Dog Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook.pdf - Mr. Walnuts

sites, and coexistent viral infections. In a healthy environment, bacterial
exposure usually produces only a mild, self-limiting illness. But when environmental
stresses are added, the death rate is high.
Signs of respiratory involvement include fever, cough, nasal discharge, and
rapid, noisy breathing. When the gastrointestinal tract is involved, signs include
loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, dehydration, and weight loss.
Treatment: Notify your veterinarian if a puppy shows any of the signs just
described. Shock and dehydration are treated with antibiotics and intravenous
fluids. Respiratory and GI tract infections are treated as described for
Pneumonia, page 324, and Acute Infectious Enteritis, page 274.
CANINE HERPESVIRUS
Canine herpesvirus causes a fatal illness in puppies 1 to 2 weeks of age. It usually
does not causes illness in puppies older than 3 weeks of age. The reason is
that the body temperature of puppies younger than 3 weeks of age is below
98°F (36.6°C), and the virus replicates only at the lower temperatures.
Herpesvirus is acquired by the mother during breeding and takes up residence
in her vagina. Puppies acquire the virus while in utero, during passage through
the birth canal, or by direct contact with their dam and infected littermates.
This is an insidious disease. The dam is healthy and the puppies nurse in a
normal manner until shortly before death. The illness begins with abrupt cessation
of nursing, followed by abdominal distention, chilling, lack of coordination,
and a yellow-green diarrhea. Puppies are in agony and cry out pitifully.
Death usually occurs in 24 hours.
Treatment: There is no specific treatment, but survival is possible.
Unaffected littermates should be placed in a homemade incubator in a room
with an ambient temperature of 100°F (37.8°C). Since the virus does not
multiply well at temperatures above 98°F (36.6°C), this may prevent it from
reproducing and causing infection.
Puppies who recover may develop irreversible neurological symptoms,
including lack of coordination, dizziness, and blindness.
Prevention: There is no available vaccine in North America at this time
(there is one in Europe). Infected dams develop immunity and subsequent
litters are rarely affected. Ideally, pregnant bitches should be isolated for three
weeks before and after whelping—meaning no contact with dogs going to and
from shows, kennels, training classes, sporting events, and so on.
FLAT (SWIMMER) PUPPIES
PEDIATRICS • 505
Puppies begin to stand at 14 days and have a semi-steady gait by 3 weeks of
age. If this does not happen, the puppy may be a swimmer. This disease is
caused by a weakness of the adductor muscles that pull the legs together. The
hind legs usually are more severely affected.