What are the symptoms>

These are the symptoms for a dog Macrophages (cells that ingest foreign disease-carrying organisms, like viruses and bacteria) carry the inhaled virus to nearby lymph nodes where it begins replicating (reproducing). It spreads rapidly through the lymphatic tissue and infects all the lymphoid organs within 2 to 5 days. By days six to nine, the virus spreads to the blood (viremia). It then spreads to the surface epithelium (cell lining) of the respiratory, gastrointestinal, urogenital, and central nervous systems, where it begins doing the damage that causes the symptoms. Early symptoms include fever, loss of appetite, and mild eye inflammation that may only last a day or two. Symptoms become more serious and noticeable as the disease progresses. The initial symptom is fever (103ºF to 106ºF), which usually peaks 3 to 6 days after infection. The fever often goes unnoticed and may peak again a few days later. Dogs may experience eye and nose discharge, depression, and anorexia. After the fever, symptoms vary considerably, depending on the strain of the virus and the dog’s immunity. Many dogs experience gastrointestinal and respiratory symptoms, such as: Conjunctivitis (discharge from the eye) Diarrhea Fever (usually present but unnoticed) Pneumonia (cough, labored breathing) Rhinitis (runny nose) Vomiting These symptoms are often exacerbated by secondary bacterial infections. Dogs almost always develop encephalomyelitis (an inflammation of the brain and spinal cord), the symptoms of which are variable and progressive. Most dogs that die from distemper, die from neurological complications such as the following: Ataxia (muscle incoordination) Depression Hyperesthesia (increased sensitivity to sensory stimuli, such as pain or touch) Myoclonus (muscle twitching or spasm), which can become disabling Paralysis Paresis (partial or incomplete paralysis) Progressive deterioration of mental abilities Progressive deterioration of motor skills Seizures that can affect any part of the body (One type of seizure that affects the head, and is unique to distemper is sometimes referred to as a “chewing gum fit” because the dog appears to be chewing gum.) Many dogs experience symptoms of the eye: Inflammation of the eye (either keratoconjunctivitis, inflammation of the cornea and conjunctiva, or chorioretinitis, inflammation of the choroid and retina) Lesions on the retina (the innermost layer of the eye) Optic neuritis (inflammation of the optic nerve which leads to blindness) Two relatively minor conditions that often become chronic, even in dogs that recover are: Enamel hypoplasia (unenameled teeth that erode quickly in puppies whose permanent teeth haven’t erupted yet - the virus kills all the cells that make teeth enamel) Hyperkeratosis (hardening of the foot pads and nose) In utero infection of fetuses is rare, but can happen. This can lead to spontaneous abortion, persistent infection in newborn puppies, or the birth of normal looking puppies that rapidly develop symptoms and die within 4 to 6 weeks.

here is a link for the symptoms in cats. http://www.sniksnak.com/cathealth/distemper.html

You better hope it's not cat distemper, which is *highly* contagious. Luckily, dogs and cats dont get the same kind of distemper. Wash your hands before and after you do anything with this pet.

thanks for help