IMPORTANCE OF CLINICAL AND HEMATOLOGICAL EVALUATION IN THE PRESUMPTIVE DIAGNOSIS OF CANINE DISTEMPER: A CASE REPORT

Resumo

Canine distemper is a highly contagious viral disease caused by the Canine Distemper Virus (CDV), affecting mainly unvaccinated dogs and presenting multisystemic clinical manifestat ions. The disease remains an important challenge in veterinary medicine due to its high morbidity and mortality rates, especially in cases involving neurological impairment. This study aimed to report the clinical evolution, laboratory findings, and therap eutic management of a canine patient with suspected distemper treated at the Veterinary Hospital of UNIMAR. A two-year-old male Pit Bull dog weighing 18 kg was admitted presenting hyporexia, vomiting, apathy, inability to remain standing, and progressive n eurological alterations. During physical examination, the patient showed hyperthermia (40.1°C), mild dehydration, mucopurulent ocular discharge, diffuse alopecia, hyperkeratosis of the footpads, pulmonary crackles, abdominal pain, nystagmus, ataxia, vocalization, and circling behavior. The owner reported an incomplete vaccination protocol consisting only of rabies vaccination. Hematological evaluation demonstrated normocytic normochromic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and severe lymphopenia, as well as leukocyti c alterations compatible with immunosuppression. Blood smear cytology revealed structures suggestive of Lentz inclusion bodies, reinforcing the clinical suspicion of canine distemper. Biochemical parameters remained within reference values. Due to the owne r’s refusal to perform complementary and confirmatory diagnostic tests, a therapeutic approach based on clinical suspicion and supportive treatment was established. During hospitalization, the patient showed improvement in appetite and cessation of vomitin g; however, neurological signs persisted, including vocalization and circling gait. The animal was discharged with recommendations for continuation of home treatment and veterinary clinical follow -up. This case highlights the importance of clinical examination and hematological evaluation in the presumptive diagnosis of canine distemper, especially when confirmatory tests are not feasible. Furthermore, it emphasizes the importance of vaccination as a preventive measure and of confirmatory testing for defini tive diagnosis, enabling early therapeutic intervention and improvement of prognosis.