreated. For dogs suspected of having distemper, it is imperative that they be checked by a vet immediately.

Make sure your dogs are up to date on the current vaccinations which at least offer some protection against the new distemper strains. Even with the vaccination, though, there is still a danger.

"These are potentially strains that the existing vaccines may have some protection, or no protection. It's very difficult to distinguish that," says Dr. Nancy Bradley with the Humane Society.

She also warns to be very careful taking pets to dog parks and areas with unknown dogs because unvaccinated dogs are at a high risk for contracting the disease.

KTAR's Jim Cross contributed to this report.