Canine Herpesvirus: Neonatal Fading Puppy Disease
Canine herpesvirus (CHV-1) causes fatal disease in neonatal puppies, with welfare management focused on prevention and maintaining litter warmth if infection occurs.
Key Facts
- CHV-1 is ubiquitous in dog populations with most adults seropositive
- Neonatal puppies under 3 weeks are extremely susceptible to fatal systemic infection
- Infected puppies show sudden deterioration, hypothermia, and death within 24-48 hours
- Keeping whelping area above 29-32C prevents viral replication in neonates
- Vaccination of the dam before mating reduces viral excretion during whelping
Welfare Considerations
Canine herpesvirus welfare in neonates is acute and rapidly fatal. Infected puppies deteriorate suddenly, crying persistently before becoming hypothermic and dying. The condition is distressing for both puppies and owners. Temperature management is the most critical welfare intervention — CHV-1 replicates poorly above 37C, so maintaining puppies above 30C in the whelping environment prevents disease expression in exposed neonates. Older puppies over 3 weeks develop protective immunity. Survivors of mild infection may have neurological sequelae affecting welfare. Vaccination of dams before mating provides maternal immunity that protects pups through the critical early period.
What You Can Do
- Maintain whelping area temperature above 29-32C for the first 3 weeks
- Vaccinate breeding bitches against CHV-1 before mating and during late pregnancy
- Seek immediate veterinary assessment for any fading neonatal puppy
- Provide supplemental warmth to chilled or failing puppies immediately
- Monitor the entire litter closely for the first 3 weeks of life