Hi, I'm new here and my girl and I are hopefully expecting our first (and possibly only) ever litter. Not that you'd know if you asked her lol! As I've never had a litter before and her breeder (who is supporting me) is off to compete for team GB in agility for 2 weeks soon, I thought I'd join here in case of panicky moments! It's only been 2 weeks since her second mating and I've read and re-read The Book of the Bitch but still have a few worries!
First question is how common is the herpes infection? I'd not heard about it until reading on here and am having a small panic now!

Oh, the mum has had all relevant health tests etc!

Just seen the other thread re herpes, now I'm even more panicky!

Get the vaccination done now and then a week before she's due, not worth not having it done. Call your vet to get it in as not all vets keep it in stock

Is it not too late now? I thought in the other thread someone said it had to be 7-10 days after mating? Thanks for your reply :)

I never have it done but keep the bitch and my other dogs well away from any other dogs for the last 3 weeks of pregnancy and the first 3 weeks after the pups are born. It is spread by close contact so I rely on isolation. I don't like the idea of putting another vaccine into a bitch .

Thanks, I've also posted on the canine health concern FB group in the hope of getting the anti vaccine (I only usually vaccinate up to first booster) thoughts on the matter. Interestingly, my vet didn't even mention a vaccine this week when I went in. Not sure how easy isolation would be for me though as I live on a large housing estate with a lot of dogs! Oh for my own land...

It can be given up to 4 weeks post mating as my vet and I called the manufacturer. Pregnancy can trigger it so rather than risk the litter I would get it done. I too don't bother vaccinating normally either bar puppy ones.

I'm very lucky as we are out in the sticks but the Herpes virus needs direct contact so avoiding dog to dog contact should be enough.  Also avoid sharing water and feed bowls with dogs outside the family pack.

The herpes virus cannot survive at very warm temperatures so a warm whelping box and never letting pups get chilled helps reduce the risk. I never whelp on paper,it get cold very quickly once wet .... I always put newborns straight onto vet bed to keep the belly warm and under the lamp at all times while bitch is busy whelping.

It's a tough one as they are a skittish and easily stressed breed and she panics at the vets even though we spent many an hour there just getting treats! I'm not sure whether the stress of going for the jabs would cause problems in itself if she gets very stressed?!

About 80% of dogs carry herpes without you even knowing and when pregnant it can be triggered, Its also believed that the second jab gives the pups a little immunity as well so yes I would get it done. Nothing is so dreadful as having to watch a litter of pups die and not be able to do a thing about it. And yes Sue is right, warmth does help and pups must be kept warm for the first 3 weeks till they can regulate their own temperatures. By 3 weeks they can get a high temp and that helps prevent herpes killing pups.
Aileen

Unless you have avoided dog to dog contact all the bitches life and also the stud dog then this is not going to be enough as the bitch or indeed the dog have a very good chance of carrying the herpes virus.

Yes but as I understand it the virus needs to be active to be transmitted... Once a dog has had the virus and got over it, usually with no symptoms if an adult, then they are Immune and not infectious.  As you say the majority of adult dogs have already had and got over the virus.

No that's not true, pregnancy can trigger it and though the bitch will be fine it can cause re-absorption or abortion or later if a litter is born then death of puppies

Have a look here :- https://www.vets-now.com/pet-owners/dog-care-advice/general/canine-herpesvirus/

I never used to go for the CHV vaccine, but found out one dog I acquired as an adult has possibly had it in the past (long story which I will not go into in public). So now I play safe, for the sake of the cost of about one tenth of a puppy (if that!), I'd rather be safe than sorry. Just had one of my bitches herpes vaccinated this week, a week after being mated.

I lost an entire litter once through this and it was the most awful thing.
It is not to do with meeting dogs during pregnancy because where I live I am lucky mine do not have to go anywhere other dogs.
This virus can get into a kennel  ( and mine are all pet house dogs for what it is worth so I use the term kennel as a generic word ), and you
do not know it. When I looked into it ( and I was in total shock and never heard of it), I discovered that some "kennels" over years had no or small litters until it was realised that this was the cause.
Dogs were carrying the virus and unless your dogs never meet another dog it can be passed on. The good news is that a bitch that has this and loses a litter
can go onto a successful pregnancy. Mine did but I always vaccinate now as a precaution.

Even if your dogs don't meet other dogs, it can be passed on - a dog can sniff a plant and leave some saliva on the plant or grass by the side of a road.  Then your dog stops to sniff similarly - that is enough.

Thanks for all the info, I've decided to go ahead with the vaccination, even though it'll be almost 3 weeks since the first tie when she has it.  The manufacturer can't guarantee effectiveness for early stage protection at this point but it will protect the pups at least once they're born.

Cross-posted on behalf of someone who has just lost their Giant Schnauzer bitch after whelping her litter. The puppies are 10 hours old and located in the Doncaster area, can anyone help with a surrogate bitch please?