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Canine ehrlichiosis is the second most common infectious disease in the United States, and is spreading every year. Ehrlichiosis is a potentially life-threatening disease your dog can get from several common dog ticks. When an infected tick bites your dog, the feeding site becomes contaminated, potentially infecting the dog with a parasite. Ehrlichiosis can also affect humans, tho there are no proven cases of direct transmission of the ehrlichiosis parasite from dogs to people.
If left undetected and untreaed, your dog can suffer symptoms ranging from mild to severe, depending on the phase of the infection and your dog's physical reaction to the parasite. Symptoms include:
- Loss of appetite
- Runny nose or eyes
- Depression
Ehrlichiosis can result in permanent blindness, autoimmune diseases, bleeding complications, and even death.
 The most effective prevention of infection is to control your dog's exposure to common ticks. Your veterinarian can recommend a topical tick prevention and control product for your dog. There is currently no vaccine available for ehrlichiosis, so prevention and regular testing are very important. Your dog can be tested for exposure to ehrlichiosis during annual check-ups, with a quick and safe blood test.
So schedule an annual physical exam and blood test, or if you suspect your dog has been exposed to ticks, call our office at 293-1993. Our friendly and compassionate staff is dedicated to helping you protect your pet, and can provide products and techniques to reduce exposure to ticks, and can test for tick-borne illnesses and parasites, quickly and safely.
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