Types and Clinical Signs of Infectious Canine Hepatitis

1 Types

1. The hepatitis type occurs mostly in puppies and dogs under one year. It comes on fast: temperature rises to about 40–41°C with repeated fever; frequent vomiting and diarrhea with blood in the stool; severe abdominal pain; runny nose; bleeding points on the mouth or gums. These look like a cold but are far worse — sudden, heavy drinking is the high-risk period for death.

2. The respiratory type shows upper-airway signs: faster breathing and heartbeat, cough, pus-like nasal discharge, fever; as it worsens, tonsil swelling and bronchial lymph-node bleeding appear.

The two types are easy to tell apart but easily confused with distemper, so be careful in treatment.

2 Clinical Signs

1. The abdomen fills with ascites; the liver and spleen swell to two or three times normal. Diseased liver tissue balloons out and turns khaki; the cut surface is blurred with dark-red spots.

2. Affected dogs show severe dehydration, dry coat, and mild gastrointestinal bleeding; mesenteric lymph nodes congest and swell. Some dogs, from incomplete liver expansion, also show bronchial lymph congestion in the affected lung areas.

As it worsens, anemia, jaundice, pharyngitis, and tonsillitis may appear, harming the body; in emergencies it can threaten life within a short time.

There is no specific cure. Treatment is supportive — protect the liver, fight the virus, control secondary infection, and ease jaundice — with the plan set by the dog’s condition.

Note: infectious canine hepatitis resembles distemper and viral colds and is easily confused; take the dog to the vet promptly for diagnosis and treatment.