Officials recommend pet vaccinations

LONGVIEW — The City of Longview is urging pet owners to take preventative measures to protect their animals due to a potential uptick in wildlife carrying diseases, including distemper.

According to the Longview Animal Care and Adoption Center (LACAC), animal control officers have responded to 26 calls involving raccoons so far this year. Although the LACAC does not frequently test animals for distemper, they stated that local raccoons are showing symptoms similar to the disease.

Distemper is a viral disease that can pose a serious risk to unvaccinated dogs as it attacks their respiratory, gastrointestinal and nervous systems. Dogs at high risk of being impacted include puppies younger than four months and dogs that have not received their vaccinations.

“Distemper is a highly contagious and often fatal disease,” Jenna George, executive director of the LACAC, said. “For the dogs that do manage to survive it, they are often left with lifelong neurological issues. What we are seeing right now is relatively normal for this time of year, but it serves as an important reminder of how quickly these viruses can spread.”

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, if pet owners notice the following symptoms in their dogs, they should take them to the vet:
*Discharge from the eyes and nose
*Fever
*Reduced appetite
*Seizures
Due to the potential increased risk of distemper across Longview, the LACAC is advising residents to vaccinate their pets and remove outdoor food and water.

If Longview residents observe wildlife exhibiting unusual behavior, they should contact the LACAC at 903-297-7387