Early Detection of Dangerous Tick Disease Important
by Nayarit Editor Tara A. Spears
It’s amazing to see so many travelers bringing their beloved fur-baby with them for their Mexican vacation. Even if the animal is only here a week, that’s enough time to come into contact with the insidious brown tick that has been spreading north from the tropics. Tick-transmitted infections are an increasing problem in dogs. In addition to causing serious disease in traditional tropical and semi-tropical regions, they are now increasingly recognized as a cause of disease in dogs in temperate climates. Spring and summer are peak infection time so it’s a good time to become aware of this disease and take precautions.
According to Janice Gonzalez, with the Puerto Vallarta SPCA , as early as in 2016, “over 80% of street or homeless dogs have contracted ehrlichia via the bite of the brown tick.” Anyone living in a warm climate, such as along coastal Mexico, should take their dog to the vet to be treated for parasites. The standard vet administered tests are for moquillo (Canine distemper) and parvo (Canine parvovirus, a highly contagious viral disease). But, due to the prevalence of ticks you should request a test for the presence of ehrlichia.
Please beware! “Ehrlichia is insidious and, unfortunately, it is not always apparent that a dog has been infected. As a result, some dogs are living with an internal time bomb. Undiagnosed and untreated, this disease can ultimately kill your companion animal as internal organs shut down accompanied with internal hemorrhaging,” explained Ms. Gonzales. “The good news is that when the disease is treated, there is a high probability the dog will recover without any further health issues.”
The key here is early detection and treatment. This is a cautionary tale warning everyone to also have the vet administer a SNAP test to screen for heartworm disease, Lyme disease, and ehrlichiosis. (Note: SNAP tests are a group of quick, convenient, blood tests that can be performed at your veterinarian’s office.) Having your pet receive periodic testing is a good way to identify dogs that have been infected. Even dogs that receive year-round tick control products and don’t spend a lot of time outside are at risk for exposure to tick-borne diseases. Testing helps identify dogs that need treatment. Since dogs can be re-infected, ALL canines should be tested on a regular basis. Dogs get ehrlichiosis from the brown dog tick, which passes an ehrlichia organism into the bloodstream when it bites. 
According to the Veterinary Information Network, Ehrlichiosis has three phases of illness: acute, subclinical, and chronic. The Acute Phase: This is generally a mild phase and occurs one to three weeks after the host is bitten by the tick. The dog may have some or all of the following symptoms or may exhibit no noticeable symptoms. The dog may be listless, off food, and may have enlarged lymph nodes. There may be fever as well but rarely does this phase kill a dog. Most dogs clear the organism if they are treated in this stage but those that do not receive adequate treatment will go on to the next phase.
SUBCLINICAL PHASE: In this phase, the dog appears normal. The organism has sequestered in the spleen and is essentially hiding out there. During this phase you may be able to feel the enlarged spleen. Dogs can stay in this phase for months or even years.
CHRONIC PHASE: In this phase the dog gets sick again. Up to 60% of dogs infected will have abnormal bleeding. There may be deep inflammation in the eyes. Neurologic effects may also be seen as well as urinary problems. It can also lead to arthritis. Untreated it can lead to death.
Once diagnosed, the vet will put the dog or cat on antibiotics. Doxycycline, an antibiotic effective in the treatment against ehrlichia, has a convenient dosing schedule. Expect at least a month of treatment to be needed. Response is initially rapid (improvement is notable in the first few days). Based on the progression of the disease additional treatment with corticosteroids may also be used to palliate the situation while the antibiotics are starting to work.
After infection, it is possible to become re-infected; immunity is not lasting after a previous infection. Add giving SNAP tests periodically to all dogs that come to an infected area in order that proactive treatment for the infection can begin immediately. The earlier the detection, the more successful the animal’s chance of recovery will be.
