Hi all,
I know there is a vaccine that you can give your dog to prevent herpes during mating etc.

I was just wondering if any of you breeders have ever used it, and what are your opinions on the vacc?

Have you ever had any problems with it and when should the bitch have it?
Is it given to the bitch just before mating or anytime?

Thaks in advance for any replies

Amy

Why would you want to mate a bitch if you had any doubt that the dog was not clean of any virus
Terry

Can I just say that this reply isn't very helpful and does not address the question

Terry ,

The posters bitch may be 100% tip top condition but it can still be caught elsewhere.

Just curious, but is there a test that can be done to see if the dog or bitch has the virus before mating???

Amy

Hi sheppiemad, there is a titre test but it will give different readings at various stages of infection. 

A stud dog bred to an infected bitch may or may not be infected, either as the animal which passed the infection to the bitch or as a recipient of an acute infection she was harboring when he bred her. Herpes testing at the time of breeding is meaningless, since almost all individuals in the bitchs environment may be in various phases of acquiring or recovering from infection. It bears repeating here, that the respiratory infection is very mild and rarely ever shows actual clinical signs in adult dogs. Only paired serum samples taken at different times to detect a rising (becoming infected ) titer, or a falling ( recovering from an infection) titer, can tell us anything. Obviously the information generated in this way will be too late to be of use at the time of breeding. The usefulness of these paired titers is seen chiefly as a tool to identify if a bitch has lost her litter due to Herpes after the fact. We can rule Herpes in or out as one of the several options for causes of litter resorbtion, or still born or sickly neonates.

http://www.hilltopanimalhospital.com/canine%20herpes.htm

Edited, my link didnt work again, can you cut and paste. This site, although American, is very indepth

http://www.hilltopanimalhospital.com/canine%20herpes.htm

It's given as soon after mating as possible, then 2 weeks before whelping is due.  I know people that have had success with it...........and I think you'll find there is more CHV around than people like believe! 

I have no doubt that my dog is clean as you say.

Well as far as I know she is.

I have just heard that canine herpes can cause fading puppy syndrome.
I was just enquiring about the vacc because I thought maybe it would lessen the chances of losing puppies after whelping.
I have also read that canine herpes can play a part in the reabsorbtion of puppies, Is this true?
In that case I would prefer my dog to have the vacc to be on the safe side.

After all, how do you know that the stud you are using with your bitch doesnt have it.

Bitch may be clean but theres more than one dog that plays a part in the mating, thats all I was saying

Thanks again for any replies
Amy

Hi  my girl had the CHV vaccination the last time she was mated, it was given to her three days before actual mate and then again when she was seven wks into whelp, my girl had no problems whatsoever with the vaccination.

Yes Fading Puppy Syndrome is now being linked to CHV, also CHV isn't always picked up through either dog or bitch, it can just be caused through stress

A lot of people are using it now.  I know they are in my breed. 

Ask you vet about it. I think you have to order it in so best to be organised if you plan to use it.

ok thansk for all of your replies everyone. I will speak to my vet and see what they say?

Has anyone else out there used and it and was there any side affects etc?

Thanks again

Amy

I have used it on one of my Labs and she showed no side effects, nor did the pups when they were born, A friend also used it on her Lab and again showed no side effects, both bitches have had previous healthy litters