Definition:
Ehrlichiosis is a tick-borne disease that affects dogs. Also known as “canine hemorrhagic fever”, this condition is common and fatal in German Shepherds, but could also affect cats as well.
Diagnosis:
Diagnosis of Ehrlichiosis is achieved through serologic blood testing, blood testing and microscopic blood smear.
Treatment:
Treatment options of Ehrlichiosis include blood transfusion to treat anemia, intravenous fluids to counter dehydration, and medications like doxycycline and tetracycline given in eight weeks upon the onset of the disease. Severe cases of Ehrlichiosis may need steroids.
Symptoms and Signs:
The acute stage of Ehrlichiosis starts 1 to 3 weeks after infection, which could last up to four weeks. Symptoms of acute Ehrlichiosis include bleeding disorders, edema of the scrotum and legs, vasculitis, eye and nose discharge, fever, petechiae and lymphadenopathy.
Chronic Ehrlichiosis symptoms include weight loss, anemia, lameness, coughing, polyuria, dyspnea, thrombocytopenia, polvuria, neurological diseases and retinal hemorrhage and ophthalmic diseases.
Causes:
Ehrlichiosis is usually caused by the organism “Ehrlichia canis”. Some are caused by Ehrlichia chaffeensis.
