Page 30 - Chow Life - Winter 2017

Saving Litters From

Canine Herpes

By Jeff Grognet, DVM

Canine herpesvirus (CHV) only they do not have any immunity to the creating hemorrhage and tissue
affects members of the canine virus. death in the kidneys, lungs, liver, and
family—dogs, coyotes, and wolves. It The incubation period in puppies intestines. This is why clinical signs
was first reported in 1965. When it (time from infection to clinical signs) of CHV in puppies are so varied.
strikes, it is devastating. What many is four to six days. If whelping is They include depression, diminished
breeders don’t realize is that the virus some time off, we can see infection suckling responses, persistent
is common in the canine population, of the placenta (placentitis) resulting crying, diarrhea, rhinitis (nose
latent in many dogs. This allows it to in abortion. Mummification of the infection), severe abdominal pain, and
come out of hiding, infect susceptible, fetuses, stillbirths, and premature incoordination. Neurologic signs such
pregnant bitches, and cause stillbirths births can also occur. as seizures may appear just before
or neonatal puppy deaths. death. Puppies normally die within
Puppies infected later in gestation
CHV is easily spread between dogs can be born with the virus, but die 24 to 48 hours of the onset of clinical
by licking (saliva and nasal mucus) shortly after birth. They can also signs.
or coughing (aerosol). It can also be become infected in the first three Though rare, puppies sometimes
passed through the uterus to pups, weeks of life (they seem immune after survive the initial infection but the
and venereally to other dogs. this period) and go on to die. virus can move into brain tissues.
Dogs can harbor the virus in their In a study where seven pregnant This can trigger meningitis, but we
trigeminal nerve (the large nerve that bitches were infected between days can also see deafness, blindness, and
supplies the face). It comes out of 47 and 55 of gestation, 28 pups (of encephalopathy.
hiding if the dog is stressed or receives 33 total) were infected. Two were
corticosteroids like prednisone. Cold
sores in people infected with the
human strain of herpesvirus erupt in CHV is easily spread between
a similar manner. The two do not pass
between species.
Mature (non-pregnant) dogs who dogs by licking.
pick up CHV infections usually have
mild symptoms of the nose, throat,
and external genitalia (vagina or stillborn, and 26 died in the early Diagnosis & Treatment
prepuce), or no symptoms at all. neonatal period. The remaining five Clinical signs of CHV are the same
Male dogs can sometimes develop a stayed healthy. as almost any other disease that
balanoposthitis (penile infection). The There are two reasons why young strikes newborn puppies, and causes
penile tissue is reddened with small puppies are particularly susceptible fadingpuppy syndrome. If an entire
hemorrhages on the surface combined to the effects of CHV. One is that litter is lost in a 24-hour period, CHV
with a clear preputial discharge. their immature immune systems should be considered as a cause. Also,
can’t fight off the infection. As well, if any puppy has signs of an upper
The Peril For Pups they are unable to regulate their respiratory infection and is less than 2
The problem arises when bitches body temperature properly. This months old, CHV could be the culprit.
becomes important because the virus
become infected during the last three prefers to multiply at a temperature The only way to know if CHV is at
weeks of pregnancy. They usually of 99 degrees F. As puppies age, they the root of the deaths is with tests.
remain healthy, but they pass the virus keep their body temperature higher This can be done by finding typical
to their puppies through the placenta (around 101.5) so the virus can’t grow lesions on post mortem (multi-
or directly to them after being born. as fast. organ damage evidenced by small
Young, susceptible females hemorrhages) and then isolating
and their newborn puppies In puppies, the virus attacks the virus from the aborted fetus and
are at the greatest risk because whatever organ system it wants, placenta, or the dead puppy. If the
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