Canine coronavirus is a highly contagious virus often transmitted in kennels and dog shows. The virus grows in the animal's small intestine and may cause gastrointestinal problems. Adult dogs that develop symptoms of an infection usually get diarrhea and related symptoms that pass within a short time period without medical intervention.
Puppies, however, can develop more severe clinical signs and can become severely dehydrated, requiring the administration of intravenous or subcutaneous fluids. Because of the inflammation of the small intestine caused by the virus, antibiotics are often given to treat bacteria and toxins that may escape from the intestines into the blood.
Canine coronavirus is passed on when a susceptible dog or puppy ingests feces from a dog that has the virus. It can be prevented by a vaccine.
