While Lyme disease remains the most commonly talked-about tick-related illness for dogs and people, all tick-borne diseases are on the rise in the United States. That means a number of diseases carried by ticks can make your dog (and you) very sick. Ehrlichiosis is a tick-borne disease that impacts white blood cells, and is spread through bites from brown dog ticks, American dog ticks and lone star ticks. This disease may impact dogs, people, wild animals and livestock. So, what exactly is ehrlichiosis? How is it spread? Can you prevent it? Let’s learn more about ehrlichiosis in dogs here.
Does your dog seem unwell? Could it be ehrlichiosis? Photography ©Monica Click | iStock / Getty Images Plus.
Dr. Rick Marrinson, an Orlando veterinarian and board member of the Companion Animal Parasite Council, explains that ehrlichiosis is currently most commonly diagnosed in dogs living in or visiting the Southern United States. The Companion Animal Parasite Council maintains an updated map of the country and what areas are most impacted by ehrlichiosis so you can check risk factors in your area and anywhere you and your dogs might travel. Currently, Oklahoma, Missouri and Arkansas are the most active in terms of ehrlichiosis cases this year. Similarly, it’s anticipated that Southern Virginia and Northern North Carolina will have more active cases in 2018 than in past years.
Symptoms of ehrlichiosis in dogs might be vague and hard to pinpoint. Dr. Marrinson cautions that the symptoms of ehrlichiosis in dogs — which include loss of appetite, fever and lethargy as well as lameness/joint pain, vomiting and diarrhea — can be easily confused with other medical conditions. So, even veterinarians might miss making an accurate diagnosis.
Some dogs don’t show any outward symptoms of ehrlichiosis at all. The Companion Animal Parasite Council also cautions that ehrlichiosis in dogs is potentially fatal if bone marrow is suppressed. Similarly, untreated chronic infection can result in arthritis and abnormalities in immune cells in infected dogs.
“Diagnosis is based on a combination of clinical signs, known exposure to ticks and laboratory testing,” Dr. Marrison explains. “There are ‘patient-side’ tests that can be run immediately in the veterinary clinic that can detect the patient’s antibodies that have formed against the bacteria.”
If your dog was potentially exposed to ticks and is acting unwell or unusual, or if your dog got bit by a tick, have a conversation with your vet about ehrlichiosis. Your veterinarian can do any diagnostic testing she thinks is appropriate based on geographic risks in your area.
“Therapy is typically a month-long treatment with doxycycline and antibiotics,” Dr. Marrinson notes. He also cautions that dogs who have undergone treatment don’t develop any kind of protective immunity. So, there’s an easy chance for re-infection if they’re exposed again.
Unfortunately, there is no vaccine for ehrlichiosis. The best way to prevent ehrlichiosis in dogs is to protect your dog from tick bites. Here are some suggestions:
Sassafras Lowrey is an award-winning author whose novels have been honored by the Lambda Literary Foundation and the American Library Association. Sassafras is a Certified Trick Dog Instructor and assists with dog agility classes. She lives and writes in Brooklyn with her partner, a senior Chihuahua mix, a rescued Shepherd mix, a Newfoundland puppy, two bossy cats and a semi-feral kitten. Learn more at sassafraslowrey.com.
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Sassafras Lowrey | Jul 13th 2018