Sign In Sign-Up
Welcome!
Close
Would you like to make this site your homepage? It's fast and easy...
Yes, Please make this my home page!
No Thanks
  Don't show this to me again.
Close
    NEONATAL HERPES
    (Fading puppy syndrome)
    (Neonatal death syndrome)

    There is in the veterinary literature much about herpes infection in dogs, many excellent articles have been published.
    Anyone wishing a quick look, got to any veterinary hospital or library and ask for:

    * VETERINARY INTERNAL MEDICINE
        Stephen Ettinger,  Page 309

    * THE ROLE OF NEONATAL CANINE HERPES VIRUS INFECTION IN MIXED
            INFECTIONS IN OLDER DOGS
        Continuing Education Article #1
        688 Vol. 8 No. 10, October 1986

    None of these or other articles addresses the problems of treatment and prevention of death!

    GESTATIONAL DEATHS
        We cannot at this time prevent the death of prenatal pups in uterus by the virus.  It seems to infect the placenta and kills the pup during the later stages of gestation.  The pups are born dead, autolyzed, infected with fecal bacteria, and in some cases inclusions can be found by pathologists in the placental tissue.  We hope some day to be able to address this problem.
    NEONATAL HERPES PUPPIES
        The usual presentation to veterinarians is with one or more puppies dead, some dying and others not yet sick or showing symptoms.  All dead puppies should be autopsied.  Lesions can usually be found in the lungs, kidneys, intestines, and liver (see photos below).
      
     
      
    TREATMENT OF SICK LITTERS
        Newborn puppies from suspected kennels or dams with herpes virus can be treated with a subcutaneous injection of 1c.c. of Distemper anti viral serum given to each puppy immediately after birth and repeated 24 hours later.  This will dramatically reduce the death rate.
    TREATMENT OF INDIVIDUAL PUPPIES ILL WITH HERPES
        Until recently all puppies manifesting herpes illness died within a very short period of time, usually within a few hours of showing symptoms.  There are however two techniques for the treatment of these puppies that have had considerable success.
    Technique by: A.W. Sears, DVM
     
    • Puppy should weigh between 1 and 3 pounds
    • DISTEMPER ANTI VIRAL SERUM:    Administer 1 c.c. subcutaneously to
                each puppy every 12 hours for 36 hours, (3 doses).
    • Lasix:    One drop orally, (To control lung edema)
    • Kaon (Potassium Gluconate elixir):    Administer one drop orally every
                 hour for 3 hours, (To control loss of potassium).
    • Chloromycetin:    Administer 0.05c.c. orally once daily,
                                               (to control lung infection).
    • Gancylovir:    Administer 0.1 c.c. subcutaneously to each puppy.
    • Incubator:    Keep puppies in incubator at 96 degrees for 24 hours.
    • Fluids:    Give plenty of fluids orally, sugar water works well, as do
                                neonatal puppy formulas.
     
    (Photos of puppies treated with above protocol)
    Ronald Bell, DVM
     
    • Puppy should weigh between 2 and 3 pounds.
    • Acyclovir powder in capsules:    Mix 200 mg capsule in 10c.c. of warm
                water.  The powder will not dissolve but is suspended.  Administer
                0.5 c.c. (10 mg) to each puppy every 6 hours until puppies are
                3 1/2 weeks old.
    • Place in incubator.
    • Give fluids orally

        Treatment of puppies does not guarantee  that  reproductive lesions will not
    appear before puberty.  Lesions are found both in the prepuce (balanophthitis) and vagina, however, no reproductive symptoms have been observed in the treated puppies.