Dog Ehrlichiosis: Tick-Borne Welfare Threat

Canine ehrlichiosis causes acute and chronic disease with significant welfare implications in dogs throughout the southern United States and tropics.

Key Facts

Ehrlichia canis is transmitted by the brown dog tick which can establish indoors in kennels and homes
Acute phase causes fever, lethargy, nasal discharge, and thrombocytopenia causing bleeding tendency
Chronic ehrlichiosis causes profound bone marrow suppression leading to pancytopenia and potentially fatal infections
Subclinical infection can persist for years before stress or immunosuppression triggers clinical disease
Doxycycline for 28 days effectively treats acute ehrlichiosis with excellent prognosis when initiated promptly

Welfare Considerations

Dogs with acute ehrlichiosis suffer from fever, malaise, and the alarming effects of thrombocytopenia including spontaneous bleeding from the nose and gums. Chronic phase ehrlichiosis causes severe immunosuppression from bone marrow failure leading to life-threatening infections and severe anemia. The long incubation and subclinical phase means many dogs are infected without owners knowing, with disease emerging during stressful events. Geographic expansion of the brown dog tick extends ehrlichiosis risk northward. Year-round tick prevention effective against brown dog ticks prevents ehrlichiosis exposure, and prompt antibiotic treatment of acute cases prevents progression to the more severe chronic form.

What You Can Do

Use year-round prescription tick prevention effective against brown dog ticks in endemic regions
Request ehrlichiosis testing as part of annual heartworm testing using combination tick-borne disease panels
Inspect your home and kennel for brown dog tick infestations and treat the environment if found
Seek immediate veterinary care for dogs showing acute fever and lethargy in tick-endemic regions