October 5, 2010

Ehrlichia in Dogs

After the tick season comes the surge in the number of Ehrlichia cases. Here are some info on Canine Ehrlichiosis, also known as:

canine rickettsiosis
canine hemorrhagic fever
canine typhus
tracker dog disease
tropical canine pancytopenia


It is a rickettsial disease transmitted by the brown dog tick, Riphecephalus sanguineus. The tick sucks blood from an infected dog and injects it to its victim.

Ticks need blood meal to live and reproduce.



Among the signs seen are:
  • Depression, lethargy, anorexia.
  • Weight loss, fever, inflamed lymph nodes, bleeding tendencies (commonly epistaxis or nosebleed), edema of limbs.

Diagnosis: It is diagnosed by antigen testing. A small sample of blood is collected and the test is done in the clinic. Result is ready within 20 minutes.

Prevention: Tick control. There are many options and products for tick control, including collars, sprays, spot on products. Visit us for more info.