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.

A dog that has acquired a hepatitis infection may develop a bluish tint to its corneas. The eyes may appear cloudy and may become sensitive to light. Dogs may experience vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, and seizures.

Infectious canine hepatitis can cause bleeding problems. The dog may have nosebleeds or bleeding gums. Some dogs with this disease develop swelling of the head, neck, and trunk and hematomas which are collections of blood under the skin.

There is no medication that specifically treats infectious canine hepatitis. The veterinarian is likely to provide supportive care including intravenous fluids and prescribe antibiotics. Severely infected dogs may need blood transfusions.

This dog disease is potentially fatal. The dog may die within hours of the onset of symptoms. The dogs that are most susceptible to dying from this disease are young puppies.

The urine of a dog that was treated for infectious canine hepatitis can still be contaminated and spread the disease for up to nine months even if the dog has fully recovered. Humans are not in danger of contracting hepatitis from dogs. The hepatitis that can infect humans is not the same as infectious canine hepatitis.