Most animals infected with CAV-1 will recover without any treatment, unless the infection progresses to a severe widespread disease. Dogs with uncomplicated cases or mild disease usually recover after an illness of three to five days. In dogs with disease involving many different organs, the prognosis is guarded. The animal may die in these cases from hepatic coma or shock.
Supportive therapy is given until there is time for the liver to heal.
The dog's liver has a large capacity for regeneration. If the dog survives the acute form of the disease, liver regeneration will occur, and proper liver function will be maintained. Some dogs will develop chronic active hepatitis and hepatic fibrosis from chronic infections in severe cases. In these cases, the liver cannot heal properly, and this may result in altered liver function for the rest of the dog's life. An animal that survives the disease and is no longer showing any symptoms will continue to shed virus in the urine for at least six to nine months after it recovers.