Management of Pregnant Bitch-Canine Herpes Virus

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by cornerboy on 02 December 2007 - 16:12

Hello:

What is the best practice of managing a pregnant bitch with regard to avoiding contact with Canine Herpes Virus?

I have read that the bitch should be kept at home & isolated from the outside world for the last three weeks of pregnancy & then for a futher three weeks after the pups are born.

My btich is day 42. She has an appointment with her vet on Dec. 10th. I wonder if she could possibly contact this virus at the clinic. Is she less likely to contact it out in the fresh air on a walk? Cold viruses are usually hold up in poorly ventilated areas as well as respirartory viruses horses get in poorly ventilated barns. I think my bitch would stress not being able to go for a walk.

Is this virus airbonre of direct contact ? I am getting conflicting info from my readings?

Thanking evryone in advance for their thoughts !

by Ryanhaus on 02 December 2007 - 16:12

I've never had a problem with that virus, although many years back I went to a dogshow,
and brought something back that ended up getting my chocolate lab sick, and only 1 pup
out of 11 survived,(We named her Solo...) and people that went to that certain show, and had pregnant dogs
at home had the same thing happen to them.

So now when I'm having a litter, my female steers clear of the vets office, unless I see a big problem
coming on,
also, people that have dogs can't visit her & have any contact, you just never know.

Exercise her in your yard, also cause if you encounter another dog on your walk, it could
have a nasty fight with your pregnant girl, that happened to my neighbors dog a couple
of years back, her dog had her pups ok, but she needed to get stitched-up and put on
antibiotics, it was so unnecessary, for her to walk her dog around the block, might as well
have excercised in her yard.

by Sunsilver on 02 December 2007 - 16:12

The human herpes virus is not airborne. It must be spread by direct contact. It can be spread by touching a herpes sore, then touching something else. As far as I know, it needs broken skin, or an area where the skin is really thin (mucus membrane of mouth, nose or lips, thin, sensitive skin of genitals) in order to get into the body.

I'm not sure, but I'd assume the canine herpes virus would be the same. However, there are lots of other viruses and bacteria to worry about in a vet's office. Let's face it: an animal usually goes there because it is SICK!

by cornerboy on 02 December 2007 - 17:12

From what I can gather viruses spread in places where large numbers of people/ dogs gather & thrive when they gather in places that are not well ventilated.

Hospitals are a good place to get sick, so are school classrooms / daycares & dog shows held in indoor venues.

I think I may ask my vet to do a home visit & exercise my bitch in the back garden.

Thanks everyone !

by cornerboy on 02 December 2007 - 17:12

From what I can gather viruses spread in places where large numbers of people/ dogs gather & thrive when they gather in places that are not well ventilated.

Hospitals are a good place to get sick, so are school classrooms / daycares & dog shows held in indoor venues.

I think I may ask my vet to do a home visit & exercise my bitch in the back garden.

Thanks everyone !

by Kerschberger on 02 December 2007 - 17:12

www.hilltopanimalhospital.com/canine%20herpes.htm

by Bob-O on 02 December 2007 - 17:12

I think that it is good practice to keep bitches in isolation throughout the pregnancy, whelp, and weaning of the puppies. There are too many things that can affect a pregnant dam and her litter. This isolation also includes people who may come into contact with the bitch and/or puppies. The canine herpes virus is one (1) of many canine viruses that can kill a litter of puppies, so sterile conditions and isolation should be the guide.

Regards,

Bob-O

by hodie on 02 December 2007 - 17:12

If the truth be known, most dogs who have had any other contact with other dogs probably have a host of exposures to leptospirosis, other diseases and even diseases like canine herpes virus. This is one reason why making sure you know how the dogs are cared for that your dog comes into contact with, breeding or not, is important. Canine herpes virus transmission "usually occurs by contact between susceptible puppies and the infected oral, nasal, or vaginal secretions of their dam or oral or nasal secretions of dogs allowed to commingle with puppies during the first 3 wk of life. In utero transmission may occur." (Source: Merck Vet Manual) The best advice is that the pregnant female should be isolated from other dogs for the last three weeks of pregnancy and litters should be isolated as well for a few weeks after birth. That being said, it is not a virus that lives in ambient temperatures on surfaces. Since it is not airborne, the chance of your dog and the pups contacting herpes is slim IF you follow common sense and do NOT allow your female or the pups to be in direct contact with any other dog at this time. Common disinfectants also kill this virus on surfaces, so asking the clinic to prepare a room and disinfect the floor and surfaces your dog may come into contact with would be a bonus, but it probably more for other pathogens than herpes. If you can walk your dog normally without problems with other dogs etc., then do so. If not, then confine her to your yard and spend extra time outside with her. She will do fine with some limitations for a few weeks. It should be noted that dogs should be tested prior to mating. Once contacted, the virus is a lifetime infection, and while the adult dog may show no signs of illness, pregnancies may result in dead pups one way or the other. Such dogs will also continue to shed the virus all their lives. There is a vaccine available in Europe, but none in the U.S. How efficacious it is I do not know. Good luck.

by Dragongsd on 02 December 2007 - 18:12

There is a vaccine for herpes virus for dogs in Europe. I'm told it works very well, but of course it's not oked in the USA for use.

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