Recognizing Canine Ehrlichiosis Symptoms in Your Dog

Canine ehrlichiosis is a tick-borne disease that can cause a range of symptoms in dogs, from mild to severe.

The incubation period of canine ehrlichiosis is typically 1-3 weeks after the tick bite, during which time your dog may not show any obvious signs of illness.

One of the first symptoms of canine ehrlichiosis is fever, which can be accompanied by loss of appetite, lethargy, and weight loss.

Your dog may also experience swollen lymph nodes, particularly in the neck and armpits, which can be a sign of the disease.

In severe cases of canine ehrlichiosis, your dog may develop anemia, which can lead to pale gums, dark urine, and a rapid heartbeat.

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Canine Ehrlichiosis is an infectious disease transmitted by ticks carrying bacteria in the Ehrlichia genus.

These bacteria live inside your pet's white blood cells and the kind of cells they reside in indicates the kind of bacteria one has been infected with.

The types of Ehrlichia bacteria that your dog is infected with depend on the types of tick that they were bitten by.

Two types of Ehrlichia bacteria are most prevalent in the United States, but unfortunately, the article doesn't specify what those types are.

Symptoms of Ehrlichiosis in dogs can range from mild to severe and often don't appear until the acute stage of the disease.

A fever is a common sign of acute Ehrlichia, and dogs with clinical Ehrlichia may also experience a fever.

Dogs in the early stages of Ehrlichiosis may test negative for the condition, making diagnosis challenging.

The immune system typically takes 2-3 weeks to respond to the Ehrlichia organism and develop antibodies, which is why early diagnosis can be difficult.

Abnormal blood work, including anemia, high levels of globulin protein, or a low platelet count, can be a good indication that Ehrlichiosis is the problem.

Ehrlichia Canis is caused by a bacteria that lives in white blood cells called monocytes. This bacteria is primarily carried by the brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus).

The symptoms of Ehrlichiosis, caused by Ehrlichia Canis, can range from mild to moderate.

The brown dog tick can transmit this bacteria to a dog in a relatively short timeframe, likely much smaller than 48 hours.

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Ehrlichia Ewingii is a type of bacteria that lives in white blood cells called granulocytes. It causes a less serious version of Ehrlichiosis.

The lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum) is the primary carrier of this bacteria. Dogs who are infected with this kind of Ehrlichia bacteria often develop milder symptoms.

Symptoms of Ehrlichia Ewingii can include swollen or stiff joints. In some cases, dogs may not even appear to be infected at all.

Symptoms of Ehrlichiosis in dogs can be quite varied and may not always be easy to spot.

Abnormal bruising and bleeding patterns can occur throughout all stages of the disease, but may be difficult for owners to notice.

A fever is a common sign of acute Ehrlichia, but dogs with clinical Ehrlichia may also experience fever.

Hallmark signs of tick-borne diseases in dogs include vomiting, fever, swelling around joints, lameness, and lethargy.

Other symptoms may include diarrhea, muscle pain, swelling in limbs, seizures, fatigue, depression, skin lesions, discharge from the nose or eyes, and weight loss.

These symptoms can occur in both acute and clinical stages of the disease, and may vary in severity.

Here is a list of some common symptoms associated with Ehrlichiosis in dogs:

Lethargy is another symptom that can occur in both the acute and clinical phases of the disease, causing dogs to appear more tired than usual and tire easily after exercise.

In some cases, abnormal neurological symptoms like stumbling, trembling, and difficulty walking may occur in both acute and chronic stages of Ehrlichiosis.

Enlarged lymph nodes are most commonly seen in the acute stage of Ehrlichiosis, as the dog's immune system tries to fight off the infection.

Abnormal blood work usually starts to occur in the subclinical and clinical phases of Ehrlichiosis, as the disease affects the body over time.

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Eye problems are a possible complication of chronic Ehrlichiosis in dogs. The main concern at this stage is the development of blindness.

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, fever, and neurological disturbances.

In some cases, the disease is detected when the vet notices prolonged bleeding from the injection site after taking a blood sample. If the organisms are not eliminated in this stage, your dog's infection may move to the next stage - clinical ehrlichiosis.

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.

