Neutralizing antibodies increase after infection, but only remain high for approximately 2 months. Low titers may be detectable for up the 2 years. The presence of antibody is not likely to be of major importance in the recovery from primary infection or the prevention of reemergence, but may play a role in the prevention of primary infection. Seropositivity indicates exposure, but not necessarily active infection, although viral persistence and latent infection are assumed. The virus is generally self-limiting when infection of an adult animal occurs.
Treatment is neither necessary nor recommended.
Clinical signs, if present, should disappear without treatment. Once the clinical signs of CHV are apparent treatment is generally unrewarding due to the rapid and fatal progression of the disease. If an outbreak is suspected there may be some benefitto treating exposed pups not yet showing clinical signs with immune serum. Immune sera can be obtained by pooling sera from bitches that have recently lost litters to CHV infections. The serum is given by intraperitoneal injection.