A Disease That Could Be Silently hurt Your Dog

 

Clinical sign of E.canis in dog-Before the treatment

                                     Animal was getting recover from the disease after the treatment

What is It?

* Canine ehrlichiosis, commonly referred to as E. canis is an infectious blood disease that is transmitted in saliva of the brown dog tick.
* E. canis is diagnosed most frequently in areas having natural brown dog tick populations.

What are the Symptoms?

* E. canis has three phases -- acute, subclinical and chronic.
* Signs of the disease will vary with each state making diagnosis of E. canis nearly impossible based on symptoms alone.
* Acute Phases -- signs are similar to symptoms of many other more common diseases and are often mild, going unnoticed by a pet's owner. Signs include: fever, discharge from eyes and nose, lack of appetite, depression, weight loss, and swollen lymph glands.
* Subclinical Phase -- while this phase can last for years, dogs may never show any obvious symptoms.
* Chronic Phase -- this stage can be either mild or severe. If mild, the disease appears to mimic a vague illness and dogs show signs of obvious weight loss. If this phase is severe, signs include eye disease, spontaneous nosebleeds, retinal bleeding,red blood patches on abdominal area and swelling of limbs.

Is it Easily Diagnosed?

"There are more cases of E. canis than most dog owners, and even some veterinarians realize. Left undiagnosed and untreated, the disease can be extremely debilitating for pets, even fatal," says Dr. Rick Alleman, associate professor of Clinical Pathology at the University of Florida, presently studying the effects of ehrlichiosis in humans and domestic animals.
* E. canis is notoriously difficult to diagnose without a veterinarian-administered test.

Can E. Canis be Prevented? Treated?

E. canis can be treated, although both treatment and outcome depend on the severity and progression of the disease. Early detection and treatment can make a big difference in limiting severe disease. Your veterinarian can prescribe the most appropriate medications for treatment, which may include antibiotics, steroids, fluid therapy and blood transfusions.