Ehrlichiosis

A worldwide disease, canine ehrlichiosis, found in dogs is also known as tracker dog disease, troical canine pancytopenia, canine typhus, and canine hemorrhagic fever. While it’s caused by organisms, simply stated it’s bacteria and viruses. Transmitted by the brown dog tick, the tick feeds on animals who have been infected with ehrlichia. When this happens, unfortunately the ehrlichia passes onto that specific animal. Worse yet – the bacteria itself can remain alive in the developing tick for up to five months! Essentially a tick can be infected with the virus and not infect a dog until months down the road.

Since every state in the US has a reported case of ehrlichiosis and it’s transmitted by the Brown Dog tick, the disease can occur where ever brown dog ticks are found.

After a dog is infected with the bite of the infected tick, for one to three weeks certain cells are being invaded by the ehrlichia. Cells in the lymph nodes, spleen, liver, blood and bone marrow may be infected. Then, these areas (i.e., lymph nodes, spleen, liver, etc) are often enlarged. As for some of the symptoms? Fever, depression, lethargy, shortness of breath, and joint pain may occur. Sometimes the dog will eliminate the ehrlichia or bacteria from the body or sometimes, the infection may develop to the next phase. After the brown tick bite has invaded (one to four months after the bite), the dog may suffer weight loss, anemia, bleeding, inflammation of the eyes, and fever. Blood tests will determine certain things such as a decrease in certain types of blood cells.

As for the good news, ehrlichiosis can be diagnosed with an accurate blood test. The test determines the dog’s antibodies to fight off the ehrlichia. If a dog has been bitten recently, antibodies may not be detected in the early phase of the disease since it takes time for the dog’s body to make the antibodies which are produced to fight off the infection. However, as the disease advances the antibody count will increase.

Regarding treatment, antibiotics are frequently used for two to three weeks. Some dogs with ehrlichiosis may actually need blood transfusions. Concerned pet owners who want to diminish ehrlichiosis should invest in tick collars as well as keeping their pet away from wooded areas.

At The Dog Bowl, nothing is more important than your pets’ health and well being. For more information about ehrlichiosis please contact your vet.