Ehrlichiosis Infection in Dogs
Introduction
Ehrlichiosis in Dogs Guide: Veterinary reviewed information that explains Ehrlichiosis in dogs. Get started and see what choices you and your vet can make to successfully manage Ehrlichiosis in Dogs.
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Ehrlichiosis – Definition
Ehrlichiosis is a potentially life-threatening disease that dogs and several other mammals can get from being bitten by ticks that carry infective bacteria. Dogs get ehrlichiosis from several types of bacteria, including Ehrlichia, Anaplasma and Neorickettsia. Certain types of ticks, such as the brown dog tick and the hard-shelled Ixodes tick, carry different kinds of bacteria. The ticks pick up the bacteria when they feed on the blood of an infected animal. Ticks are just carriers, or “vectors,” of the bacteria; they are not actually harmed by them.
There are several different organisms that cause ehrlichiosis in domestic dogs. One of the most common is Ehrlichia canis, which is a species of bacteria that is transmitted to dogs through the saliva of brown dog ticks. Brown dog ticks are found in most tropical and subtropical areas world-wide. They are fairly common throughout the United States. Some species of Anaplasma bacteria also cause ehrlichiosis in dogs. These organisms are carried by hard-shelled Ixodes ticks,
Many dogs show few if any symptoms of illness when they first become infected with bacteria that cause ehrlichiosis. When dogs do become sick, they usually are weak, lethargic and depressed. This happens because their red and white blood cells are being depressed, damaged and destroyed.Signs of ehrlichiosis most commonly are seen during the initial acute phase and in the later chronic phase. Symptoms can develop anytime during the year, although most tick bites occur
The most reliable way to diagnose ehrlichiosis is to identify the infective bacterial organisms in a dog’s blood. Routine blood work, which includes a complete blood count and a serum biochemistry profile, will not identify these bacteria. However, they can be useful to identify low circulating levels of red blood cells, white blood cells and/or platelets. A number of specialized blood tests are available to identify the particular parasites that are causing the dog’s disease.
Dogs with ehrlichiosis often are anemic, which means that they have abnormally low levels of circulating red blood cells and platelets. If a dog is severely anemic, it may be admitted to the hospital and given blood or platelet-rich transfusions until it has stabilized. If a dog is dehydrated, it probably will be given intravenous fluids that contain electrolytes. Antibiotics may be prescribed and given either orally or intravenously. Glucocorticoid medications may be appropriate if