After reading Hemopet’s blog post titled “Parvovirus Variants and Vaccines”, one reader noted that W. Jean Dodds did not include the vaccine to protect against infectious canine hepatitis (ICH), a potentially deadly disease caused by canine adenovirus 1 (CAV-1).
Background
ICH – while recognized worldwide – is an uncommon disease in North America. It is found not only in dogs but also can be spread to and amongst bears, coyotes, foxes, lynx, seals and wolves. Typically, infection occurs through ingestion of feces, nasal discharge, saliva or urine of animals shedding the virus.
Signs and symptoms of ICH are:
– apathy
– anorexia
– thirst
– conjunctivitis
– occasional abdominal pain
– vomiting
– fever
– congestion
– discharge from the mucous membranes
– depression
– leukopenia (reduced white blood cell count)
– coagulation disorders
Vaccine Against ICH
The vaccines that protect against CAV-1 are actually those made against canine adenovirus-2 (CAV-2) as they also provide good cross-protection against ICH.
The original CAV-1 vaccine was discontinued years ago because it could induce antigen-antibody complex deposition and a cloudy blue discoloration of the cornea of vaccinated dogs (the so-called “blue eye”).
If you are wondering, the CAV-2 virus typically produces mild respiratory symptoms and is a member of the kennel cough complex.
Reputable veterinary groups, such as the American Animal Hospital Association, include the injectable CAV-2 vaccine to protect against CAV-1 and CAV-2 in their core vaccination protocols.
Why does W. Jean Dodds not include it in her current vaccination protocol?
The Reasoning of W. Jean Dodds
1. The last known documented case of ICH in North America was over fifteen years ago. Clearly, effective vaccination and other mitigation techniques have limited the prevalence of the virus.
2. However, when the CAV-2 injectable vaccine to protect against CAV-1 and CAV-2 infection is added to the canine distemper vaccine (a vaccine W. Jean Dodds strongly recommends), interactions between the two are responsible for a multi-vaccine induced suppression of lymphocyte responsiveness in puppies for at least 10-14 days. Fortunately, this immune suppression does not occur in vaccinated adult dogs.
W. Jean Dodds’ Recommendation
If people think their companion dogs need the CAV-2 vaccine to protect against CAV-2 virus, W. Jean Dodds prefers to give the oral version after the initial set of puppy shots. The second option is to give the intranasal Bordetella combination.
By the way, the intranasal and oral CAV-2 vaccines are intended to help provide cross-protection against ICH as well. Cross-protection also works with the injectable CAV-2 vaccine contained in the combination vaccine products. Regardless, giving injectable combination vaccines to adult dogs should help protect against ICH.
References
Creevy, Kate E. “Overview of Infectious Canine Hepatitis – Generalized Conditions.” Merck Veterinary
Manual, Merck, June 2013, https://www.merckvetmanual.com/generalized-conditions/infectious-canine-hepatitis/overview-of-infectious-canine-hepatitis.
Dodds, Jean. “Kennel Cough Complex: A Complicated Phrase for the Canine Common Cold.” Dr. Jean Dodds’ Pet Health Resource Blog, Tumblr, 25 Oct. 2015,
https://drjeandoddspethealthresource.tumblr.com/post/131891907106/kennel-cough-bordetella#.YEkx2p1KjIX.
Dodds, Jean. “Know Your Bordetella Vaccine.” W. Jean Dodds’ Pet Health Resource Blog, Tumblr, 31 July 2016, https://drjeandoddspethealthresource.tumblr.com/post/148259661186/know-your-bordetella-vaccine#.YEkyMJ1KjIV.
Hornsey, Samuel J., et al. “Canine Adenovirus Type 1 Causing Neurological Signs in a 5-Week-Old Puppy.” BMC Veterinary Research, vol. 15, no. 1, 21 Nov. 2019, doi:10.1186/s12917-019-2173-5,
https://bmcvetres.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12917-019-2173-5.
Phillips, T R et al. “Effects of vaccines on the canine immune system.” Canadian journal of veterinary research Revue canadienne de recherche veterinaire, vol. 53, no. 2, 1989: 154-60, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1255540/.
Sykes, Jane E. “Infectious Canine Hepatitis.” Canine and Feline Infectious Diseases (2014): 182–186, doi:10.1016/B978-1-4377-0795-3.00018-1, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7151783/.