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Canine Herpes Virus

Re vi ew ed b y Am y Fl ow er s, D VM o n Fe br ua ry 0 9, 2 02 1 fo r We bM D
Reviewed by Amy Flowers, DVM on February 09, 2021 for WebMD
Canine herpes virus (CHV) is a serious and often • Vaginal discharge
fatal viral disease in puppies. In adult dogs, it can
cause eye disease, an upper respiratory infection, • Abortion
and inflammation in the vagina or foreskin of the • Stillbirth
penis.
In adult dogs, canine herpes is considered a repro-
ductive health problem rather than a lung problem, Symptoms of Dog Herpes in Puppies
as it is in puppies. Canine herpes in puppies usually develops in two
Pregnant dogs that develop canine herpes in the last different ways.
few weeks of a pregnancy can experience stillbirth. If the puppies are infected after the age of three
They can also pass herpes to the litter before or dur- weeks, herpes can develop into a lung infection and
ing birth. Dog herpes is serious for puppies and can then into pneumonia. This is serious since puppies'
result in death and litter loss. immune systems aren't strong. The infection can
cause brain damage or blindness.

How Canine Herpes Virus Is Transmitted Herpes virus needs a colder body temperature to
replicate, but after three weeks puppies start to
Your dog can get canine herpes virus from direct regulate their body temperature on their own. This
contact with the nose, mouth, or vaginal fluids from means they may be better able to fight off the virus.
a dog that has the virus. Sexual contact between
dogs can cause transmission. It can also transfer Puppies that contract the dog herpes virus before
through normal licking, sniffing, and nosing. three weeks of age have a more serious disease. In
these cases, herpes symptoms usually come on sud-
Canine herpes in puppies is also transmitted denly, and the disease progresses quickly and pain-
through direct contact with fluids. Puppies born to fully. Death typically occurs within 48 hours.
an infected mother can get the disease while in the
womb or after birth from the mother’s vaginal, nose, Symptoms of canine herpes in puppies include:
or mouth fluids. The virus can affect the whole litter • Tiredness
or just one puppy.
• Weakness
• Less nursing
Symptoms of Canine Herpes in Adult Dogs
• Diarrhea
Most adult dogs do not have any symptoms or may
have only mild symptoms from herpes. It is often • Eye discharge
not as serious in adult dogs.
• Eye swelling
Symptoms include:
• Rash
• Eye discharge
• Nasal discharge
• Eye inflammation
• Gray or yellow soft stool
• Coughing
• Shallow breathing
• Sneezing
• Abdominal bloating
• Nasal discharge
• Cold body temperature
• Inflamed penis foreskin
• Crying
• Genital sores

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