A viral disease affecting dogs and other animals, causing fever and respiratory symptoms; also refers to a type of paint or to a state of bad mood or disorder.
From Old French 'destemprer' (to upset), from Latin 'distemperare' (to mix badly), combining 'dis-' (away) + 'temperare' (to moderate or mix). Originally meant 'imbalance of humors.'
Distemper in dogs was once a death sentence before vaccination—now it's a cautionary tale that shows how vaccines have quietly saved billions of animals and shaped modern pet ownership.
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