Our hospital tests for tick borne disease during routine yearly screening for heartworm disease using the IDEXX SNAP® 4Dx® Plus Test, a rapid, in-clinic ELISA used to screen for vector-borne diseases in dogs. It is a point-of-care assay that detects antibodies to three tick-borne pathogens and antigen from heartworm.
Anaplasmosis is a tick-borne disease caused by the bacteria Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Anaplasma platys. Anaplasma phagocytophilum predominantly affects white blood cells, while Anaplasma platys affects platelets. The clinical signs of Anaplasma infection can vary depending on which species of Anaplasma is involved and the extent of the infection. Symptoms may include fever, lethargy, decreased appetite, joint pain, and bruising (due to decreased platelets). Treatment involves oral antibiotics; however, disease can be prevented by avoiding tick bites through the use of tick preventatives, avoiding areas infested with ticks, and regular grooming to promptly remove any ticks.
Ehrlichia is a tick-borne disease that affects dogs. Ehrlichia canis is the most common species and is transmitted through the bite of the brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus). Symptoms vary depending on the stage of the disease. It can be divided into acute, subclinical, and chronic phases: Acute phase: Fever, lethargy, loss of appetite, swollen lymph nodes, enlarged spleen, bleeding disorders (e.g., nosebleeds, bruising), and joint pain and lameness. Subclinical phase: Dogs may not show any obvious symptoms but can have mild or intermittent clinical signs. Chronic phase: Weight loss, chronic fever, anemia, eye and neurological problems, and kidney issues. Diagnosis is based on clinical signs, complete blood count (CBC), PCR (polymerase chain reaction) or antibody testing. Treatment involves a course of antibiotics. In severe cases, supportive care such as fluid therapy and blood transfusions may be necessary. Prevention includes avoiding tick bites through the use of tick preventatives, avoiding areas infested with ticks, and regular grooming to promptly remove any ticks.
Lyme Disease is a caused by bacteria (Borrelia burgdorferi) transmitted by ticks. Treatment is targeted at controlling the active infection. Symptoms of this infection include limping, swollen joints, fever, decreased appetite, or lethargy. Rarely, signs of increased thirst and urination from kidney disease can occur. Vaccinating for Lyme disease is recommended in hunting and working dogs, or dogs in endemic areas. Vaccination of Lyme disease positive dogs is also recommended when the risk of reinfection is high. Lyme vaccines appear to prevent seroconversion or illness in most vaccinates (although, this is not consistent among all dogs). Prevention includes avoiding tick bites through the use of tick preventatives, avoiding areas infested with ticks, and regular grooming to promptly remove any ticks.