The aim of presented preliminary studies was the application of PCR for rapid and accurate diagnosis of CAV-1 infection in dogs. The 301 bp PCR product of CAV-1 was demonstrated in two lung and liver homogenates collected post-mortem from two dogs. The comparable studies of cytopathic effect evaluated at the 10th passage of homogenates in MDCK cells and PCR revealed 100% accordance of the results obtained by both tests. The simple and fast isolation of viral DNA with the use of Chelex was used in the presented studies. This modification of PCR procedure could also be used in field veterinary laboratories as a valuable method for detection of CAV-1 infection in dogs.