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Blue Eye in Dogs

Blue Eye in Dogs

Infectious Canine Hepatitis (Canine Adenovirus Type 1)

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Updated on September 26, 2024
SUMMARY OF CONTENT
Blue eye is a term used to describe cloudy corneas as a result of an infection from canine adenovirus type 1.
SEVERITY:
Severity is mild to severe
  • Diagnosis Icon
    Requires a diagnosis by a veterinarian
  • Time to Cure
    Resolves within days to weeks.
  • Treatment Icon
    Treatable by a veterinarian
  • Prevention Icon
    Vaccination can help prevent this disease but most vaccine in the US protect against CAV2 and this disease is more likely to occur with CAV1.
  • Spread Icon
    Transmission occurs via nasal contact or through objects that have been exposed to the virus.
  • Lab Icon
    Diagnosis requires physical examination, blood testing.
VERY COMMON IN
Young dogs, due to a weak immune system, are most susceptible to infection

Symptoms & Signs

About 7-10 days after exposure to the virus, the corneas appear blue or very hazy (Blue Eye). You may notice that your pet is squinting and the eye may produce excessive tears. Puppies are more susceptible to infection than adults due to their juvenile immune system. Signs such as lethargy, poor appetite, nausea, jaundice (a yellowing of the skin, eyes, and mucous membranes) and bloating may be seen if the liver is severely affected by the adenovirus infection. Young dogs, because of a weak juvenile immune system, are most susceptible to infection with canine adenovirus. Adult dogs can become infected but this is far less common, especially in dogs that have been vaccinated against the virus. There is no breed of dog that is more prone to infection than other dog breeds.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis begins with physical examination, history and laboratory testing. If canine adenovirus infection is suspected based on these findings, more testing may be recommended by your veterinarian which may include ultrasound, x-rays and viral blood testing.

Causation

During infection with canine adenovirus, viral particles enter the bloodstream and cause infection within the eye itself. As the virus replicates within the inside of the eye, the immune system sends in cells to fight the infection which cause fluid to accumulate within the eye and cause the hazy appearance, hence the name “Blue Eye.” Blue eye is one change that occurs due to the viral infection, but the most significant damage occurs to the liver. This is why this disease is also known as infectious canine hepatitis.

Treatments

icon AT-HOME CARE
Supportive care at home will be necessary to help your pet recover.
icon SUPPORTIVE CARE
At home supportive care may include subcutaneous fluid administration and antibiotic administration prescribed by your veterinarian.
icon MEDICATIONS
Dependent on the severity of the viral infection. Dogs may be given IV fluids, antibiotics, liver antioxidants and other medications to help manage the secondary effects of liver damage.
icon DEVICES
None
icon SURGERY
None
icon SPECIALISTS
Most general practice veterinarians can diagnose and treat the condition. A veterinary internal medicine specialist or ophthalmologist may need to be consulted with for more complicated cases.

Cost Of Treatment

Varies greatly on the severity of the infection and what treatment is required. Hospitalization (if warranted) greatly increases the cost of treatment versus at home therapy.

Recovery

Depending on the severity of the infection, most patients recover. The blue haze in the eye often resolves within weeks, but in many cases the blue haze is permanent.

Monitoring

Rechecking the eye and liver values is recommended depending on the severity of the infection and if there are secondary complications.

Prevention

Vaccination is protective and very safe however most CAV vaccines in the US are targeted against CAV2. This vaccine is typically given in a series of four, starting at 6-8 weeks of age. The adenovirus vaccination is considered a core vaccine for all puppies and is part of the canine distemper/adenovirus/parvovirus combination vaccine.

Questions about Blue Eye in Dogs

My dog I heated uses tampon is it an emergency

Unfortunately I'm having a little trouble understand your question as I'm not sure what you mean by "My dog I heated uses tampons..." I'm wondering if Bella ate a tampon or if you wanted to use one on her while she is in heat. I will answer both to be safe. If she ate a tampon, then yes this is a medical emergency and she has to see a vet now. Tampons can easily cause obstructions in the GI tract, especially since they are absorbent and can get large in the stomach from liquid in there. if Bella ate a tampon, you need to take her into a vet immediately to get it removed. If she is on heat, no you cannot use a tampon to control her bleeding. It's not safe to use at all, and are not meant for dogs. You can put a diaper on her to catch any bloody discharge. There are dog specific diapers online and at pets stores, or you can use one made of a human child. Just cut a hole in it for her tail. Hopefully this answers your question. If it doesn't, I'm sorry and ask you post again in the forum for free to it can get answered!

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I have a cat that as a kitten was very ill. We got him from 7 months old. We knew he’d had cat flu prior to him coming here. He is now nearly 5 yrs old. He picks huge fights with our other cat. He keeps urinating and scratching at doors and windows around the house. We allow him to go out via the cat flap unlimited. What is happening to him

I'm glad to see that Pippin has been neutered because this eliminates that possibility of hormone-fueled behavioral changes and aggression. Behavioral changes in cats can occur at any point in time, and could be related to anxiety or stressful situations (even rearranging furniture or introducing new people to the home can be stressful to cats). Without a lot more information and observing Pippin's behaviors, I can't precisely tell you why these changes are occurring. It may be best to consult a veterinary behaviorist in your home so that they can observe everything firsthand. You can also try using calming pheromone collars or diffusers (Feliway is one example), and discussing the use of anxiety medication with Pippin's vet. I hope that all goes well!

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Hi! My cat was recently diagnosed with diabetes. He’s taking insulin and taking antibiotics for a Uti. It’s been 4 weeks and he wobles when he’s walking. He can’t jump up on the bed like he used to.He’s blood sugar is 250 it’s better than it used to. I don’t understand why he’s so wobbly.

Cats can develop what's called diabetic neuropathy, where their hindlegs become progressively weak. The best thing to do is try to get his diabetes under control as quickly as possible. Here is a link describing the conditon: http://www.diabeticcatcare.com/DCCCOK/Neuropathy.htm

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My senior cat has metastized cancer.17 yrs old. My vet gave her predizone1 and one half tabs a day.i wanted to know if i can just stop the meds.

Is there a reason you want to stop the prednisone? I would recommend not stopping it and if you feel it is better to stop the prednisone then I would recommend weaning off of the prednisone. I would discuss how to wean the prednisone with your veterinarian. Thank you for using Boop by Petco.

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My dog has an ear infection

Sorry to hear Marley isn't doing so well with his ears. It is not possible to tell from tge picture tve exact nature of the irritation but if it is indeed infected (typically red, hot, painful and smelly), he will need prescription medication from his regular vet. In the meantime I recommend gently cleaning tge outer war with cotton wool and a pet safe ear cleaner to reduce the build up of wax/discharge

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My dog vomited a pinkish colour. Does this look like blood vomit? She doesn’t have diarrhoea or anything else. Yesterday i fed her plain chicken with rice.

That is very red vomit, however, this color could be linked to a number of things including blood in the vomit, inflammation of the GI tract, having chewed on a toy this color, eaten a food item this color, or gotten into a plant or other item this color. If the vomiting continues, worsens, or other symptoms appear such as a painful or bloated abdomen, diarrhea or blood in the stool, or severe distress, I would schedule a veterinary appointment right away to rule out more severe issues. In the meantime I would continue the bland diet for 24 hours, and monitor for any additional vomiting or illness symptoms.

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Disclaimer

The information contained on this page is for educational purposes only. This medication should only be given under the advice of a veterinarian who has examined your pet under the laws applicable to your state of residence.