Cause of Canine Ehrlichia

After Lyme disease, canine Ehrlichia, spread by the brown dog tick is the most well known tick borne disease.  Dogs living in areas with warmer climates tend to show a higher rate of infections.  The southern United States seems to have a higher rate of Ehrlichia than other parts of the country. 

Clinical symptoms of an Ehrlichia infection take one to three weeks to appear after the tick has entered the body.  Warning indicators of an Ehrlichia infection become evident when an infected dog has a lack of appetite causing weight loss and a low grade fever becomes apparent.  Lymph nodes will become enlarged during this phase of the disease. 

The signs of canine Ehrlichia often go unnoticed.  Pet owners often overlook the signs or associate them with another less serious condition.  Dogs diagnosed with Ehrlichia seldom have symptoms severe enough to cause death, although some dogs are considered to be at a higher risk. 

Chronic canine Ehrlichia can lead to bleeding disorders, blood in the stool, bruising, and bleeding in other areas of the body.  In some cases dogs will become anemic, causing them to develop very pale gums and eye tissue.