Viruses: Canine Herpesvirus Untreated Canine Herpesvirus can infect: - Liver - Kidneys - Lungs - Central Nervous System

An Overview of Canine Herpesvirus

A canine herpesvirus (CHV) infection can prove devastating to entire litters of newborn pups. Thankfully however the disease does not strike too frequently. Despite the similar name, CHV has not been shown to be related to the human herpes simplex virus. The virus appears to infect only domestic and wild dogs.

Despite the fact that a CHV infection means almost certain death for a dog less than 1 week of age and there are currently no vaccines available against the virus, the viral particles are sensitive to most cleaning agents and survive for only a short time outside the dog. Thus, disinfection of kennels or homes is possible and the disease does not claim an exorbitant number of victims.

Why and how might my dog become infected?

Transmission of CHV occurs only via direct contact with bodily fluids or secretions. Adult dogs, and even those puppies more than 2 or 3 weeks old, may contract and carry the virus without suffering from any adverse symptoms. Though they lack symptoms these infected animals will retain and periodically shed viral particles for some time. It is when a pregnant female becomes infected that the disease is truly dangerous.

Infected females may occasionally transmit the virus to her puppies in utero, leading to spontaneous abortion or stillborn litter. More commonly however an infected mother will pass the virus to her offspring via mucoid secretions during or after birth.

Upon infection, CHV particles first attack the nasal passages, pharynx, and tonsils of young pups. During the 6 to 10 day incubation period the virus replicates and then spreads via the bloodstream to the liver, kidneys, lymphatic tissues, lungs, and central nervous system. Once in these organs the virus proves deadly in nearly 100 percent of cases in pups under 2 weeks of age.

How is a diagnosis of CHV reached?

Clinical signs of CHV infection in young puppies include loss of appetite or disinterest in nursing, shortage of breath (dyspnea), tender abdomen, incoordination, soft yellow-green feces, and possibly a bloody nasal discharge.

Death occurs rapidly after onset of symptoms and many owners do not notice anything is amiss until they find a dead puppy. Diagnosis is thus often postmortem and involves autopsy findings. If however symptoms are caught early a veterinarian may reach a diagnosis based almost solely upon observable symptoms and exposure risk. Blood tests may occasionally reveal the presence of antibodies in the bloodstream, but such procedures are somewhat unreliable and not always feasible.

What are the treatment options for dogs with CHV?

As previously mentioned, many owners do not realize that their puppies are ill until it is too late. For cases detected early enough however, treatment is mainly supportive and almost always futile. Keeping the puppy warm by using lamps or heat pads is the major goal of treatment, as one reason young pups are so susceptible is that their body temperature tends to be too low to kill the virus.

Beyond this, treatments are to at this point experimental and controversial. Further information should be obtained directly from your veterinarian.

Can I vaccinate my pet against CHV?

Unfortunately no. There are currently no vaccinations for CHV available in the United States.

How else can I help prevent the disease?

Puppies that survive a CHV infection may excrete the virus for several weeks after recovery. Isolation of sick dogs and a rigorous disinfection routine are imperative to protect other young dogs. Since the viral particles are easily killed my most household cleaning agents, disinfection is relatively uncomplicated.

It is important to note that if a female has given birth to one infected litter, she will develop immunity and all future litters should be safe from infection.