Distemper cases rising among raccoons, foxes
Trinity Standard , March 2007

TRINITY – A recent rise in the number of distemper infections found in Trinity County wildlife is prompting local officials to warn area pet owners to be cautious.
“In recent weeks we’ve seen a dramatic increase in the number of distemper cases, especially among raccoons, and local residents need to take steps to protect their pets,” warned Chief Deputy Sheriff Jim Gratz of the Trinity County Sheriff’s Department.
Gratz said raccoons are notorious for “stealing” dog food left outside and he noted a raccoon infected with distemper could infect a dog if they both ate from the same dish.
The chief deputy noted the sheriff’s department is aware of six cases of raccoons infected by the disease – three found in the rural areas of the county and three found in Trinity.
However, a check with a local veterinarian, Dr. Garry Reece, indicates the number of infected animals is much greater.
“Over the past six months, I’ve had a number of raccoons and foxes brought to me that were infected – I guess between 10 and 12,” he said.
Reece explained that distemper seems to be one of nature’s ways of controlling wildlife populations and comes in waves “ever four to five years” through East Texas.
Distemper is a viral infection that affects the brains of dogs, ferrets, raccoons, foxes and skunks and is often fatal.
While distemper does not affect humans, Reece said its symptoms often mimic that of rabies, which does.
“Like rabies, distemper is a neurological infection and the only real way to determine which disease the animal has is to kill it and have its brain analyzed,” he said.
Because of this, when a human is exposed to distemper, it is important to destroy the animal while preserving its head.
 “If there is no human exposure, then the animal can be destroyed and either buried or incinerated,” the veterinarian said.
Reece explained there are two types of rabies. The “Old Yeller” type in which the animal is very aggressive and what is known as the “dumb” type, in which the animal is disoriented and loses its fear of humans.
“Skunks and raccoons with the ‘dumb’ type of rabies have been known to walk into people’s homes,” he said.
It is this type of rabies that distemper mimics.
Reece said infected animals lose their fear of man and will appear to be moving slower than normal, will fall over frequently and can have seizures.
He said parents should caution their children to avoid all contact with the animals and to destroy raccoons, foxes and skunks that exhibit these symptoms.
He also advised pet owners to get their animals vaccinated against both rabies and distemper.
“We fortunately have distemper vaccines for both dogs and ferrets but we don’t have them for wildlife. If anyone has a pet raccoon, there is no vaccine to protect the animal from the disease,” he said.