Treatments for Dogs With Herpes

The canine herpes virus, known as CHV-1, affects only dogs and cannot be transmitted to other species. The virus causes respiratory illness in adult dogs and can be deadly to newborn puppies and puppies still their mother's womb. Puppies that survive may have lifelong health problems, including nerve and heart damage. If you suspect your dog may be infected with herpes, it's important to seek treatment right away.

  1. Adult Dogs

    • Adult dogs generally need nutritious food, plenty of fresh water and rest during the active stages of herpes infections and relapses, which are generally characterized by mild respiratory problems, and in some circumstances, cold sore-like ulcers that are present on the genitals.

    Puppies

    • Puppies are more difficult to treat for herpes, simply because their bodies are not yet developed enough to raise body temperature and fight off infection. Life-supportive measures including oxygen, warmth, intravenous fluids and tube feeding might be suggested by your veterinarian, but the outcome is not always good. In many cases, it is kinder to allow sick puppies to pass away, because even if they do survive the virus, it's likely that they'll have lifelong heart and nervous system damage.

    Vaccinations

    • A vaccine to combat the canine herpes virus exists; however, as of October 2009, it is available only in Europe. It is typically administered to female dogs during heat or early pregnancy, and then again one to two weeks prior to the date they are expected to give birth to their puppies.

    Prevention

    • Household disinfectants, sunlight and temperatures below 68 degrees are all effective in killing off the virus.
      Additionally, pregnant female dogs should be isolated from other dogs during the final three weeks of pregnancy and the first three weeks after birth, in order to reduce the likelihood of the virus being transmitted from an infected dog to the pregnant dogs or their puppies.
      The canine herpes virus can only be transmitted by direct contact with an infected dog or its nasal or oral secretions, so quarantining infected dogs and isolating pregnant female dogs are both effective measures for preventing infection.