Signs & Symptoms of Canine Herpes

The canine herpes virus is devastating to the very youngest of newborn puppies. Older puppies may suffer from the virus, but are less likely to die, and adult dogs often show no symptoms even though they are often infected. In very young puppies, this virus works extremely fast and can kill before there is a chance to treat it.

  1. About Canine Herpes

    • Canine herpes is a virus that is sometimes known as fading puppy syndrome. Adult dogs rarely show symptoms, but infected mothers can pass the virus to their puppies. Canine herpes is most dangerous for puppies that are younger than 3 weeks old. Older puppies may survive, but suffer long term effects. Very young puppies who contract canine herpes may die before the owner even realizes they are sick.

    Symptoms

    • The most tragic symptom of canine herpes is the sudden death of a newborn puppy. Prior to death, puppies with canine herpes lose their ability to suck, become lethargic and have sore abdomens, including bruising. Their feces may be soft and yellow or green and they may suffer respiratory distress and nasal discharge. Older puppies may suffer neurological problems such as seizures and blindness. Human beings cannot contract herpes from their puppy. Call a vet immediately if a puppy appears to be fading in health.

    Treatment

    • If the canine herpes virus is caught as soon as symptoms start to show, antiviral treatment may save the puppy. Keep puppies with this virus warm, as the virus lives in cool temperatures. Puppies who die of the herpes virus are usually those whose bodies do not respond with a fever, which kills the virus. Despite good care, many very young puppies with canine herpes virus die. Herpes is a virus, and as such will not respond to antibiotics. However, antibiotics may be prescribed for a secondary infection, or when the cause of illness is unclear.

    Prevention

    • Many adult dogs come in contact with the canine herpes virus and have no ill effects. They may show no symptoms at all. The problem comes from infected female dogs becoming pregnant. In most cases, an infected mother will abort her babies. Those puppies born to an infected mother are usually weak and very small, and most die. Reduced exposure of breeding female dogs to other adult dogs, that may be virus carriers, is one way to prevent the virus in puppies. Isolate female dogs, especially in late pregnancy and until her litter is 3 weeks old.