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Ehrlichiosis In Dogs - Symptoms And Treatment Available

27 9:06:17
Canine Ehrlichiosis, also called "tracker dog disease", "canine hemorrhagic fever", "tropical canine pancytopenia", and "canine typhus". It is a tick-borne infection which is caused by a rickettsial organism Ehrlichia canis.

It was during the Vietnam War that the disease gained importance when a large percentage of military dogs suffered from the disease outbreak. Although it can affect any breed and age of dog, the German Shepherd appears to be more prone to developing the condition and a high incidence has been observed in middle-aged dogs.

The main route of transmission of Ehrlichiosis is via the bite of the brown dog tick. Blood transfusion can also be another possible way of disease transmission.

The clinical manifestations and severity of Erhlichiosis in dogs will depend on the species of Ehrlichia and the dog's immune response. There are three phases which have been recognized in canine ehrlichiosis.

The acute form of the disease has been observed to increase during spring and summer. Clinical signs usually appear 1-3 weeks after exposure and may last for 2-4 weeks. The most obvious signs include fever, bleeding disorders including petecchial hemorrhages and vasculitis.

The subclinical form of the disease may last for more than 4 years without the manifestations of any sign of the disease.

The chronic form is manifested by lymphadenopathy, coughing, anemia, vasculitis, lameness, breathing difficulties, thrombocytopenia, ophthalmic diseases, anterior uveitis, polyuria and polydipsia, and problems of the nervous system.

Diagnosis of dog ehrlichiosis is achieved by serologic testing to detect the presence of antibodies against the causative agent. A false negative result is often common during the acute phase of the disease because the body has not yet produced antibodies against the infection. It is for this reason that another serologic test should be conducted when the first test result is negative.

A blood test can reveal abnormal numbers of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.

Microscopic examination of blood smears may reveal ehrlichia organism.

Radiographic examination of the abdomen may reveal an enlarged spleen or liver.

The ehrlichia polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a diagnostic tool which can detect even very small numbers of the parasite.

The treatment regimen for dog ehrlichiosis involves adequate supportive care such as intravenous fluids to correct fluid and electrolyte imbalances and blood transfusion in severely anemic dogs. The drug of choice is the antibiotic doxycyline. Dogs respond well to antibiotic therapy and improvement can be seen very quickly however antibiotic treatment should extend for several weeks to ensure full recovery.

Since immunity to the disease is not long-lasting, dogs that recover from the disease can often have the chance of reinfection.

The best way to protect your dogs from ehrlichiosis is preventing exposure to the tick carrier. Periodic checking for ticks and removing them immediately may prevent inoculation of the causative agent. Dogs should never be allowed to spend time in the woods or areas with tall grasses particularly during the tick season.

Application of tick preventatives or fitting your dog with a tick collar can also help protect your dog against ticks.

There have been a few reports on ehrlichiosis in people but the infection is thought to be cause by tick bites rather acquiring it from an infected dog.