Anaplasmosis in Dogs: Symptoms, Risks & Treatments

Anaplasmosis in dogs is a bacterial disease transmitted by ticks. Although it can potentially cause serious long-term health issues, anaplasmosis is often easy to treat and has a great prognosis if caught quickly. Read on to learn how to reduce your dog’s risk, how to spot the signs of anaplasmosis in dogs, and when to seek advice from your vet.

What is Anaplasmosis in Dogs?

Anaplasmosis in dogs is a disease most often caused by the Anaplasma phagocytophilum bacteria (and less commonly, the Anaplasma platys bacteria.) The bacteria are transmitted to dogs through the bites of black-legged ticks, most commonly found in the eastern and Midwest US.

Long-Term Effects of Anaplasmosis in Dogs

The bacteria responsible for anaplasmosis live in the white blood cells. These cells are a crucial part of your dog’s immune system, so an infection of this kind can make it difficult for dogs to fight infections. It can also trigger widespread inflammation in the body, which can cause fever, joint pain and, in severe cases, organ damage.

Anaplasmosis in dogs also affects the blood platelets, which play an important role in blood clotting. As a result, the blood is unable to properly clot and dogs can be more prone to bruising and bleeding, including internal bleeding.

Anaplasmosis in Dogs: Symptoms & Signs

The risk of serious long-term effects of anaplasmosis in dogs is much lower if the condition is caught and treated early. For that reason, it’s important to be aware of the following common signs of anaplasmosis in dogs:

• Lameness 
• Joint pain or stiffness 
• Lethargy 
• Loss of appetite
• Dehydration
• Weight loss 
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea 
• Coughing
• Breathlessness or labored breathing

Less common signs include: 

• Nosebleeds 
• Frequent or heavy bruising 
• Bleeding gums 
• Blood in the urine or stools
• Seizures

These signs and symptoms can overlap with other conditions, some of which can also be very serious. To be safe, see your vet so that your dog can receive the right diagnosis and treatment without delay. 

Diagnosing Anaplasmosis in Dogs

To diagnose anaplasmosis, your vet will perform a blood test to check for antibodies. These are special proteins made by the immune system to fight harmful pathogens, such as bacteria.

A positive antibody test doesn’t necessarily mean that your dog has an anaplasmosis infection right now; it can mean that they’ve had one recently. To determine if your dog has an active infection that needs to be treated, your vet will also consider any signs or symptoms your dog is showing. They may also recommend repeating the test at a later date to confirm.

Anaplasmosis in Dogs: Treatment Options

An active case of anaplasmosis in dogs is most often treated with an antibiotic called doxycycline. Most dogs will start to noticeably improve within 24-48 hours of beginning treatment with doxycycline, and the outcome is typically very positive when given as directed.

Doxycycline is usually prescribed for around two weeks, but your dog may need a longer course of up to four weeks if they also have Lyme disease (another tick-borne illness that is common in the same regions as anaplasmosis). Even if their symptoms improve quickly, it’s vital that you keep giving your dog this medication for the full length of treatment. Stopping the course of antibiotics early can allow the infection to come back.

Your vet might recommend additional supportive treatments to manage complications from anaplasmosis. For example, they may provide IV fluid therapy to treat dehydration, pain medications to ease joint pain, or steroids to reduce inflammation.

Preventing Anaplasmosis in Dogs

To prevent anaplasmosis in dogs, always use a flea and tick preventative such as EFFITIX^®. Suitable for dogs aged eight weeks and older, the solution is applied to your dog’s skin every four weeks to prevent tick bites and reduces the risk of tick-borne illnesses like anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis and Lyme disease.

The following advice can also help to reduce the risk of anaplasmosis in dogs:

• Walk your dog on designated trails and avoid wooded areas, tall grass, or thick underbrush, as ticks are more common here. 
• Keep your yard clear of leaf piles, cut the grass regularly, and trim back any dense areas of vegetation. 
• Check your dog’s skin regularly, especially after spending time in grassy, wooded or sandy areas. (Check your skin, too!)
• Remove any ticks promptly with tweezers or a tick removal tool. Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible and firmly pull it straight out, then check that the tick is intact. 
• Avoid skin contact with the tick or its blood, as they can also transmit anaplasmosis to humans. Wear gloves if possible, and use tissue to crush the tick.
• If part of the tick is left under the skin, don’t try to force it out; clean the area with a pet-safe antiseptic twice a day and monitor carefully. If you can’t remove the tick or the bite shows signs of infection (redness, swelling, warmth, discharge), ask your vet for advice. 

Is Anaplasmosis in Dogs Contagious to Humans?

No, humans cannot catch anaplasmosis from dogs.

Like dogs, humans can become infected with anaplasmosis if they’re bitten by a tick carrying the bacteria. Similarly, so can other animals like cats, rabbits, sheep and horses. However, there are no known cases of the disease spreading between humans and animals, or from one animal to another.

A more likely risk is that you or your dog may carry a tick into the home, which can then bite and infect you both. Using a flea and tick preventative and taking other precautions, as discussed above, can help to reduce this risk and keep you both safe.

Remember that other pets in your home can also bring in ticks, so be sure to use a flea and tick preventative for them, too. Always choose a product designed for their species, as many products for dogs are not safe for cats and other pets.

Concerned About Anaplasmosis? Speak to Your Vet Today!

A flea and tick preventative like EFFITIX^® is a simple and effective way to protect your dog from anaplasmosis and other tick-borne illnesses. However, if your dog is showing signs of infection, don’t hesitate to seek advice from your vet. Although anaplasmosis in dogs has the potential to be serious, dogs typically make an excellent recovery if the infection is caught and treated early.