canine distemper

n. An acute, often fatal infectious disease of domestic dogs, wild canids, and certain other animals, caused by a morbillivirus and characterized by fever, lethargy, vomiting, coughing, discharge from the eyes and nose, and often neurological symptoms.

canine distemper

n (Veterinary Science) See distemper¹

dis•tem•per¹

(dɪsˈtɛm pər)

n. 1. a. Also called canine distemper. an infectious disease chiefly of young dogs, caused by an unidentified virus and characterized by lethargy, fever, catarrh, photophobia, and vomiting. b. Also called strangles. an infectious disease of horses, caused by the bacillus Streptococcus equi and characterized by catarrh of the upper air passages and the formation of pus in the submaxillary and other lymphatic glands. c. Also called feline distemper. a usu. fatal viral disease of cats, characterized by fever, vomiting, and diarrhea, leading to severe dehydration. 2. a deranged condition of mind or body; a disorder or disease: a feverish distemper. 3. disorder or disturbance, esp. of a political nature. v.t. 4. Obs. to derange physically or mentally. [1300–50; Middle English (< Middle French destemprer) < Medieval Latin distemperāre= Latin dis- dis-¹ + temperāre to temper]

dis•tem•per²

(dɪsˈtɛm pər)

n. 1. a technique of decorative painting in which glue or gum is used as a binder or medium to achieve a mat surface and rapid drying. 2. a painting executed by this method. v.t. 3. to paint in distemper. [1350–1400; Middle English (< Anglo-French distemprer) < Medieval Latin distemperāre to dissolve, dilute]

Thesaurus

Noun

canine distemper - a viral disease of young dogs characterized by high fever and respiratory inflammationdistemper - any of various infectious viral diseases of animals

canine distemper

A highly contagious viral infection which affects domesticated canines and wild carnivores, including ferrets, lions, dolphins and seals, and may cause epidemics associated with a high mortaility. It kills by inducing apoptosis and infects multiple species due to the mutability of a CDV protein involved in receptor recognition.

canine distemper