Canine Infectious Hepatitis is a liver disease which is life threatening and can potentially affect all dogs who are not vaccinated. Puppies are especially vulnerable and account for the majority of cases of canine infectious hepatitis. Vaccines to prevent the disease are available for all ages of dogs and should be given as soon as possible.
The initial symptoms of canine infectious hepatitis might seem like a bad cold. The first signs of an infection are coughing and sometimes pneumonia. The virus moves quickly, however, and death can occur within a few hours of the initial symptoms. This is because after affecting the throat, the virus which causes canine infectious hepatitis moves into the blood where it is transported to the eyes, liver, and kidneys. Evidence of hepatitis which has entered the blood includes "hepatitis blue eye", increased thirst, diarrhea, vomiting, and even seizures. "Hepatitis blue eye" caused by canine infectious hepatitis happens when the whites of the eyes look blue or clouded. If any of these symptoms occur, the dog must be taken to the vet immediately.
Specific treatments do not exist for canine infectious hepatitis. The dog can be stabilized and given fluids through an IV, but after that it is up to the dog's own immune system to fight the infection. After recovery, the dog can still infect other dogs with the virus that causes canine infectious hepatitis. It is important for the health of other pets that they be vaccinated and kept away from the recovered dog and his wastes and nasal discharge for up to nine months.
Vaccination is the only way to prevent an untimely death due to canine infectious hepatitis.
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