Symptoms of Canine Ehrlichia

Canine Ehrlichia can be found in three stages.  The first or acute stage occurs several weeks after the dog has been bitten by a brown dog tick.  This stage can last up to one week.  During the acute stage, symptoms such as depression, discharge from the eyes or nose, loss of appetite, swelling of the legs and lymph nodes, and weight loss can be seen.  A fever is often present during the acute stage. 

The second phase, known as the sub clinic phase appears six to nine weeks after the infection.  Canine Ehrlichia can remain in this stage for several weeks, or years before it reaches a higher level of severity.  The disease can return at any time throughout the life of the dog.

The third and final phase is called the chronic stage.  During this stage, apparent warning signs result in anemia, bleeding and infection in the eyes, and secondary bacterial infections.  Lowered blood cell count experienced during this time may be due to bone marrow suppression.  Some infected dogs exhibit neurological signs when they are going through this phase.