Introduction
Canine herpesvirus, also known as “CHV,“ can infect dogs of any age with varying results ranging from mild upper airway infections to vaginitis, abortion and death.
How Canine Herpesvirus Affects Dogs
Infection by canine herpesvirus causes a contagious, systemic and usually fatal disease that is particularly lethal to very young dogs. Infected females often abort their entire litter; if any puppies are born alive, they typically begin showing clinical signs within the first few days of life. They develop difficulty breathing, with a nasty discharge coming from their nostrils and eyes. Their stool becomes pale, odorless and unformed, and they stop nursing. Perhaps the most heartbreaking sign is their agonizing, persistent crying. Most infected puppies die suddenly within a day or two of the acute onset of signs. In almost all cases, the whole litter is lost.
Many adult dogs that are infected with CHV do not display any clinical signs. When they do, both males and females tend to show signs of respiratory distress. They also commonly develop raised sores on their external genitalia, and spontaneous abortions are common.
Causes of Canine Herpesvirus Infection
Obviously, this disease is caused by infection of companion dogs by the canine herpesvirus. Puppies normally become infected in utero or during whelping – they become infected because their mother is infected. Once puppies are exposed to the virus, it takes several days for symptoms to appear. The signs in adults are slower to appear and are normally caused by physical contact with an infected dog (often through breeding), or by inhalation of viral particles.
Prevention of Canine Herpesvirus Infection
There is no cure for CHV, but some treatments are available. To prevent this disease, infected animals should be spayed or neutered and never bred, to prevent spreading the disease through sexual contact. Reducing an adult dog’s stress and providing good nutritional support and regular exercise may also help to limit future outbreaks by strengthening the dog’s immune system.
Special Notes
The prognosis for adult dogs infected with CHV is quite good if future outbreaks can be controlled. For young puppies, the prognosis is grave.