By Jon Dunkerley

“inflammation of the liver, usually caused by a viral infection, although drugs and toxins can also cause it.”

Hepatitis, is a disease that we mainly associate with humans, but can also be present in dogs. It is a very serious liver disorder that in the canine case, is caused by the CAV-1 virus, which is nonzoonotic. (Animal to human transmition.)

The CAV-1 virus spreads like a lot of viruses spread. It will replicate in the lymph nodes of the dog and from there, will spread into the bloodstream. Upon entering into the blood stream of the dog, the virus will begin to attack certain body organs, mainly, the liver, eyes, and the kidneys.
Once a dog contracts the disease, there is no cure. This puts a great emphasis for the need for vaccinations against it. Unfortunately, one can have a hard time telling if a dog that has the disease actually has it as some show little to no symptoms, while others get quite sick.
Symptoms

- vomiting

- diarrhea

- weight loss

- jaundice

- depression

- weakness

In most cases, upon the dog contracting and varification of the disease being present, all that can be done is to treat the symptoms that are shown, provide antibiotics to prevent secondary infections and hope for the disease to pass. Once passed, the dog is immune for the rest of its life from recontracting the infection.

via dogflu.ca