Question: Can dogs get herpes?
Answer: Dogs can get their canine herpesvirus (CHV-1). CHV-1 is usually safe for adult dogs but extremely dangerous for newborn puppies and can cause “fading puppy syndrome.”
If you need more detail regarding herpes in dogs, please check the full explanation given below.
Can Dogs Get Cold Sores as Humans Do?
Yes, dogs can have and carry canine herpesvirus (CHV-1), also known as “dog herpes,” which causes cold sores on dogs, but technically it is not the same virus as humans’.
After that, cold sores caused by the canine herpes virus usually appear on the genitals of an infected dog.
Basic Facts About Canine Herpes Virus
There are some basic facts about dog herpes:
- Endemicity. CHV-1 is a virus-specific to dogs only. Any other animal can get or carry dog herpes.
- Propagation of the virus. Airborne droplets usually transmit the canine herpes virus. The virus can’t last long outside of the dog’s body.
- Symptoms. Unfortunately, the majority of contaminated dogs look entirely normal. It usually takes 3-7 days for the disease to develop, so you can’t say from the first look if an adult dog or a puppy is sick. Puppies have symptoms different from adult dogs, and you can read about them below in a special section.
- Consequences. The virus causes just very mild respiratory disease in adult dogs. Still, it can be a considerable danger for your puppies because their immune system is usually just not ready to combat the virus yet. The disease’s course is very rapid, and a sick puppy dies in 1-3 days without medication.
- The Extent of Infection. If a dog has ever been sick, it carries this virus for the rest of its life. 1/2 or 1/3 of all dogs carry dog herpes in their bodies. Thus, there is almost no way to prevent contact of a pregnant bitch or a newborn puppy with the virus if you keep them together with many other dogs.
Is There Any Vaccine for Canine Herpes Virus?
There is a CHV vaccine called Eurican Herpes 205, but it has not been licensed in the United States yet. So, unfortunately, a vaccine is still not the right answer to prevent fading puppy syndrome.
The best way to prevent contamination in newborn puppies is to prevent any contact with sick/infected animals in the first weeks after birth, and we will talk about this below.
Symptoms of Canine Herpes Virus in Puppies
Unfortunately, as I said above, the CHV is very common in adult dogs, especially in large breeding kennels or show kennels. You still need to read all the information about symptoms of herpes in puppies below to be on the safe side.
There is no just one clear symptom of herpes in pups. Symptoms of canine herpes in puppies may include:
- Continuous whining;
- Fast, shallow breathing;
- High fever;
- Vomiting;
- Yellowish green stools;
- Nose and eye discharges;
- Bleeding (rarely);
- Seizures (rarely);
If you see any of these signs, call your vet immediately.
How to Prevent Canine Herpes Virus in Puppies?
The experts of ASPCA also recommend:
- Isolate dog females in the last weeks of their pregnancy from other dogs can have/carry CHV.
- Isolate young puppies from other dogs (except the mother, of course) for the first three weeks after birth. Little buddies will use this time to strengthen their immune systems and be ready to meet CHV and other dangerous diseases fully armed.
- Observe your puppy for the first three weeks of its life. In the case of the appearance of any symptoms mentioned above, contact your vet. During these three weeks, puppies also learn how to regulate their body temperature, and high fever is not going to be so dangerous for them anymore.
Can Dogs Get Herpes From Humans?
Question: Can a dog get herpes from humans?
Answer: There is no way for dogs to get or carry the herpes virus strain-specific to humans.
So, Can Dogs Get Humans’ Herpes?
The answer to this question is clearly “no.” Like many other diseases, the human herpesvirus, also known as the “human simplex virus” (HSV-1 and HSV-2), is endemic for humans and safe for dogs. However, dogs have their type of herpes, and we explain this in a sec.
Can Dogs Carry Herpes Dangerous for Humans?
We understood from the previous part that dogs could not get HSV from humans, but can they be carriers for this virus as mice, pigeons, etc., for some other diseases?
No, they cannot. All herpes viruses (it is a whole family, yes) are species-specific. In rare cases, humans can get herpes from mice and vice versa. But the HSV can’t survive on a dog and be passed to healthy people from sick ones.
The human strain of the virus will not get into your dog’s cell because its cells have no “right” receptors. Since the virus has nothing to “foothold,” it will be transferred to the stomach and die.
We still do not recommend allowing, for example, licking your face by your dog: you can’t get human herpes in such a way, but they can transmit many other diseases quickly.