We congratulate esteemed veterinary researcher and practitioner Dr. Adrian P. Ybañez, together with his fellow authors, on the publication of an important local study: “Retrospective Study on Canine Distemper Cases in Cebu, Philippines (2019–2024)”
Published in the Annals of Tropical Research in May 2026, the study examined canine distemper cases recorded by three veterinary clinics and hospitals in Cebu.
Aycardo Veterinary Center Inc. is honored to have contributed clinical data to this research. Our president and head veterinarian, Dr. Gerald B. Aycardo, was also among the study’s co-authors.
WHAT DID THE RESEARCH FIND?
Among the dogs that tested positive for canine distemper:
⚠️ 83.7% were unvaccinated.
⚠️ 68.8% were small-sized dogs. This describes the cases recorded in the study and does not necessarily mean that small dogs are naturally more susceptible than larger dogs.
⚠️ Common signs included eye and nasal discharge, loss of appetite, fever, and lethargy.
⚠️ Some dogs also had other infections, including hookworm infection, ehrlichiosis, parvovirus, whipworm infection, anaplasmosis, and babesiosis.
The study found a significant association between canine distemper positivity and vaccination status. Its authors emphasized the importance of stronger vaccination programs, improved diagnostics, client education, and community-based disease prevention.
