Dog owners on alert following Distemper concerns

BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — If you are a dog owner in the southern part of the county south of Supply, you need to make sure your dog is up to date on vaccines including Distemper Virus vaccine.

Officers with the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Animal Protective Services Unit report more than a dozen wild animals, mainly foxes and raccoons, tested positive for the virus in areas including Holden Beach, Oak Island and Ocean Isle Beach.

According to American Veterinary Medical Association, canine distemper is spread through an infected animal’s cough or sneeze and is highly contagious. Distemper is often fatal, and dogs that survive the disease can cause permanent damage to the dog’s nervous system.