>>35634790I actually spent a few weeks last summer researching canine distemper and its effects on pinnipeds. Since then, the strain for sea dogs has been classified separately from the regular strain. Apparently all breeds of cat are susceptible to canine distemper as well.
Basically I use IRL diseases, and dictate that all mons must be vaccinated before they take part in a trainer battle. There are of course trainers who get desperate/don't care and throw out their freshly-caught rattata against a bug catcher, but the moment they go to a gym or a pokecenter they'll be told to get their little disease-carriers vaccinated. Because the battling industry is government-subsidized, vaccinations are mandatory, and no one gets very far with an un-vaccinated mon unless they outright avoid institutions like pokecenters and stadiums.
I'm working on a tragedy fic where a person has to nurse their mon as it dies. I cried like a bitch while reading those wikipedia articles, so I hope you guys are ready to suffer with me.
Pic unrelated, it's just the only pinniped I had a pic of. 