Herpes

[Pruett]

I'm trying to gather info on herpes. Has anyone had any problems with herpes in their lines? I know we had pretty much eradicated the problem here in the US.

We know of one documented case in the Biewers, and that dog was spayed when she found out about it. Now we hear that a dog name Cassanova that came from that household has herpes. Can this be passed around at dog shows?

[maxmom]

Sorry I'm no help, but it would be interesting to know

[gypsyqueen]

didn't know dogs carry herpes but Im interested in learning

[Ellie May]

If you are talking about Canine Herpesvirus, it can be spread through oronasal contact, so yes, it is possible that it could be spreaad at shows.

From my understanding, after treatment, they are no longer considered infected, so I'm not sure what the rush to spay would be.

[MyFairLacy]

I've read about this. I'm on my phone or might be able to link some articles. Herpes is most commonly transmitted through the air but can also be transmitted sexually. So yes it can be passed around at shows because it can be airborn. From what I know the bitch gets infected and once puppies are born, they seem to fade away within a few weeks. They aren't able to regulate their own body temperature by the time they are a few weeks old.

[sierrapups]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

If you are talking about Canine Herpesvirus, it can be spread through oronasal contact, so yes, it is possible that it could be spreaad at shows.

From my understanding, after treatment, they are no longer considered infected, so I'm not sure what the rush to spay would be.

That's very interesting. Do you know what constitutes the treatment? Is it a prolonged treatment or is it a simple treatment?

[zoeybear]

My Vet gave Callie Lysine to take for a month. She had a smelly eye infection when I got her. She was concerned because Callie originally came from Japan and my Vet was unsure if they have Herpes under control in that country. The Lysine was a paste that tastes good, Callie ate it willingly.

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by sierrapups

That's very interesting. Do you know what constitutes the treatment? Is it a prolonged treatment or is it a simple treatment?

No idea. I haven't read up on it.

[gypsyqueen]

Do they have sores like humane herpes

[wildcard]

If you are referring to canine herpes virus, it has not been "eradicated." It is extremely common and most dogs who have been to dog shows, training classes, etc. have been exposed, unknown to us, had the sniffles, and then became immune to further exposure. There is no vaccination available in the US (it is available in Europe). Generally it does not cause problems unless a pregnant bitch is exposed in the last 3 weeks of her pregnancy (causing stillborns and absorption) or in the first 3 weeks of a litters life (when they don't have the proper body temperature to fight it off).

[GreenwoodBiewer]

Originally Posted by wildcard

If you are referring to canine herpes virus, it has not been "eradicated." It is extremely common and most dogs who have been to dog shows, training classes, etc. have been exposed, unknown to us, had the sniffles, and then became immune to further exposure. There is no vaccination available in the US (it is available in Europe). Generally it does not cause problems unless a pregnant bitch is exposed in the last 3 weeks of her pregnancy (causing stillborns and absorption) or in the first 3 weeks of a litters life (when they don't have the proper body temperature to fight it off).

I've done some reading on the subject and this has been my understanding also.

Thanks for explaining it so clearly. As with many things, it's the ignorance that causes the fear.

-Diana

[MyFairLacy]

Herpesvirus Herpes In Puppies And Dogs

Ron Hines DVM PhD 4/28/06

Canine herpes virus, an alpha-herpesvirus, is found throughout the world in domestic and wild dogs. We don’t think a lot about this virus because the disease it produces in mature dogs is very mild. Although it infects dogs of all ages, it is only a serious problem when it attacks newborn puppies. In urban dog populations the infection rate is about thirty percent. However, in some kennels, 100% of the dogs have been exposed to the virus.

This virus is transmitted by direct contact with body secretions. Indirect infection is rare because the virus dies quickly in the environment.

When mature dogs initially come in contact with herpes virus many develop a mild upper respiratory infection with nasal exudate and cough. In many dogs there are no signs at all that the dog is sick. Herpes virus also infects the genito-urinary system. The changes are mild and include vaginal redness, and pin point hemorrhages. Some dogs develop small vesicles (blisters) in the vagina or prepuce.
In males the base of the penis may become inflamed. It is likely that all infected mature dogs harbor this virus in an inactive state in their nerve ganglia for the rest of their lives.

Lipid-solvents as well as temperature over 104F inactivate canine herpesvirus. It is killed by most common household disinfectants.

Most puppies are infected by their mothers shortly after birth. Some develop the infection while still in the womb or as they pass through the birth canal. When infection occurs while the puppies are still in the uterus, they may be stillborn, absorbed or abort before they reach term.

When puppies are infected after birth, fatal infections occur between one and four weeks of age. The disease is usually fatal because these pups lack immunity. Mortality is close to 100%. Pregnant dogs infected in midterm or later pregnancy, often abort weak or stillborn pups. These mothers remain asymptomatic. Some fetal pups infected during late gestation can appear normal at birth, only to die a few days later. Many puppies become infected as they pass through the birth canal or shortly thereafter from infected oral and nasal secretions of the mother.

The first sign of infection is a lack of interest in nursing. These puppies whine continuously and appear uncomfortable. They appear to be in pain due to tender abdomens. They may void yellowish green stools. Naso-occular discharge is common. Less common signs are an increased tendency to bleed and seizures. These puppies may have pin point hemorrhages on their gums. Young puppies are not capable of running a fever. As the disease progresses, the puppy’s temperature drops to subnormal. 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 dies.

Herpes virus is only fatal during the first week or two of life. When it occurs later, the disease is mild or no symptoms occur. We theorize that as soon as the puppy is old enough to run a fever, the increased temperature kills this thermolabile virus. Puppies less than two weeks of age also have undeveloped immune systems that favor the disease.

