Dogs / Health
If there is one tick borne disease that deserves real attention in India, it is ehrlichiosis. Unlike tick paralysis, this is genuinely common here, carried by the brown dog tick, a species found throu
If there is one tick borne disease that deserves real attention in India, it is ehrlichiosis. Unlike tick paralysis, this is genuinely common here, carried by the brown dog tick, a species found throughout the country in both urban and rural settings.
Ehrlichiosis moves through three general stages: an acute phase within the first few weeks of infection, a subclinical phase where the dog appears outwardly healthy while the organism persists, and, in some dogs, a serious chronic phase that can develop months or years later.
In its chronic form, ehrlichiosis can suppress the bone marrow, leading to dangerously low counts of platelets and other blood cells, weight loss, bleeding tendencies, and a generally poor outlook once this stage is reached. German Shepherds appear to be particularly prone to developing this severe chronic form.
Diagnosis usually combines bloodwork, which often shows a notably low platelet count, with a specific blood test for the organism. The good news is that acute and subclinical ehrlichiosis generally responds well to a several week course of doxycycline, with most dogs improving significantly within days of starting treatment. The chronic form is harder to treat successfully, which is exactly why catching this disease early matters so much.
Reliable, year round tick prevention is the single most effective step, alongside routine checks after walks, particularly around the ears, between toes, and in the groin, favourite hiding spots for the brown dog tick.
Q: Can a dog be reinfected with ehrlichiosis after treatment? A: Yes, successful treatment does not grant lasting immunity, so ongoing tick prevention remains essential even after recovery.
Q: Can ehrlichiosis spread directly between dogs? A: No, it requires a tick bite to transmit, it does not spread through direct dog to dog contact.
Article content © Ravi Teja. All rights reserved.
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