Here are the three phases of the disease in a concise list:

The Clinical Phase of Ehrlichiosis is a serious stage of the disease, where the infection is not eliminated by the immune system. This phase can lead to severe symptoms, including lameness, swollen limbs, and neurological problems.

If left untreated, the Clinical Phase can become extremely serious, as the dog's bone marrow fails to produce the blood cells they need to sustain life.

Some common symptoms of the Clinical Phase include bleeding episodes, anemia, and eye problems, such as blindness or hemorrhage in the eyes.

These symptoms can be debilitating for dogs, and prompt veterinary attention is essential to prevent further complications.

Here are some specific symptoms of the Clinical Phase:

The sub-clinical phase of ehrlichiosis in dogs is often considered the worst phase because there may be no outward signs of the disease, allowing it to progress undetected.

Prolonged bleeding from the injection site after taking a blood sample can be the first sign that your dog's infection is present in this phase.

This phase is critical because if the organisms are not eliminated, your dog's infection may move on to the next stage - clinical ehrlichiosis.

Treatment for canine ehrlichiosis is typically very good, especially if caught in its acute phase or mild chronic phase, with improvement visible within 24 to 48 hours after starting treatment.

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Most cases of ehrlichiosis in dogs are successfully treated with antibiotics, which can be a long-term process depending on the severity of the infection.

Your vet will likely prescribe an antibiotic such as doxycycline, which needs to be taken for a month-long course, but you should notice an improvement in your dog's condition within a couple of days.

In severe cases, your dog may need a blood transfusion in addition to antibiotics, and treatment for dogs in the chronic stage can be much more difficult due to their weakened state.

To prevent gastrointestinal issues caused by broad-spectrum antibiotics, probiotics can be prescribed by your vet, so be sure to follow their treatment plan carefully.

Recurring tick diseases can be difficult to control and eradicate, so your dog will still need regularly scheduled blood work to detect any recurrences, so ask your vet how you can help control ticks.

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Even if your dog has already had Ehrlichiosis, they can be reinfected since Ehrlichia immunity isn't lifelong.

Year-round tick prevention medications are the number one defense against Ehrlichiosis in dogs. To find the best medication for your pet, speak to your vet based on where you live, your pet's age, and your dog's lifestyle.

Most ticks are dark brown or black and fairly large once they have begun to feed, so be diligent in inspecting your dog's skin for ticks as soon as you get home, especially if you've been in areas where ticks are known to live.

Dogs get infected with Ehrlichiosis by being bitten by an infected tick, most often a brown dog tick.

The southern part of the United States is where this disease is most commonly seen, including the southwestern and southeastern regions.

It's not just a southern problem, though - dogs can catch Ehrlichia in other parts of the US as well.

In fact, Ehrlichia is prevalent in many parts of the world beyond just the US.

Year-round tick prevention medications are the number one defense against Ehrlichiosis in dogs.

Even if your dog has already had Ehrlichiosis, they can be reinfected since Ehrlichia immunity isn't lifelong.

No tick prevention method is 100% effective, so diligence is always a must.

If your dog has been in areas where ticks are known to live, be sure to inspect your dog's skin for ticks as soon as you get home.

Most ticks are dark brown or black and fairly large once they have begun to feed.

Ticks are intracellular parasites that suck blood from their hosts, and can carry and transmit dangerous bacteria to your dog’s body. These bacteria live inside the cells and can potentially cause many illnesses that infect thousands of dogs every year.

Rickettsial organisms are comprised of small, intracellular bacteria that cause tick diseases such as canine anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis, and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.

Between 1 and 3 weeks after your dog is bitten by an infected tick, symptoms will begin to appear, including fever, bruising or nose bleeds, and poor appetite.

The brown dog tick, lone star tick, American dog tick, and others can carry and transmit canine ehrlichiosis - a disease that’s found throughout the world.

Early diagnosis and successful treatment are key when it comes to tick-borne illnesses, and a number of broad-spectrum antibiotics can be prescribed by your vet in the early stages of disease.

To address the issue of beneficial bacteria being destroyed, probiotics can be prescribed to prevent gastrointestinal issues.

Disease cannot spread between dogs and humans directly, and pathogens need ticks to complete their lifecycle and become infectious.