PHOENIX — Arizona wildlife officials are sounding the alarm about potential health risks wild coyotes could pose to domestic animals.
Laboratory testing has confirmed that canine distemper is circulating among coyotes within residential neighborhoods and parks, according to the Arizona Game and Fish Department.
This illness is a highly contagious viral disease that infects an animal’s respiratory, gastrointestinal and nervous systems. While humans aren’t vulnerable to it, the disease can be fatal for both domestic and wild animals, especially canids.
A Tuesday announcement from AZGFD said it has been receiving a rising amount of reports of sick or disoriented coyotes within the past few weeks.
How to protect dogs from canine distemper from wild coyotes
The department urges pet owners to keep their animals up-to-date on their vaccinations. Dogs should also be kept on a leash and kept far away from wild animals, especially if they show red flags of canine distemper, such as:
- Lack of fear toward humans.
- Appearing sick or disoriented.
- Stumbling.
- Seizures.
- Discharge from the eyes and nose.
Canine temper can spread from wildlife to domestic animals through direct contact, shared food or water sources and airborne droplets.
AZGFD urges people to avoid approaching or touching wildlife, refrain from feeding them, supervise pets outdoors and report any sick or dead animals to 623-236-7201.
Several local nonprofits operate low-cost clinics that offer distemper vaccines for pets.
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