Canine Ehrlichiosis: Tick-Borne Blood Disease Welfare

Key Welfare Facts

Ehrlichiosis is caused by Ehrlichia canis transmitted by the brown dog tick, common in Mediterranean Europe.
Affected dogs show fever, lethargy, lymphadenopathy, and thrombocytopenia causing bleeding tendencies.
Chronic ehrlichiosis causes severe pancytopenia, immune complex glomerulonephritis, and systemic immune disease.
Doxycycline treatment is highly effective when started during the acute phase, achieving rapid clinical improvement.
Dogs travelling to Mediterranean countries are at significant risk and require prophylactic tick prevention.
Imported dogs from southern Europe and Mediterranean rescue dogs represent an increasing UK exposure risk.

Welfare Assessment

Ehrlichiosis causes serious welfare compromise in affected dogs including chronic immune disease in untreated cases. Effective tick prevention for dogs travelling to endemic areas and awareness of risk in imported dogs are the primary welfare protections.

What You Can Do

Use veterinary-approved tick prevention products for all dogs travelling to Mediterranean Europe
Seek veterinary assessment for dogs showing fever with thrombocytopenia, especially post-travel
Request Ehrlichia testing in dogs imported from Mediterranean countries with compatible signs
Commit to the full doxycycline treatment course to prevent progression to chronic disease