Tick season is upon us in the Northeast USA. A few months ago I was talking to a colleague and mentioned that I hardly ever see Ehrlichia positive dogs in New Jersey. Well, I guess the ticks must have heard me because this month I am seeing a lot of dogs in New Jersey test positive for Ehrlichia. You need to know about Ehrlichiosis because it can make your dog sick.
What is Ehrlichia?
Ehrlichia is a type of bacteria that is classified as a rickettsial organism. Ehrlichia canis is the most common organism that causes ehrlichiosis, however other strains have been noted.
How is a dog infected with Ehrlichia?
Ehrlichia is spread by an infected tick biting your dog. The long star tick (Amblyomma americanum) and the blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis) are the most common carriers of Ehrlichia. The lone star tick is mainly found in southern USA states and Ehrlichia is considered endemic in those states. However, with increased movement of animals around the USA, the lone star ticks are spreading all over. I personally have noticed that many of the ticks I removed from dogs in my hospital are now long star ticks. These are the easiest tick to identify because they have a white spot on their back.
What symptoms does ehrlichiosis cause?
Ehrlichiosis has three stages: acute, sub-clinical, and chronic.
The acute stage of ehrlichiosis typically last two to four weeks. During this stage dogs will have symptoms of lethargy, fever, lack of appetite, swollen lymph nodes, and possibly bleeding disorders. This is the stage when most dogs present to their veterinarian.
Symptoms will sometimes disappear within a few weeks, even without treatment. These dogs will then pass into the sub-clinical phase. During this phase dogs will act completely normal. However, on laboratory testing these dogs will have abnormalities. This often means that they are prone to blood clotting issues which can cause them to have prolonged bleeding times if injured. Dogs can be in the sub-clinical phase for months to years. Dogs will either self eliminate the infection or they may progress into the chronic phase.
The chronic stage of ehrlichiosis is the most dangerous one. Dogs are likely to develop anemia, bleeding disorders (especially involving eyes), swollen limbs, and neurological issues. If the bone marrow is affected then production of all blood cell lines can be affected and death usually occurs.
How is Ehrlichiosis diagnosed?
Antibody testing is the most common way ehrlichiosis is diagnosed. This can make diagnosis a challenge during early stages of the disease when there are not enough antibodies to make the test positive. There are also ELISA and PCR test that can be used but these are typically reserved for determining the species of ehrlichia causing the disease.
Complete blood counts typically show an anemia, low platelet levels, and elevated globulins.
Is there a treatment for Ehrlichiosis?
Great news is that ehrlichiosis is easily treated with an antibiotic called Doxycyline. Treatment typically needs to be four weeks to clear the infection. Dogs with severe anemia or low platelet levels may require a blood transfusion.
How can I protect my dog from Ehrlichia?
Protecting your dog from getting tick bites is the best way to prevent ehrlichiosis. This means applying a topical flea and tick preventative or using one the newer chewable products. These products should be used year round even in areas that get cold in the winter. Also make sure to check your dog for ticks after they have been outside.
Ehrlichiosis in dogs is not contagious to humans, however infected ticks can bite humans and infect them. When you prevent your dog from getting ehrlichiosis you are also helping decrease the spread of Ehrlichia to more ticks which helps decrease Ehrlichia in your area.
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