Canine infectious hepatitis is an acute septic infectious disease in dogs caused by canine adenovirus. The main clinical manifestations are hepatitis and corneal opacification (ie, blue eye disease).
Naturally, the virus is transmitted through the mouth and pharynx. The virus spreads from the epithelium to lymph nodes throughout the body, and viremia subsequently occurs, causing the virus to spread widely to other parts of the body, especially the liver and gallbladder. Therefore, it manifests as hepatitis and jaundice; liver disease further spreads to the eyes, so it manifests as corneal opacity and blue eyes. The main route of transmission of the disease is direct contact. Recovered dogs can shed toxins in their urine for 180 to 270 days. Disinfection can be carried out with 2% caustic soda solution.
[Main Evidence] The incubation period of naturally infected canine infectious hepatitis is about 7 days. The most acute cases died within hours after symptoms of vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea occurred. Acute cases include symptoms such as depression, chills, body temperature rising by about 40.5°C, loss of appetite, preference for water, vomiting, and diarrhea. Subacute cases have mild symptoms. In addition to the mild symptoms in the acute phase above, anemia, jaundice, pharyngitis, tonsillitis, and swollen lymph nodes can also be seen. The characteristic symptoms are corneal edema, turbidity, and blue discoloration of the cornea in the eyes. It is also called "blue eye disease" clinically. The eyes are half-closed, tears are shed due to embarrassment, and a large amount of serous secretions flow out. The characteristic of corneal opacity is that it extends from the center of the cornea to the surroundings. Severe cases can lead to corneal perforation. During the recovery period, the turbid cornea slowly subsides from the periphery to the center. Most dogs with subsided turbidity can heal on their own, and the mucous membranes can be seen to have varying degrees of jaundice.
[Treatment] The principle of treatment for this disease is emergency injection of hyperimmune serum, liver protection, prevention of secondary infection, and comprehensive measures such as symptomatic and supportive therapy.
Traditional Chinese medicine should clear away heat and remove dampness, soothe the liver and promote gallbladder. You can use 30g of wormwood, 30g of Bupleurum, 15g each of Qingpi and Citrus aurantium, 20g of Gentian, 15g of white peony root, and 10g of licorice, decoction and take it by gavage; you can also use Bupleurum, rhubarb, skullcap, Polygonum cuspidatum, turmeric, black plum, and white peony root. , Salvia miltiorrhiza, red peony root, Citrus aurantium, Pinellia ternata, decoction in water, 1 dose per day, 3 doses as a course of treatment.
In the treatment of integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine, hyperimmune serum can be injected into Tianmen and Ganshu points; antibiotics can be injected into Dazhui, Danshu, Sanjioshu and Pishu points; for dogs with keratitis, a mixture of gentamicin and lidocaine can be injected into the temples; Inject Yinzhihuang injection intravenously.
[Prevention] Regularly immunize dogs. Currently, both domestically produced five-unit vaccines and imported six-unit vaccines can be used to prevent this disease.
