Ehrlichiosis is a serious tick-borne disease seen in dogs across the Southeastern and Southwestern US. Early detection and treatment are essential in order to stop the disease from advancing to its more severe stages. Our Lithia Springs vets explain the stages, symptoms and treatments for ehrlichiosis in dogs.
Ehrlichiosis In Dogs
Ehrlichiosis is a disease found throughout the United States and Canada that develops in dogs after they have been bitten by an infected brown tick. The organism which is spread by the ticks and causes the disease (Ehrlichia canis or E. canis) is considered endemic to the southeastern and southwestern states. Because most antibiotics can't reach the inside of the cell where the Ehrlichia bacteria live, this illness can be challenging to treat.
Ehrlichiosis Symptoms in Dogs
There are 3 main stages of Ehrlichiosis in dogs and each stage has different symptoms, early disease (acute phase), sub-clinical (no outward appearance of disease), and clinical or chronic (long-standing infection).
Acute Phase
The acute stage of ehrlichiosis can last 2 to 4 weeks, during which the infection is either eliminated or your dog will progress to the sub-clinical phase. Symptoms of the acute stage include:
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Weight loss
- Respiratory distress
- Bleeding disorders (spontaneous hemorrhage or bleeding)
- Fever
- Neurological disturbances (meningitis, unsteadiness on feet)
Sub-Clinical Phase
The sub-clinical phase is often considered the worst phase of ehrlichiosis in dogs because there may be no outward sign of the disease, meaning that it is able to progress undetected.
Sometimes, the disease is detected when the vet notices an issue with excessive or prolonged bleeding from an injection site after taking a blood sample. If the organisms are not eliminated in this stage, your dog’s infection could move to the next stage of clinical ehrlichiosis.
Clinical Phase
Clinical ehrlichiosis takes place when the organism hasn't been successfully eliminated by the immune system in one of the previous stages. This can lead to serious symptoms, including:
- Lameness
- Swollen limbs
- Neurological problems
- Bleeding episodes
- Anemia
- Eye problems (such as blindness or eye hemorrhaging)
This phase becomes extremely serious if the dog's bone marrow (where blood cells are produced) fails. This means that your pet won't be able to create any blood cells they need to sustain life (platelets, white blood cells and red blood cells).
Diagnosing Ehrlichiosis In Dogs
During the early stages of the disease, dogs may test negative for the condition, which makes the infection difficult to diagnose in some dogs.
Because the immune system usually takes 2 to 3 weeks to respond to the presence of the organism, and for antibodies to develop, it may take testing at a later date to detect antibodies and properly diagnose the infection.
Your veterinarian may use a few different tests to find out which species of Ehrlichia are infecting your dog, then send the tests to our lab for analysis. With access to their in-house laboratory, your veterinary team is able to get results quickly and efficiently.
The detection of antibodies, combined with certain clinical signs are your vet’s primary diagnostic criteria. More rarely, the organism will be detected in blood smears or cell samples from the spleen, lungs and lymph nodes. Baseline blood tests, including a blood cell count and chemistry should also be completed.
If anemia (low red blood cell counts, high levels of globulin protein or a low platelet count) are spotted in the blood, this is a good indication that ehrlichiosis is the problem.
Treating Ehrlichiosis
If your pooch is experiencing severe bleeding problems or anemia due to ehrlichiosis, they may need a blood transfusion along with being treated for the disease.
Antibiotics such as the easily accessible and typically well-tolerated doxycycline may be used for about 4 weeks. Depending on your pup’s clinical state and blood parameters, different medications such as steroids may be prescribed.
The short-term prognosis following effective treatment is typically quite good. Once your dog has started being treated, you should be able to see an improvement in your dog's condition within 24 to 48 hours, if the disease was caught in its acute phase or mild chronic phase.
Preventing Ehrlichiosis
When it comes to preventing tick-borne diseases, prevention is always the best step. By using a vet-recommended tick prevention product, you can try to ensure there are no ticks in your dog’s environment. The right tick prevention for your dog will depend upon your pup's risk of exposure to disease causing ticks and other factors. Speak to your vet to find out more.
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.