Prevention of Herpes Puppy Death: Silent Killer in the Whelping Box

Dr. Jean Dodds on Pure Dog Talk

A long anticipated litter, new babies, great expectations. All can be crashed on the rocks of Canine Herpes Virus and you’ll never even know what hit you.

Jean Dodds’ information indicates that as many as 70 percent of the canine population has CHV. Most will show no symptoms at all unless the immune system is stressed. The virus is transmitted primarily nasally and dogs can come into contact with it at any time and in any normal life activity.

She has some excellent suggestions and recommendations:

* Titer bitches for CHV antibodies before they are bred.

* It is possible to collect and freeze blood plasma that has antibodies to CHV that can be administered to puppies if they are affected.

* If you know there has been contact within the kennel of a dog with CHV, isolate the bitch from all other animals three weeks before and three weeks after whelping.

* Be sure the puppies stay warm. The herpes virus is susceptible to heat. They are most impacted in the first two weeks of life before they can maintain their own body temperature.

* Herpes cannot be diagnosed without necropsy. All fading puppies can be treated with fresh frozen plasma.

* Huge tip: Check the pH balance of the dam’s milk supply with simple pH papers from the pharmacy. Who knew?

Join us for today’s episode to learn more.

 

Blog Post 105 – Canine Herpes Virus - Dr. Jean Dodds Blog

Title: Herpesvirus in Dogs and The Fading Puppy Syndrome

It is estimated that at least 70% of the canine population is infected with the canine herpesvirus (CHV) , which generally does not cause clinically significant illness.  However,

the mortality rate of newborn puppies – that acquire the disease – is estimated at 100%.  Indeed,

CHV rapidly invades the entire body,  affecting all organs, the lymphatic system, eyes and central nervous system. This begets the question: how has the dog population survived after all of these years?

Background

Canine herpesvirus is an alpha-herpesvirus more closely related to feline herpesvirus, equine herpesvirus-1, pseudorabies virus and human varicella-zoster virus than to other herpesviruses. It is found worldwide in domestic and wild dogs, but not in other species. Seropositivity rates of more than 30% are commonly seen, although some infected dog kennels have antibody prevalence rates as high as 100%, yet without any evidence of disease in infected puppies. Transmission is by direct contact with infectious body fluids, since CHV is unstable in the environment. Like other herpesviruses, it becomes latent after a primary infection and is shed periodically, primarily in nasal or rarely in genital secretions.

The disease is usually asymptomatic in puppies exposed to CHV after 1-2 weeks of age. However, CHV infection is generally fatal in neonatal pups (1-4 weeks old) that lack maternal immunity. These pups may be infected during passage through their infected dam's birth canal or, more commonly, by contact with oronasal secretions of the dam or other dogs in the kennel or home. Infected littermates, or neighboring dogs that are shedding virus, also can be sources of infection. The incubation period is about 6 - 10 days, and duration of illness in newborn pups is 1-3 days, with signs of anorexia, dyspnea, pain upon abdominal palpation, incoordination and a typical soft, yellow-green feces. There may be serous or hemorrhagic nasal discharge. Petechia (small pinpoint hemorrhages) are common on the mucous membranes, and thrombocytopenia (low platelet count) may occur.  Rectal temperatures are usually not elevated.