Infectious Canine Hepatitis
Infectious canine hepatitis (ICH) is a worldwide, contagious disease of dogs with varying clinical signs.
Overview | Transmission | Signs | Risk Factors | Outcomes | Spreading | Diagnosis | Vaccines | Resources
Disease Overview
Infectious canine hepatitis has signs that range from a slight fever and congestion to severe depression, marked leukopenia, and coagulation disorders.
CANINE HEPATITIS FAST FACTS
- The incubation period is 4-9 days.
- Also seen in foxes, wolves, coyotes, bears, lynx, and some pinnipeds.
- Other carnivores may become infected without developing clinical illness.
- The disease is less common where routine immunization is done.
- Continued vaccination is needed to protect against periodic outbreaks from wild and feral hosts.
TRANSMISSION
- Initial infection occurs in the tonsillar crypts and Peyerās patches, followed by viremia and disseminated infection. Blood vessels are the primary target, with hepatic and renal parenchyma, spleen, and lungs becoming infected as well.
- Chronic kidney lesions and corneal clouding (āblue eyeā) can result from immune-complex reactions
- Canine Infectious Hepatitis is mainly passed through ingestion of urine, feces, or saliva of infected dogs.
- Recovered dogs shed virus in their urine for over 6 months.
CLINICAL SIGNS
- Fever
- Apathy
- Anorexia
- Thirst
- Conjunctivitis
- Enlarged tonsils
- Swollen head, neck or trunk areas
- Discharge from the eyes and nose
- Occasionally abdominal pain and vomiting
DOGS AT RISK
- Young Dogs
MORBIDITY THREATS
- Signs vary from a slight fever to death.
- The mortality rate ranges from 10%ā30%.
- Severely infected dogs may develop convulsions from forebrain damage.
- Paresis, ataxia and central blindness have also been described.
- In ~25% of recovered dogs, bilateral corneal opacity develops.
SPREADING DISEASE
- The virus is spread in the feces, urine, blood, saliva, and nasal discharge of infected dogs.
- Contracted through the mouth or nose, where it replicates in the tonsils.
- The incubation period is 4 to 7 days.
DIAGNOSIS
Abrupt onset of illness and bleeding suggest ICH, although clinical evidence is not always sufficient to differentiate ICH from distemper (see Canine Distemper).
Merck Animal Health Vaccines
NOBIVACĀ®Ā CANINE 1-DAPPv
This product has been shown to be effective for vaccination of healthy dogs 6 weeks of age or older against canine distemper virus, canine adenovirus type 1 (hepatitis), canine adenovirus type 2 (respiratory disease), canine parainfluenza virus and canine parvovirus.
ALSO AVAILABLE
Professional Resources and Educational Materials
Keep your clinic and staff informed and aware of diseases and outbreaks.
NobivacĀ® Social Media Kits
Digital Assets
Use these ready-to-share posts to educate pet parents and drive business to your clinic for preventative care.
Addressing CIV in Your Clinic
eBook
Tips and guidelines for your clinic to prevent and manage canine influenza.
AAHA Canine Vaccination Guidelines
SOP
In-depth information about canine vaccinations and veterinary best practices.
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