Mother dogs pass their immunity to herpes virus infection on to their puppies. This is why the litter that follows an infected group of puppies does not develop the disease.

There are only a few diseases that can be mistaken for herpes deaths in puppies. Toxic milk syndrome, septicemias, fatal congenital birth defects, minute virus of canines, canine adenovirus, coronavirus and accidents also cause acute death. In herpesvirus infection, the primary gross lesions in puppies are pin point hemorrhages in the kidneys and other body organs.

Treatment of this disease is rather unsuccessful. Although elevated temperature kills this herpesvirus, treating the puppy with elevated temperature has not proved effective in saving the pups. Warmth, tube feeding and intravenous or subcutaneous fluids may extend the pup’s life but they usually expire quite rapidly. There are reported cases where puppies were saved by giving them blood serum from adult dogs that recently recovered from herpes virus. There is another report that the antiviral drug, vidarabine,
has saved some puppies. When puppies survive herpesvirus infection they are usually left with nervous system and heart damage.
In kennels, vigorous sanitation can stop the spread of herpesvirus throughout the facility. Vaccines for this disease are not available. When herpesvirus is found in a kennel all breeding should cease. This gives the rest of the adult kennel dogs time to develop immunity. In Europe, an inactivated sub-unit vaccine has been available since 2003. When three injections are given to mothers during their heat, early and late pregnancy, puppies survive even in infected kennels.

Occasional dogs remain carriers and shedders of the virus for months or years. These dogs harbor the virus in their nerve ganglia, tonsils and salivary glands. Shedding can be intermittent due to stress or continuous.

[MyFairLacy]

herpes virus

From:
STRESS, INFERTILITY AND HERPES INFECTION
Mary C. Wakeman, D.V.M.
Ashford Animal Clinic
Canine Fertility Center
Ashford, CT

If stresses are avoided, most bitches have no problem in subsequent breedings.
Nearly all dogs with any doggy contacts at all have been exposed to Herpes. It is not just or primarily a venereal disease. It is not usually or necessarily contracted through the breeding. It is usually contracted through exposure to the respiratory aerosols of other dogs. The very short-term immunity a new exposure may confer fades quickly, leaving the dog open to repeat infection as well as to dormant infections re-surfacing. In fact, it would be very hard to say that any repeat of the infection came from a dormant infection instead of a new exposure to high levels of infective particles. Just going to the stud dog’s premises can be enough to expose the bitch; if there are frequent visiting bitches to the kennel, new infections may be brought with them. If the stud dog or his kennel mates are showing or training, he may be shedding high levels of particles. It is simply not possible to avoid this virus in the dog’s environment. But it is possible to limit that exposure; if going to the stud dog, don’t travel by air, and stay in a motel with the bitch rather than leaving her at the stud’s kennel. If going to a dog show, completely change clothes and wash before encountering any bred bitches at home. If training or showing kennel mates, isolate her from them and perform her ‘chores’ before doing theirs, always going from "clean to dirty".

The most susceptible bitch of all, however, will be the one that lives in a pet home and has not had routine exposure to other dogs or the virus. Such a bitch upon being exposed to the virus will be more seriously affected that a bitch with routine exposure to low levels of the virus.

A stud dog bred to an infected bitch may or may not be infected, either as the animal which passed the infection to the bitch or as a recipient of an acute infection she was harboring when he bred her. Herpes testing at the time of breeding is meaningless, since almost all individuals in the bitch’s environment may be in various phases of acquiring or recovering from infection. It bears repeating here, that the respiratory infection is very mild and rarely ever shows actual clinical signs in adult dogs. Only paired serum samples taken at different times to detect a rising (becoming infected ) titer, or a falling ( recovering from an infection) titer, can tell us anything. Obviously the information generated in this way will be too late to be of use at the time of breeding. The usefulness of these paired titers is seen chiefly as a tool to identify if a bitch has lost her litter due to Herpes after the fact. We can rule Herpes in or out as one of the several options for causes of litter resorbtion, or still born or sickly neonates.

The best rule to follow is that a kennel with an active show schedule, a stud dog which is being shown or trained, a boarding kennel, or a kennel where breedings are frequent, so that visiting bitches are frequently on the premises is likely to harbor infective particles. The worst shedders however, will be pet dogs newly exposed to a heavily trafficed environment, such as a boarding kennel. These dogs will be more seriously affected and will shed more virus particles. A visiting bitch staying in a kennel where susceptible pets are passing through will likely be more at risk than in visiting a show kennel, where all the dogs will have some resistance at all times, and shedding will be at lower levels.

[MyFairLacy]

It is true that herpes virus infection in the last three weeks of pregnancy or the first three weeks post-whelping is most likely to result in infection of the puppies. This happens because the mother passes on the virus to the puppies but does not give them antibodies against the disease, so they are susceptible to infection.

In most cases, a bitch who has been infected with herpes virus prior to being bred will pass on adequate antibody protection to her puppies to keep them from being infected at a time when they are likely to become severely ill or die. This includes bitches who are unlucky enough to become infected during the critical time in a prior pregnancy. Even though their first litter was infected, their subsequent ones are unlikely to be infected.

Herpes virus is very common and it would be surprising if the male had not been exposed previously, so there isn't much reason to worry about him.

Trying to shelter a bitch from herpes virus prior to breeding her is probably a mistake. It is better to allow her to be exposed to situations in which other dogs are around so that she will become infected with the herpes virus, develop antibodies and pass them on to her puppies. Once she is bred, though, it may be better to assume that she has not been exposed and to try to protect her from contact with dogs who may have herpes virus.

Mike Richards, DVM 5/23/2000

[qraven]