Canine distemper is a very life-threatening disease, which is triggered by a highly contagious virus that attacks the gastrointestinal, respiratory and the nervous systems of dogs. Canine distemper disease can also affect other wild members of the canine family, such as coyotes, raccoons, foxes as well as wolves. Younger dogs are more susceptible to becoming infected although; older dogs can become infected as well, however without as much regularity.

Once a dog develops the disease, more than fifty percent of them die from canine distemper, with and even lower survival rate in puppies by twenty percent. Therefore if a dog is able to survive canine distemper, it is highly likely that is general health is damaged permanently.