Infectious canine hepatitis is a dog disease that is contagious and can also infect wildlife carnivores like bears, coyotes, and foxes. A vaccination for infectious canine hepatitis can prevent this disease. Infectious canine hepatitis most commonly affects puppies under one year of age.

Infectious canine hepatitis is one of the dog diseases that can be prevented with a vaccination. The vaccination for infectious canine hepatitis should not be given until the puppy is nine to twelve weeks old. Though puppies are at the greatest risk, dogs of any age can contract this disease if they have not been vaccinated.

The virus that causes this dog disease is spread through direct contact with an infected dog or contact with contaminated body fluids like urine, saliva, and nasal discharge. Dogs may also acquire the viral infection from contaminated food bowls, cages, or other items.

A fever, cough, and sore throat are the first signs of infectious canine hepatitis. The viral infection spreads to the liver, kidneys, and eyes of the dog. A low white blood cell count is often caused by infectious canine hepatitis.

The cornea of the dog’s eyes may appear cloudy or develop a bluish tint. The eyes may become sensitive to light. A dog with infectious canine hepatitis may develop a loss of appetite, abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, and seizures.

Bleeding problems are common with dogs that have infectious canine hepatitis. Dogs may have bleeding gums or nosebleeds. Some dogs develop swelling and hematomas which are collections of blood under the skin. Swelling from infectious canine hepatitis is most likely to be at the head, neck, or trunk of the dog.

There is no fast cure for infectious canine hepatitis. The veterinary treatment is antibiotics and supportive care with intravenous fluids. In severe cases, the dog may need a blood transfusion.

Infectious canine hepatitis is a potentially fatal dog disease. Death may occur as quickly as two hours after the onset of symptoms. Very young dogs are most likely to die from infectious canine hepatitis.

A dog can continue to spread this dog disease in its urine for up to nine months even if the dog has been treated and has recovered. Humans cannot contract this dog disease. Hepatitis that affects humans is a different disease.

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