Fatal Mistake: Why Your Dog Needs Vaccinations Free PLR Article The canine distemper virus (CDV) causes a highly contagious disease in dogs known as distemper. Dogs who contract distemper suffer damage to their gastrointestinal, central central nervous and respiratory systems. Its vitally important to vaccinate against distemper as it is incurable and often fatal. Puppies between the ages of three and six months are most susceptible to the disease, although older related deaths have dropped considerably. CDV is transmitted via airborne viral particles that dogs inhale. Infected dogs also shed the virus through bodily secretions and excretions. This is why it is so easy for an infected dog to cause the ...