While Lyme disease tends to be the headliner when it comes to tick-borne diseases in dogs, ehrlichiosis is equally serious and common. It is transmitted by the brown dog tick, as opposed to the black-legged deer tick that carries Lyme. Bacteria known as Ehrlichia canis is the pathogen transferred by the tick that causes ehrlichiosis.
Ehrlichiosis was first found on military dogs returning from Vietnam, but it is now endemic in the southeastern United States. That said, brown dog ticks are present throughout North America.
Prognosis is good when ehrlichiosis is diagnosed early, with an estimated 95% survival rate. Note: German Shepherd Dogs and Siberian Huskies seem to be especially susceptible to Ehrlichia canis and may develop more severe cases.
Symptoms
When a dog is acutely ill with ehrlichiosis, the symptoms include:
- Fever
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Bleeding problems (subcutaneous hematomas, spontaneous nosebleeds, or tiny hemorrhages in the groin area)
Chronic ehrlichiosis signs include:
- Lameness
- Neurologic problems
- Vision changes
- Swollen limbs
- Weight loss
- Lethargy
Since these symptoms fit a variety of illnesses, including other tick-borne diseases, your veterinarian will need to do some bloodwork to determine the exact cause. Fortunately, ehrlichiosis is one of the four diseases – Lyme, heartworm, anaplasmosis, and ehrlichiosis – that can be caught by in-office rapid screening tests available at many vet clinics.
Treatment
Because the disease is caused by bacteria, it is susceptible to antibiotics. Doxycycline is currently the antibiotic of choice, given for 30 days. Dogs with severe cases of anemia from this infection may need blood transfusions.
The best way to avoid ehrlichiosis is to use a tick preventive or repellant. If you live in an area with lots of tick activity, do a quick check of your dog daily to remove any ticks you find.
