Companion Animals

Dog Infectious Hepatitis Prevention

Canine infectious hepatitis caused by canine adenovirus type 1 is a serious liver disease prevented by core vaccination and rarely seen in well-vaccinated dog populations.

Key Facts

Canine infectious hepatitis is caused by canine adenovirus type 1 (CAV-1)
It causes acute liver disease, corneal oedema, and haemorrhagic diathesis in severe cases
The condition was historically common but is now rare in countries with high vaccination rates
The CAV-2 vaccine cross-protects against CAV-1 and is included in standard multivalent vaccines
Recovered dogs can shed virus in urine for up to 6 months

Welfare Considerations

Canine infectious hepatitis causes acute hepatic failure with severe suffering from vomiting, abdominal pain, jaundice, and haemorrhage. Surviving dogs may develop chronic corneal oedema causing discomfort and vision impairment. Peracute cases die within hours. The welfare impact of hepatitis is severe but almost entirely preventable through vaccination. The rarity of the disease in vaccinated populations demonstrates the welfare value of core vaccination programmes.

What You Can Do

Vaccinate all dogs with core vaccines including adenovirus according to recommended schedules
Complete puppy vaccination courses on schedule without gaps
Maintain booster vaccinations throughout your dog's life
Be aware that unvaccinated dogs remain at risk from environmental contamination
Support community vaccination programmes that maintain population-level immunity