Effects of Phenobarbital and Prednisolone on Neurological Signs of Canine Distemper
ABSTRACT Background Canine distemper virus (CDV) is a highly infectious and often fatal disease in dogs, affecting various systems. Despite vaccination efforts, cases of distemper, especially the neurological form, remain a global concern due to its high fatality rate. Objective To investigate the e...
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Wiley
2025-09-01
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| Series: | Veterinary Medicine and Science |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/vms3.70479 |
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| author | Ali Asghar Sarchahi Mohammad Arbabi Hadi Mohebalian |
| author_facet | Ali Asghar Sarchahi Mohammad Arbabi Hadi Mohebalian |
| author_sort | Ali Asghar Sarchahi |
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| description | ABSTRACT Background Canine distemper virus (CDV) is a highly infectious and often fatal disease in dogs, affecting various systems. Despite vaccination efforts, cases of distemper, especially the neurological form, remain a global concern due to its high fatality rate. Objective To investigate the effectiveness of phenobarbital and prednisolone in treating the neurological form of canine distemper (CD). Methods Thirty‐five dogs with neurological signs of CD were included in the study after careful clinical examination. Confirmation of CD was based on clinical signs, rapid diagnostic tests, and RT‐PCR testing of blood and/or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Dogs were treated with oral phenobarbital (2.5 mg/kg) and prednisolone (0.55 mg/kg) every 12 h. Treatment outcomes were categorised as recovered, died, or euthanised. Results Out of the 35 dogs, 25 tested positive for CDV. Among positive cases (n = 25), two dogs mostly recovered, one dog partially recovered, one dog remained unchanged, 18 died (15 died naturally and three were euthanised), and three dogs were lost to follow‐up. In the negative test group (10 dogs), eight dogs died, the outcome of one dog was unknown and one dog remained unchanged. Disease duration ranged from 2 to 586 days (average: 72 days in positive cases, 59.2 days in negative cases). The low recovery rate (8%) suggests limited effectiveness of the treatments used, including prednisolone, particularly for myoclonus, which was the most frequent clinical sign. Regarding seizure management, while our study observed some effectiveness of phenobarbital in controlling seizures, it's important to note that the efficacy of phenobarbital can vary. Limitations Small sample size and owner non‐compliance limited the study. Conclusions Our findings suggest limited benefit from prednisolone for neurological CD. Further research is necessary to develop more effective treatment strategies for this devastating canine viral disease. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-3ed7ee6c65ef4feb9d9a5b98cf22a42c |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2053-1095 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-09-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Veterinary Medicine and Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-3ed7ee6c65ef4feb9d9a5b98cf22a42c2025-08-20T14:41:15ZengWileyVeterinary Medicine and Science2053-10952025-09-01115n/an/a10.1002/vms3.70479Effects of Phenobarbital and Prednisolone on Neurological Signs of Canine DistemperAli Asghar Sarchahi0Mohammad Arbabi1Hadi Mohebalian2Department of Clinical Sciences Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Ferdowsi University of Mashhad Mashhad IranGraduated from Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Ferdowsi University of Mashhad Mashhad IranDepartment of Pathobiology Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Ferdowsi University of Mashhad Mashhad IranABSTRACT Background Canine distemper virus (CDV) is a highly infectious and often fatal disease in dogs, affecting various systems. Despite vaccination efforts, cases of distemper, especially the neurological form, remain a global concern due to its high fatality rate. Objective To investigate the effectiveness of phenobarbital and prednisolone in treating the neurological form of canine distemper (CD). Methods Thirty‐five dogs with neurological signs of CD were included in the study after careful clinical examination. Confirmation of CD was based on clinical signs, rapid diagnostic tests, and RT‐PCR testing of blood and/or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Dogs were treated with oral phenobarbital (2.5 mg/kg) and prednisolone (0.55 mg/kg) every 12 h. Treatment outcomes were categorised as recovered, died, or euthanised. Results Out of the 35 dogs, 25 tested positive for CDV. Among positive cases (n = 25), two dogs mostly recovered, one dog partially recovered, one dog remained unchanged, 18 died (15 died naturally and three were euthanised), and three dogs were lost to follow‐up. In the negative test group (10 dogs), eight dogs died, the outcome of one dog was unknown and one dog remained unchanged. Disease duration ranged from 2 to 586 days (average: 72 days in positive cases, 59.2 days in negative cases). The low recovery rate (8%) suggests limited effectiveness of the treatments used, including prednisolone, particularly for myoclonus, which was the most frequent clinical sign. Regarding seizure management, while our study observed some effectiveness of phenobarbital in controlling seizures, it's important to note that the efficacy of phenobarbital can vary. Limitations Small sample size and owner non‐compliance limited the study. Conclusions Our findings suggest limited benefit from prednisolone for neurological CD. Further research is necessary to develop more effective treatment strategies for this devastating canine viral disease.https://doi.org/10.1002/vms3.70479canine distemper virusdogneurological distemperphenobarbitalprednisolone |
| spellingShingle | Ali Asghar Sarchahi Mohammad Arbabi Hadi Mohebalian Effects of Phenobarbital and Prednisolone on Neurological Signs of Canine Distemper Veterinary Medicine and Science canine distemper virus dog neurological distemper phenobarbital prednisolone |
| title | Effects of Phenobarbital and Prednisolone on Neurological Signs of Canine Distemper |
| title_full | Effects of Phenobarbital and Prednisolone on Neurological Signs of Canine Distemper |
| title_fullStr | Effects of Phenobarbital and Prednisolone on Neurological Signs of Canine Distemper |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of Phenobarbital and Prednisolone on Neurological Signs of Canine Distemper |
| title_short | Effects of Phenobarbital and Prednisolone on Neurological Signs of Canine Distemper |
| title_sort | effects of phenobarbital and prednisolone on neurological signs of canine distemper |
| topic | canine distemper virus dog neurological distemper phenobarbital prednisolone |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/vms3.70479 |
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