Spend enough time reading about illnesses, and you will no doubt come across a condition that is known as Ehrlichiosis. This particular illness is one that is growing in popularity for people to know about because it has become slightly more prevalent in modern times. This is a particularly dangerous condition that you should look to become knowledgeable about, because combatting the illness is a matter of urgency should you catch it.
What is Ehrlichiosis?
The condition itself is a particularly damaging and dangerous condition that can be delivered to your body by ticks. Ticks are known to be icky and dangerous, not least because they have the risk of spreading a dangerous condition known a Lyme disease. Ehrlichiosis, though, has become another ‘must-watch’ illness that you can get from the wrong kind of tick.
While once upon a time it was a condition mostly seen in American states such as Texas and Oklahoma, it has become more widespread in recent years. The likes of Southern California have reported large rises in the number of Ehrlichiosis incidents, too. The condition itself can be quite damaging and painful, and it can be seriously damaging to our dogs and our animals in particular.
So, if you have a dog at home and you worry about it having troubles with ticks, you might wish to look for a solution ASAP.
What does Ehrlichiosis do?
In a dog, this particular problem will start out as what seems to be a minor, small-scale infection. However, over time the dog will begin to start to suffer from serious issues including feverish temperatures and conditions, a total loss of appetite (a big worry in a dog), and a lack of natural energy overall.
This can, over time, deliver other serious issues. For one, you could find that Ehrlichiosis can develop into a more serious condition known as Thrombocytopenia. This condition can mean that your dog is lacking in platelets in its blood, which can lead to increased bruising and even blood seeping into body tissue. Blood clots can become slower than normal to form, too.
So, as you can imagine, this is some pretty dangerous stuff to be dealing with!
You might also notice issues such as weight loss, pain in their joints, vomiting, and persistent diarrhoea. When you notice any or all of these symptoms, it is time to act.
Dealing with Ehrlichiosis
While you cannot pick up the virus from your dog, it can mean an increased likelihood of being bitten by ticks and thus increasing your risk of issues such as the aforementioned Lyme disease. As such, it is highly recommended that you look to get your dog checked out for ticks on a regular basis. The sooner you can eradicate the issue, the sooner your dog can get on the road to recovery.
Most of the time, your animal will need antibiotics to kill off the infection and get them back to normal. Depending on the severity, though, your dog might need semi-regular blood work to know exactly where he/she is in terms of condition.
Act ASAP, though, if you spot any of the tell-tale signs of Ehrlichiosis listed above.