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  • Project Breathe

    Project Breathe is an international initiative started by Invisible Fence Brand with the goal of equipping all first responding emergency units throughout Canada, the US and the UK with specially designed pet oxygen masks.

    Caledon Mountain Veterinary Hospital would like to raise awa... Read More

  • Project Pet Slimdown

    Project Pet Slimdown is a weight loss program designed for your cat/dog to help them lose weight.  By losing weight they can lead a happier, healthier and longer life.  Each pet will get their own individual program designed for them because, as we know, every pet is dif... Read More

  • New reception email address

    Effective immediately the new email address to contact our reception desk is:

    cmvhreception@gmail.com

     Please make the appropriate changes to your contact lists.  Thank you.

    Read More

  • Help Dr. Juan Elduayen

    Juan Elduayen is a wonderful and well-respected veterinarian in Toronto.  He emigrated with his family from Venezuela and has been working for the past couple of years at both the Woodbine Animal Clinic and Front Street Animal Hospital.  A huge blow came when he was very recently diag... Read More

  • Blood Donor Program

    Call us for more information about our blood donor program.  519-927-5775 ask for Ashley Read More

  • Facebook

    Be sure to check us out on facebook and 'like' our facebook page. 

     You can enter your pet's photo for our Pet of the Month contest by emailing your pet's photo to cmvhreception@gmail.com with "pet of the month" in the subject line and watch... Read More

CANINE HEPATITIS (Infectious Canine Hepatitis or Adenovirus-1 Infection) PDF Print E-mail

What is hepatitis?

Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver. As a specific disease, Infectious Canine Hepatitis (ICH) is a viral infection caused by a member of the Adenovirus family.

Does it affect other animals or people?

Other members of the dog family, foxes for example, can be infected, but ICH virus is harmless to people.

How is the virus spread?
 
The hepatitis virus is present in the urine or in the nose and eye discharges of infected animals. The virus is transmitted by direct contact with these infected materials. Young dogs are at highest risk, and signs of disease usually occur within two to five days; however, the incubation period can be as long as 14 days. In older dogs some ICH infections may go unnoticed or be mild.

What are the clinical signs?

In the mild form the dog may merely have a decreased appetite, appear depressed and have a fever. Some of these cases develop opacity of one or both corneas of their eyes (so-called ‘Blue Eye’) one to two weeks later.

Some dogs have respiratory signs such as eye and nose discharge and cough that are indistinguishable from other forms of kennel cough (see Kennel Cough).

In severe cases, usually puppies, other than the fever, depression and loss of appetite, there is abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, puffy edema (subcutaneous fluid swelling) of the head and neck, and possible jaundice. Such cases are often fatal.

What is the treatment?

As with most viral infections there is no specific treatment. Antibiotics are ineffective against viruses. Treatment is aimed at reducing symptoms, and giving time for the dog’s immune system to respond. This includes rest, intravenous fluids and medication to reduce the severe symptoms.

What about vaccination?

Vaccination is very successful, and is routinely administered in puppy vaccination programs. Your veterinarian will discuss appropriate vaccination schedules for your dog including the need for booster revaccination. The protection conferred lasts for many months, but it does decrease with time. 

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This client information sheet is based on material written by Ernest E. Ward Jr., DVM.

 © Copyright 2002 Lifelearn Inc. Used with permission under license. August 9, 2004.
 
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