Anaplasmosis

Anaplasmosis and Ehrlichiosis

There are three phases to the disease. The acute phase, which develops within 2-4 weeks of the tick bite, may involve the liver, spleen and lymph nodes. Possible symptoms include fever, weakness, joint pain, anemia, low platelet count and unexplained bruising. In the subclinical phase, a dog may only show slight anemia or a decreased platelet count. Dogs may eliminate the organism during this phase, or progress to the chronic phase. The chronic phase develops 1-4 months after the tick bite and can be mild or severe. Clinical signs could include weight loss, anemia, bleeding, fever, and fluid accumulation. Symptoms characteristic of the chronic phase may even wax and wane. We are fortunate to have a new Accuplex test for this disease, which also tests for Heartworm and Lyme disease. However, because some dogs may continue to test positive for years after an anaplasmosis infection, it is not always possible to determine which dogs need to be treated based on the antibody test alone (ie we can’t tell if the test continues to remain positive because of a single previous infection or is a new exposure). Therefore, we recommend that all dogs that test positive for the first time either receive antibiotic therapy or have a CBC (complete blood count) performed to check for any platelet abnormalities. Dogs that show continued repeat positive antibodies should have only a CBC performed. Many dogs will test positive for years but never show signs of illness. Prevention against tick-borne diseases like Lyme disease and Anaplasmosis is essential. We recommend avoiding areas where ticks are abundant like wooded areas or places with tall grass, especially during the spring and fall months. We recommend using Nexgard, a monthly oral product or topical Advantix II or Frontline Plus or a Preventic tick collar. It is important to note that although both people and cats can become infected with Anaplasmosis secondary to tick bites, you cannot get infected from a pet. Information concerning human infections with these organisms is available on the CDC website.