I'm urgently looking for anyone willing to let their bitch be a blood donor for my pups. Recently posted about my gundog pup who was ill and subsequently died. It was thought she had been squashed but the post mortem results came back today and it was herpes virus. I have just had to have another pup put down because of it. The only hope for the remaining pups is to get blood serum from a vaccinated bitch.  I need to find 3 or 4 small breed bitches or 1 large breed that has been vaccinated for herpes, preferably had 2 or 3 litters and whelped in last 8 weeks. If anyone can help or think of anyone I can contact please get in touch urgently.  Thankyou.

Oh no, bless you. Can't help i am afraid but really hope you get some help soon. Sending positive thoughts.

Have you contacted:
http://www.petbloodbankuk.org/
and
http://www.animalbloodregister.com/

Im in Nantwich South Cheshire and near a vet hospital but my lab has neither been vaccinated for herpes nor had a litter so wouldnt be of any help, sorry :(  Is there any hope for the pups if you cant get the blood in time, can they have an antiviral?

Isn't the main thing with herpes to keep the pups really warm until 3 weeks of age, so the virus can't live?

I know of a bitch vaccinated for CHV 10 days ago, if that is of any help?  Am in the South west so definitely not local but could it work with a courier if no other options available?  She is a large breed, pm me if you want me to put you in touch with owner.

Thanks for ideas and offers of help. I work with dogs and have contacted so many breeders tonight that I know through work and plenty have litters but none have vaccinated for herpes. We've had a very kind offer from someone in Hampshire who has an ideal bitch to take blood from if we can't find anything nearer. We have one bitch whose owner is glad to help but this is a small breed and so we'd be unable to take enough blood but possibly enough for tomorrow until we can get some more delivered to us.

The pups are now 3 weeks and 3 days old so the virus shouldn't be affecting them to such a degree so to have to put our boy down tonight was heartbreaking.

We are in Suffolk so may be too far for you, but have a bitch (large breed gundog) here with 4 week old puppies, she has been vaccinated for CHV.

If asked on my facebook as I am from Lancs. Hope you get some much needed donor

Can I just ask as think this will be very relevant for future new breeders is it normal to get bitches vaccinated as a preventative before mating to ensure that the virus won't affect the puppies ?

I just ask as have crossed posted this and somebody mentioned it is something that should be done :-)

It's pretty new practise in the UK, I have never done it but have never had any real neonatal issues, the odd stillborn pup or unviable over the years.  If I had a reproductive disaster I might consider it.

I did enquire with my vet a few years ago, but there seemed to be problems with reliability of supply, so haven't asked since.

Interesting I have asked Glenys from Lab Rescue NW where I crossed posted this to come and comment as if it does stop things like the OP poster is experiencing then it is worth highlighting :-)

Thanks to everyone on champdogs for all their help.

We now have some blood on the way from a very generous member of champdogs in the south. It should arrive tomorrow so the pups will be getting the serum then. We're keeping everything crossed that it will work and our pups will be ok.

Thanks also to Snomaes for your very kind offer of help and also Jayne.sbt too.

I don't know how common it is for breeders to vaccinate for CHV but going by the number of breeders we've spoken to over the last couple of days it doesn't seem many do it as a regular thing. Many have said they used to do it but don't anymore. We had no problems at all with our bitches first litter so we never considered the CHV vaccination. If only we had vaccinated we may have saved our 5 pups.

I'll update with any news on how our pups do.

Thanks again to all on champdogs

I think its definitely a may this still could have happened. So don't beat yourself up with but what ifs. friends litter had it and most died intact all but one, they also had a weakened immune system and puppy strangles. She was mated to her own dog and it was her first litter. Hope the serum works or they are.strong enough to overcome it themselves x

Fingers crossed that all goes well.

We had bred for many years with no problems, then 3 years ago lost a litter of 10 puppies to CHV. We have vaccinated since then and wouldn't breed without doing so, it was such a terribly stressful time, something I would never want to go through again or wish anyone else to experience.

Not been on for a couple of days Cookie so only just noticed.  Glad you got something sorted.

If need be, I have a bitch who has had the injection, 4 wk old pups.  I'm sure it won't come to it but if you need anymore help email me through profile. 

Sorry to hear about the littlies :-(

We had the vaccination this time on the advice of the stud dogs owner, one of the most experienced breeders in my breed.

I have a giant bitch - but pups are probably too old.

We vaccinated against it because we knew it did no harm to do so - but could do harm not to .. so thought why not ! and have heard so many sad stories since that I think I always will just in case.

Please let us know how things get on Cookie - I didnt know that it was an option to use a donor bitches blood,so very interesting.

Thoughts are with you x x x

Back with an update on our pups. I wanted to wait until we were sure how things were going to turn out but am delighted to say the pups are all well and thriving. They are now gorgeous little bundles of trouble. We've spent the last two weeks worrying every time a pup seemed quiet but with no need as they are very normal, healthy pups.

If the very kind person that donated the blood should read this we have been trying to get in touch with you but can't seem to get a reply, we will keep trying.

The next thing we are dreading is when it's time for the pups to leave. We were very attached to the last litter but after everything that happened with these they are even more precious to us.

Thanks for the update, so glad to hear the pups are thriving.

Oh how lovely to get an update.  It's great to hear that this can be a success story.