ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA) — Pinellas County park officials are warning campers at Ft. De Soto State Park to be careful after a dangerous dog virus was found at the campground.
Wednesday, an alert appeared on the Ft. De Soto Park Campground reservation website warning that it confirmed the presence of canine distemper disease.
Park Manager David Harshbarger told 8 On Your Side four racoons have tested positive for the illness. Those animals were euthanized.
“Almost like they are having a seizure, you can just tell, they aren’t walking or acting correctly,” Harshbarger said.
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, canine distemper is caused by a virus with the same name, which “attacks the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and nervous systems of dogs.”
Expert say the virus typically spread by airborne exposure through sneezing, coughing, or barking or through shared food and water items. If infected, dogs can be contagious four months.
Dog owners visiting Fort De Soto say they are staying alert.
“We have been camping around Florida for a little while and have had racoons in our sights, they stole my soap one day, so we know that they come in and mess around,” said Miles Lancaster.
“We don’t want them to die, we love them they’re like our family,” said Kerry Higgins about her pets.
While dogs of all kinds can be affected by the virus, it pose significant to unvaccinated dogs and puppies younger than 4 months old.
- Discharge from the eyes and nose
- Fever
- Coughing
- Lethargy
- Reduced appetite
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Walking in circles, unable to follow a straight path
- Head tilt
- Lack of coordination
- Muscle twitches
- Convulsions with jaw-chewing movements (“chewing gum fits”) and drooling
- Seizures
- Partial or complete paralysis
- Hard footpads and nose
Experts say about one in two dogs will die after being infected with canine distemper. There is no cure or antiviral medication for the disease, so treatment focuses more on supportive care and hydration.
Pinellas County officials said the disease does not affect cats or people. They also warned to not leave food or water outside.
If you see a sick animal, call 727-582-2100.