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What Are The Signs Of Canine Herpes Virus In My Puppies
Your puppy could have been infected any time from late pregnancy through the first three weeks after birth. Whenever it occurred, it takes 3-7
days from the time the virus first entered the puppy for it to begin its destruction.
If the puppies were born alive, the first sign of infection is often a lack of interest in nursing. But there is no one, specific, sign that alerts us to
herpes. The puppies just aren't doing well. They may whine continuously and appear uncomfortable. They may appear to be in pain due to tender
tummies. They often have fast, shallow breathing. They may vomit. They may pass yellowish green stools. Nose and eye discharges are
common. Less common signs are an increased tendency to bleed and seizures. Infected puppies sometimes have pin-point hemorrhages on
their gums.
Young puppies, are not capable of running a fever. Their body mass is just not high enough in proportion to their skin area. This is the weakness
of puppies in dealing with herpes. The virus reproduces much more rapidly at the puppy's lower body temperature than in dogs that can mount a
fever.
As the disease progresses, the puppy's temperature drops to subnormal (Below 98F, 36.7C). Subnormal temperature in puppies is a grave sign.
The disease progresses very rapidly and the puppies usually die in 1-3 days. Because the signs are few and the disease rapid, owners may not
recognize that their puppy is ill until it is gone. If the puppies are lost during their first week, they were probably infected while still in the womb.
By the time the puppy is three weeks old, its defenses and temperature regulation are better and it will usually not die from CHV-1.
Exact outcomes vary - not every puppy in a litter with this problem may die nor will they all necessarily have the virus.
How Is Canine Herpes Virus Diagnosed
Adult Dogs:
The blood tests we currently have are not very helpful identifying dogs that carry the canine herpes virus or in managing the ones that do. They
are also not helpful in identifying which mothers will have problem litters. If a dog has a titer to CHV-1 , we know the bitch or stud is infected. But
we don't know if the dog is, or will be, shedding virus during or after pregnancy. If the antibody test is negative, we are not certain the dog still
does not have the virus lurking somewhere it it's body. This is because the virus doesn't stimulate long-lasting antibodies.
To tell if your dog is shedding the virus, blood samples need to be collected two weeks apart. If the antibody level in the second sample is 3-4
times as high as in the first sample, the dog is likely in a virus-shedding period and should not be bred. However, a steady, low antibody level or
no antibody at all is no guarantee that a female that carries CHV-1 will not begin to shed virus during or after her pregnancy.
An alternative method is to have mouth and vaginal swabs tested for living herpes virus or virus-related protein (FA test or PCR test).
Puppies:
When canine herpes virus is suspected in the death of puppies, the puppy's remains need to be refrigerated immediately , packed in ice, and
sent to a veterinary diagnostic laboratory. The remains should not be frozen. This submission must be done through your veterinarian. If you live
outside of the United States or too far to send refrigerated samples, tissues can be collected from the puppy with the instructions of a trained
technician , preserved in formol and shipped by ordinary mail.
The pathologist who examines this tissue will look for certain things that are characteristic of herpes virus infection. The most important is
evidence of extensive bleeding (hemorrhage) in the liver, lungs and kidneys. This occurs because the herpes virus destroys the puppy's bloodclotting
platelets. Damage and bleeding into the spleen, lymph nodes and adrenal glands are also characteristic of puppy death due to herpes
virus as are fluid leakage into the chest and abdominal cavities.
If recently aborted fetuses are submitted, they should be handled like puppies and , if necessary, tested with the same techniques used on swabs
obtained from adults.
Is There Any Effective Treatment
Adults and Juvenile Dogs Over 3-4 Weeks Of Age:
Rest and TLC are all adult dogs need to get over the active stage of herpes infection or relapses.
Puppies Under 3 Weeks Of Age:
Treatment of sick puppies that have this disease is not successful. Since your veterinarian is not certain yet that this is a case of herpes virus,
he/she will probably try all sorts of life-supporting measures including warmth, tube feeding, oxygen and intravenous or subcutaneous fluids.
Pups tend to perk up a bit with this care - but they fade back down shortly thereafter.
Although elevated temperature kills this herpes virus, treating the puppy with elevated temperature has not proved effective in saving the pups.
There are reported cases where puppies were saved by giving them blood serum from adult dogs that recently recovered from herpes virus.
Blood serum from these adult dogs often contains enough antibodies to neutralize the herpes. If you have a herpes virus problem in your kennel
and want to protect certain puppies during their first three weeks of life, 1-2ml of serum may do so. This serum can be frozen at -4F (-20C) in 1-
2ml amounts. At this temperature, it lasts indefinitely. Antibodies will be highest in mature dogs that have just recovered from an active relapse or
initial infection. It would be excellent if this serum was tested and found to be PCR-herpes negative with an anti-herpes antibody titer of as high
as 1:1024 - but 1:64 or 1:32 would probably do.
There is another report that the antiviral drug, vidarabine, has saved some puppies. I do not suggest you treat sick puppies. When puppies
survive herpes virus infection they are usually left with nervous system and heart damage and it is kinder to just let them pass on.