Canine herpes virus is one of the causes of death in newborn dogs. Most puppies over 2 weeks old are subclinically infected. This virus is also the cause of canine reproductive tract disease.
The disease can be contracted in utero, and puppies can also be infected through vaginal infection or contact with sick littermates, or by eating or inhaling contaminated substances. Large dogs are asymptomatic carriers. Puppies as young as 1 week old can be infected through the mouth and pharynx. Death often occurs 5 to 12 days after infection. When puppies over 2 weeks old are infected, they may develop subclinical infection or cause mild rhinitis and pharyngitis. At this time, the virus can persist in these sites for a long time.
[Main Evidence] If the puppies are infected 7 to 10 days after birth, the symptoms will be more obvious. She was depressed, didn't like to eat milk, and kept howling. There is often abdominal pain, but the body temperature is not high. Death usually occurs within 24 hours of onset. Some cases die suddenly without any prior symptoms. The autopsy of the dead dog showed diffuse and congestion hemorrhage in the renal cortex, pulmonary edema with scattered bleeding spots; hemorrhage in the liver and gastrointestinal tract; enlarged spleen and lymph nodes throughout the body; and often bloody fluid in the body cavity.
[Treatment] When clinical symptoms are obvious, the treatment effect is often poor. Commercial canine globulin contains low levels of herpes virus neutralizing antibodies and can be used to reduce infection in other puppies in the litter. Traditional Chinese medicine can be injected intramuscularly or intravenously with Qingkailing injection or Shuanghuanglian injection.
[Prevention] There is currently no vaccine available for this disease. When the disease is prevalent, all born puppies can be given intraperitoneal injection (2ml per dog) of immune serum prepared from the blood of the mother of the affected puppies, which can prevent the death of susceptible dogs.