Canine Herpes Infection :
Solving
the Mystery of The Disappearing Litter
All
herpes viruses have the ability to infect the host for life by
retreating back into the nerve ganglia of the nervous system and
periodically symptoms will reappear.
Canine
herpes is more of a reproductive problem than a respiratory one. Most
infected dogs don’t appear sick at all. The infection manifests itself
in the pregnancy as re-absorption of the litter, abortion, still birth, or
death of puppies within a few weeks of life. Transmission occurs either
by direct sexual contact but the usual route of transmission is through
normal nosing, licking and sniffing each other between the affected and
uninfected dog. It is highly recommended that a pregnant female be
isolated from other dogs for the last 3 weeks of pregnancy and the first
3 weeks after whelping. Puppies can
be exposed before, during and after birth. The incubation period is 3 - 7 days following infection.
Just because one puppy is infected doesn’t mean they all are. Symptoms include shallow breathing, loss of appetite, vomiting and once symptoms
begin, usually death will follow within 48
hours. Infected puppies will have a low platelet count and may show red
spots called “petchiae” which actually are small bruises.
An autopsy or necropsy is the only real means of knowing for sure what happened to the puppy.
If possible, the placenta should also be examined. There are many
causes for the loss of a puppy or litter: corona virus, parvovirus,
toxoplasmosis, brucellosis, umbilical trauma, genetic disease and so
on. Puppies that typically die from canine herpes have characteristic “inclusion
bodies” in many tissues found under a microscope.
Inclusion bodies are areas of heavy virus reproduction that are actually
visible and unique in appearance.
If the
infection is less than 3 weeks old, it may be possible to culture the
virus from a swab from the nose or vagina. Confirming herpes infection
is much easier and faster in a dead puppy than trying to confirm it in
an adult dog.
It is
usually a lethal virus for puppies under 3 weeks of age. Warming the puppies may help
as the virus can’t live at body temperature. Antiviral medication such
as Acyclovir may also help.
Herpes viruses do not live in the environment, dies at 68 degrees F and is readily killed with common disinfectants.
Once a
dog is infected, it is infected for life - just as humans are.
Herpes is only a danger
to puppies when the mother is infected during pregnancy.
Once the mother has been infected, subsequent pregnancies should not be
affected as her body will have produced a sufficient number of
antibodies to keep the virus in check. |
