It’s no secret that warm weather brings back parasites that can threaten the health of dogs. Common infections such as heartworm and Lyme disease, and sometimes newcomers like West Nile virus, can be top-of-mind during seasonal veterinary checkups.

However, just below the radar is a potentially deadly disease that can infect dogs and threaten their owners. It’s called canine ehrlichiosis, and veterinary testing is proving that this dangerous bacterial blood infection is far more prevalent than originally thought.

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.

* While E. canis is most common in the southeastern and south-central United States, it is prevalent in other parts of the country, including northeastern states such as, New York, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut, mid-Atlantic states, including North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama, and southwestern states such as Texas, Arizona and Oklahoma.

In humans, ehrlichiosis was first recognized in 1986, making it the most recent tick-transmitted disease to emerge in the United States. Human ehrlichiosis is likely to be underreported because only 19 state health departments require notification of the disease and no nationwide surveillance program exists. Similarly, canine ehrlichiosis is often under-diagnosed.

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, 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.

* IDEXX Laboratories has developed an in-clinic veterinary testing tool called the SNAP 3Dx test. This three-in-one tool can screen for E. canis as well as heartworm and Lyme disease.

Can E. Canis be Prevented? Treated?

A 2003 survey conducted by IDEXX Laboratories found that E. canis is widespread across the continental United States. Only North Dakota and Washington have no reported incidences. A vaccine to protect your pet against E. canis infection is not available, but pet owners can reduce the risk of infection by controlling ticks or avoiding tick endemic areas.

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.

Courtesy of ARA Content