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Infectious Canine Hepatitis (ICH) occurs throughout the world. It is a very contagious disease and is caused by canine adenovirus 1 (CAV-1). ICH is also seen in bears, coyotes, foxes, and wolves.
ICH is spread by the urine, feces, and saliva of infected dogs. A dog that has been infected with ICH can shed the disease in it's urine up to and more than 9 months. Once the virus enters the body, it finds it's way to the tonsils and to Payer's Patches in the gastrointestinal tract where it reproduces itself. The virus then spreads to the kidneys, liver, lungs and spleen where it starts to breakdown these organs. Bleeding starts to occur and cells in the liver starts to die. There is a color change in the liver which may be normal or swollen. In puppies and young dogs the death rate is high. The incubation period is 4 to 7 days
Signs of ICH in a dog are depression, lack of appetite, thirst, conjunctivitis, discharge from the eyes and nose, and occasionally abdominal pain and vomiting. Other signs include intense blood flow to different parts of the body; bleeding may occur as a result or broken blood vessel of the mucus membranes of the mouth. Enlarged tonsils, may also be seen and there may be swelling of the head, neck, and trunk.
The treatment of ICH varies on the condition of the dog. In severe cases, dogs are put on an intravenous drip consisting of saline and dextrose. A wide range of antibiotics are usually given to the infected dog to help combat ICH and it's secondary conditions. For dogs who show signs of eye problems, ophthalmic ointment are usually given and or their eyes are protected from bright light or glare.
Preventative measures against ICH are extremely important. Vaccination is recommended to puppies after 9 to 12 weeks of age with yearly re-vaccinations.
If your dog shows any of the signs or symptoms of ICH, it is recommended that you contact your veterinarian immediately.
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