Dog Pox or Herpes info please.

[amandaC]

This is a question bourne of curiosity I feel it is better to know as much as possible on these subjects just in case.

When I attended vet talks about Foaling earlier this year there was a lot of talk about complications such as late abortions, still births and early foal deaths. Now as the Herpes Virus can be dormant in the host without any exterior symptoms how would you know if your bitch or the stud dog suffered from it and who has had any experience of this virus?

Do people test their bitches / dogs for this virus and does anyone vaccinate? Can anyone tell me what exterior symptoms to be aware of and have any pictures so I know what I am looking out for. Any knowledge and experiences would be greatly appreciated. Is it a real threat to dogs in general as it would appear to be to horses ? Also a great many people suffer cold sores so why do we not hear about it be a threat to unborn babies?

[spanielcrazy]

There are many, many varieties of herpes, and many are specific to certain species. Canine herpes virus may show as a very mild upper respiratory infection in adult dogs (or may not show symptoms at all) Most dogs handle it well and it comes and goes with the owner being none the wiser (as is the case with many diseases, your dogs immune system is constantly "updating" while you are on a walk, at a dog park or meet, or at the vet, kennel or dog show). The problem is for newborn puppies.

Quite honestly, to pre-diagnose a bitch who is about to be bred is expensive and time consuming for the average bitch, as it involves titre testing and several blood samples taken 2 weeks apart

I do know of some breeders who routinely put their bitches on antibiotics either just before or after they are bred, and they do have successful breeding programs over decades, so it's up to the individual and their vet.

Generally it is not an issue to be overly worried about unless you have a bitch who has a history of problems with carrying a live litter to term with little or no losses.

http://www.2ndchance.info/herpesvirusdog.htm

http://www.showdogsupersite.com/kenlclub/breedvet/vhr2.html

There is a vaccine, but it is very new and only provides protection for 60 days 

http://www.merialvetsite.com/sites/tiptree/special.php?content=canineherpes

http://www.vetanimalhouse.co.uk/hottopic_canineherpes.asp

[Sharon]

The vaccine is made by Merial http://www.noahcompendium.co.uk/Merial_Animal_Health_Ltd/documents/S3800.html  and is administered as shown below:

Two 1 ml doses of vaccine, administered by subcutaneous route, according to the following schedule:
First injection: From heat to 7 – 10 days after the presumed date of mating.
Second injection: 1 to 2 weeks before the expected date of whelping.
Revaccination: during each pregnancy, according to the same schedule.

We have never used it, but I know of many breeders that have with success.

[amandaC]

Thank you for the info. I have just been giving a lot of thought to all the possible pit falls.

[Jane S]

There have been a few threads on Canine Herpes in the past. Here are two :

http://www.cockersonline.co.uk/discuss/index.php?topic=52028.0

http://www.cockersonline.co.uk/discuss/index.php?topic=64703.0

I think the vaccine is new to the US (where Spanielcrazy is) but we've had it in the UK for a few years now. We've used it with success although not all vets keep the vaccine in stock so you may have to order it in advance, if you wanted to use it.

[amandaC]

Thank you Jane they were very interesting posts.

I think if I decide to breed again ( too raw to think straight at the moment) I may well get Daisy tested just to put my mind at rest. Then I know what to expect.