It’s no secret dogs love to sniff other dogs’ wee and poo. It’s like a secret language for our pooches and they speak it fluently. While it seems like a harmless habit, it is one of the common ways unvaccinated dogs can contract infectious canine hepatitis – a serious viral disease mainly affecting the liver.
Luckily in Australia, the majority of dogs are vaccinated as pups. Here’s why that is so important to keep up with the booster shots and the signs to watch for in your dog.
What is infectious canine hepatitis and how is it spread?
Infectious canine hepatitis affects a dog’s liver, and in some cases the eyes, kidneys and blood vessels. It is caused by the canine adenovirus type 1 (CAV-1) and can easily be spread from infected dogs to unvaccinated dogs.
“Dogs can become infected as a result of exposure to urine, faeces or saliva from infected dogs,” explains Vetpartners Vet Manager Dr Deepa Gopinath.
Don’t worry, she says, humans can’t contract infectious canine hepatitis, even if you come into contact with an infected dog.
What are the signs of infectious canine hepatitis?
Signs to look for can range from mild to severe, including:
- Fever, tiredness and loss of appetite
- Vomiting and/or diarrhoea
- Abdominal pain or tenderness
- Pale gums or yellow eyes (indications of liver problems)
- Bleeding under the skin (due to blood vessel damage)
Some pooches can also develop ‘blue eye’ or cloudiness in their eyes, which is caused by an immune response to the infection, explains Dr Gopinath.
“About 25% of recovered dogs develop a cloudiness of the eyes around seven to 10 days after the initial signs disappear,” she says. “In these cases, the dog should be protected against bright light as it can cause pain and veterinary attention should be sought.”
Your vet may prescribe an eye ointment to make your dog comfortable, she adds, and the problem usually clears up on its own.
How is infectious canine hepatitis diagnosed?
If you notice any of these signs in your doggo, your vet may use a combination of physical exams, vaccination history, blood tests (looking at liver function, clotting and changes in blood cells) and various virus detection tests.
These could include PCR (polymerase chain reaction), which detects the virus in swabs from your dog’s nose, throat eyes or rectum, and antibody testing (to see if your dog’s immune system has been exposed to the virus). In some cases, an X-ray, ultrasound, MRI or CT scan may be recommended to help assess if there is any damage to your dog’s liver or abdominal organs.
What is the treatment for infectious canine hepatitis?
If your dog is diagnosed with infectious canine hepatitis, you may be surprised to know there is no specific anti-viral treatment for this disease but catching it early can help, says Dr Gopinath.
“Early treatment is essential – supportive care such as hospitalisation and IV fluids, which support the dog’s immune system to fight the infection is the best approach,” she explains.
Your vet may also need to manage any clotting issues in your dog, prescribe pain relief and recommend isolating your dog from other unvaccinated pups.
“Mild cases and those in which treatment is started before severe organ damage occurs can recover fully from the disease,” Dr Gopinath explains.
However, a delay in treatment can lead to severe organ damage, and in some cases death.
Throughout treatment, Dr Gopinath says it’s important to maintain high levels of hygiene with infected dogs to minimise spread.
“The virus is very durable in the environment and can survive for up to six months on surfaces,” she explains. “Contaminated areas should be cleaned by steam cleaning or using bleach.”
How to protect your dog from infectious canine hepatitis
Vaccination is very effective and is by far the best way to protect against this disease, says Dr Gopinath.
The good news is that your dog will be automatically protected if they have had their C5 shot. This is a combination vaccine recommended for puppies and adult dogs, which protects against canine distemper, canine adenovirus (CAV-2), parvovirus and kennel cough.
When to see your vet
If your pooch is unusually tired, won’t eat or shows any of the signs above, it’s a good time to call your vet. Early treatment can make all the difference when it comes to this disease. Isolate your dog from other dogs (including a separate area for their toileting and separate food and water bowls), focus on hygiene for your home (and your dog) and encourage rest and hydration.
