Canine Anaplasmosis

Canine anaplasmosis is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Anaplasma phagocytophilum.  A. phagocytophilum, formerly known as Ehrlichia equi, is transmitted by several species of ticks, commonly known as deer ticks.  Deer ticks are also known to transmit Lyme disease caused by the organism Borrelia burgdorferi.  It is possible for any given deer tick to be infected with both organisms at the same time.  Anaplasmosis can affect dogs, cats, horses, and humans.  There is currently no evidence that A. phagocytophilum can be passed from dogs to humans.

Signs and symptoms of canine anaplasmosis include fever, lethargy, loss of appetite, lameness, joint pain, and low platelets.  Not all dogs infected with the organism will show clinical signs of anaplasmosis.

Testing for canine anaplasmosis is relatively quick and easy with the SNAP 4Dx Test.  The test requires only a few drops of blood, can be run in the veterinary clinic while you wait, and the results are available in only eight minutes.  In addition to anaplasmosis, the SNAP 4Dx tests for Lyme disease, canine heartworm disease, and Ehrlichia canis infection.  All dogs should be tested annually with the SNAP 4Dx test to screen for these important infectious diseases.

If your dog tests positive for anaplasmosis we recommend checking a Complete Blood Cell Count (CBC) in order to assess your pet's levels of white blood cells and platelets.  If one or both of these cell lines is/are significantly low we recommend treating with a 30 day course of antibiotics.  After seven days of antibiotics we recommend rechecking the CBC to make sure that your pet's cells are responding appropriately.  We then recommend rechecking the CBC in six months to make sure there has been no relapse.  If the initial CBC is normal, we recommend rechecking a CBC in six months to check for delayed infection.

            If you ever have questions regarding any of the above information, please do not hesitate to contact us.  Visit us online at www.WhiteBearAnimalHospital.com.

WHITE BEAR ANIMAL HOSPITAL                           OTTER LAKE ANIMAL CARE CENTER

          1909 East County Road E                                                     6848 Otter Lake Road

       White Bear Lake, MN 55110                                                       Hugo, MN 55038

                  (651) 777-1393                                                                 (651) 426-8871