This viral infection of dogs, also known as infectious hepatitis, occurs worldwide but is now rare thanks to many years of vaccination. However, it is believed that the virus that causes it is still involved in chronic liver inflammation.
The pathogen that causes HCC is the canine adenovirus. Domestic dogs are most susceptible to this virus, although skunks, raccoons, and some species of bears can also become infected. The virus is excreted in the saliva, urine, and feces of animals with acute or inapparent (i.e., invisible) symptoms. In the environment, the relatively stable pathogen can remain infectious for up to nine months at cold temperatures (below 4°C) and for several weeks at room temperature. Transmission occurs via the nasopharyngeal cavity, with healthy animals usually ingesting food or water contaminated with urine. After infection, the virus multiplies in the tonsils and regional lymph nodes before entering the bloodstream on the fourth day. The first symptoms appear after an incubation period (the time from infection to the onset of clinical symptoms) of two to five days.
Depending on the course of the disease, a wide variety of symptoms can occur, some of which can make it difficult to distinguish from other infectious diseases (e.g., acute distemper). During the viremia phase (presence of viruses in the blood), animals often develop a fever and the virus colonizes the lining of blood vessels, the liver, and many other organs (kidneys, eyes). Further replication of the virus in these organs causes cell damage, leading to symptoms of varying severity. Deposits of immune complexes and water cause inflammatory changes in the eye, which are referred to as "hepatic blue eye" due to their appearance. These changes usually heal spontaneously after one to two weeks.
In this case, infected dogs usually die within a few hours without any noticeable symptoms, which is why owners often suspect poisoning. Young, unvaccinated dogs are particularly at risk.
Acute forms of HCC are mainly characterized by acute liver inflammation, which manifests itself in the form of fever, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, loss of appetite, increased thirst, abdominal pain, and jaundice. Suspicious symptoms of HCC include bleeding and water retention caused by damage to the blood vessel walls, which mainly manifest in the head, neck, and lower chest area, as well as tonsillitis with painful swelling of the lymph nodes.
Chronic forms can occur in dogs that do not have enough antibodies to successfully eliminate the virus. Symptoms of liver inflammation also occur, but to a much lesser extent and are often not recognized. In contrast to the acute form, a permanent inflammation develops, which in the further course leads to cirrhosis of the liver (= tissue remodelling and shrinkage of the liver) and liver fibrosis (= scarring). Affected dogs mainly show pronounced ascites (= abdominal dropsy) and jaundice (= icterus).
Diagnosing infectious liver inflammation is not always easy for veterinarians, as the symptoms can be very varied and non-specific. A general clinical examination and a detailed preliminary report should always be followed by a blood test, as changes in the blood count can be detected shortly after infection. Although antibodies can be detected in the blood, the test is not very conclusive, as vaccinated animals and animals that have already survived an infection also have antibodies.
A reliable diagnosis can only be made by directly detecting the pathogen in nasal secretions, blood, or urine, or by performing a liver biopsy (taking a sample of liver tissue). Due to the often peracute or acute course of the disease, which is fatal, the pathogen is usually only detected after the animal has died.
As this is a viral infection, the disease cannot be treated at its root cause, only symptomatically. Treatment with preparations designed to strengthen the immune system can be attempted, but their effectiveness has not yet been scientifically proven.
In many cases, infusion solutions are administered to compensate for fluid and electrolyte deficits. Painkillers may be used for severe pain, and antibiotics may also be used for secondary bacterial infections. Your veterinarian will discuss with you which medications are appropriate in each individual case.
Mortality can be as high as 100% in young dogs with a peracute or acute course, so the prognosis is very poor. Adult dogs have significantly better chances of recovery and a lower mortality rate.
For many years, dogs have been successfully protected against this dangerous disease with the help of a protective vaccination, which also prevents the virus from spreading. Puppies can be vaccinated from eight weeks of age. Three consecutive vaccinations at eight, twelve, and 16 weeks of age and a further vaccination at 15 months of age are recommended as a complete basic immunization. After that, booster shots are needed every three years. Combination vaccines are usually used, which protect against distemper, parvovirus, leptospirosis, and rabies in addition to HCC. Your vet can send you a personalized vaccination schedule for your dog via petsXL, and you'll automatically get notifications when it's time to schedule another appointment.
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