Ehrlichiosis in Dogs: Symptoms, Treatments & Prevention

Ehrlichiosis in dogs is a bacterial disease spread through tick bites. The US has seen a recent surge in ehrlichiosis infections, which can cause serious complications in dogs if left untreated. As canine ehrlichiosis can often go undetected until the later stages, prevention and early diagnosis are essential for a positive outcome. Read on to learn how to protect your dog and what signs to look out for.

What is Ehrlichiosis in Dogs?

Canine ehrlichiosis is a bacterial disease that affects dogs. It’s most commonly caused by the Ehrlichia canis bacteria, which is transmitted through the bite of infected brown dog ticks. These ticks can be found all over the US, but the southeastern and southwestern states are particularly high-risk areas.

You might also hear ehrlichiosis in dogs referred to as tracker dog disease or tropical canine pancytopenia. That’s because it became well-known in the 1970s when military dogs returning from Vietnam were found to be infected in high numbers.

Cases of ehrlichiosis in dogs have risen sharply in recent years. This is partly due to the resilience and adaptability of the brown dog tick, and partly due to temperature increases caused by climate change; thanks to its tropical origins, the Ehrlichia canis bacteria thrives in warmer temperatures.

Ehrlichiosis Symptoms in Dogs

There are three stages of ehrlichiosis in dogs: acute, subclinical, and clinical/chronic. Here, we’ll explain how to spot ehrlichiosis symptoms in dogs at each stage.

Acute stage

This early stage of canine ehrlichiosis typically lasts two to four weeks. In many cases, there are few or no signs of ehrlichiosis in dogs at this stage. If present, they tend to be mild and not specific to ehrlichiosis, which can make the condition harder to diagnose. They can include:

• Fever 
• Lethargy 
• Loss of appetite 
• Unsteadiness or limping 
• Swollen lymph nodes (glands)
• Spontaneous bleeding (e.g. nosebleeds)
• Petechiae (tiny, red dots caused by bleeding under the skin)

Subclinical stage

If left untreated, ehrlichiosis in dogs can progress to the subclinical stage. At this stage, symptoms are usually still mild, if present at all.

Unlike in the acute stage, there may now be signs of the infection in a dog’s bloodwork. However, with no outward signs or symptoms, there may be nothing to prompt these tests, and so the infection can continue undetected.

Clinical/chronic stage

At this stage, moderate and severe symptoms will usually start to show. These can include:

• Frequent and recurring infections
• Weight loss
• Anemia (low red blood cell count)
• Spontaneous bleeding and hemorrhage 
• Vision problems and blindness 
• Lameness
• Swollen limbs 
• Widespread inflammation 
• Bone marrow damage 
• Kidney, liver and lung damage

Although any dog can develop ehrlichiosis, German Shepherds, Siberian Huskies, Doberman Pinschers are often cited as being more susceptible to developing a more severe or chronic form of the disease.

How is Canine Ehrlichiosis Diagnosed?

To diagnose ehrlichiosis in dogs, vets will usually perform a physical examination and a blood test to check for antibodies. These are special proteins created when the immune system encounters a pathogen, like the Ehrlichia canis bacteria.

It can take some time after first exposure for the immune system to create antibodies, so an antibody test for Ehrlichia canis might be negative if your dog was only recently exposed. If your vet still suspects ehrlichiosis after a negative antibody test, they may recommend repeating the test in a few weeks to confirm.

Because of the potential complications of ehrlichiosis in dogs, your vet may want to do additional tests to check your dog’s health. These may include:

• A full blood count to check the levels of blood cells and platelets. 
• Blood testing to check liver enzymes and immune proteins.
• Urine testing to check for protein in the urine (a sign of kidney damage).

How is Canine Ehrlichiosis Treated?

Ehrlichiosis in dogs is typically treated with a course of doxycycline or tetracycline. These are safe, effective antibiotics that kill the bacteria responsible for the infection. Although your dog may show improvement quickly after starting antibiotics, it’s important they finish the full course as the infection can come back. Depending on your dog’s condition, this may be up to four weeks.

Your vet may also recommend supportive treatments for any complications your dog is experiencing. For example, steroids might be needed to manage inflammation, while a blood transfusion may be necessary to treat a hemorrhage.

Preventing Ehrlichiosis in Dogs

To prevent ehrlichiosis 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 ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis, and Lyme disease. 

The following advice can also help to reduce the risk of ehrlichiosis 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. 

Ehrlichiosis in dogs often goes unnoticed until the clinical stage, by which time the complications can be quite serious. That’s why annual vet check-ups are essential, especially if you live in a high-risk area for ticks. Your veterinarian is trained to spot the more subtle signs and symptoms of an early infection, giving you the chance to stop the infection before it becomes chronic.

Protect Your Dog Today with EFFIPRO^® PLUS

If you think your dog has been bitten by a tick, it’s always worth checking in with your vet – even if your dog has no symptoms. The signs of ehrlichiosis in dogs can take some time to show, but prompt action means your vet will be able to catch any problems before an infection progresses. You can also protect your dog with annual check-ups and a flea and tick preventative like EFFITIX^® a simple monthly treatment that prevents tick bites and reduces the risk of tick-borne illnesses.