ANAPLASMOSIS, or TICK FEVER IN DOGS

Anaplasmosis, also called "Tick Fever" or "Dog Fever" is a bacterial infection transmitted when an infected Deer Tick (Black Legged Tick) or Western Black Legged Tick bites your dog and feeds on his blood.  

Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, and anaplasma are all infections that can be carried by ticks and are classified as Tickborne Diseases.

Anaplasmosis, or Tick Fever in dogs

As an infected tick attaches and feeds on your dog's blood it transmits disease into your dog's system.  White tailed deer and small rodents are common carriers of Deer Ticks (Black Legged Ticks).  

Both Lyme disease and anaplasmosis are commonly found in the same geographic locations and are transmitted by the same tick species.

Anaplasmosis and Lyme Disease are both transmitted by the same tick species

One of the scariest things about ticks and the diseases they carry is that a tick can carry more than one tickborne disease. In addition, if a dog is bitten by multiple ticks he can be at risk for contracting more than one tickborne disease at the same time!

SYMPTOMS OF ANAPLASMOSIS:

> Common symptoms of anaplasmosis are Joint pain and stiffness in the legs often seen as lameness, or limping in dogs.  

> Other symptoms include lethargy, loss of appetite, and fever.   

> Pale gums, vomiting, diarrhea,  nosebleeds, and dark stools (due to the presence of digested blood) may also be present.  

Most infected dogs will show symptoms for 1 to 7 days.

TWO TYPES OF BACTERIA CAUSE ANAPLASMOSIS:

* The most common bacteria, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, is transmitted through bites of the Deer Tick (Black Legged Tick) and the Western Black Legged Tick.  This is the bacteria that can cause the joint stiffness and limping symptoms of anaplasmosis.

* A lesser form of anaplasmosis is caused by the Anaplasma platys bacteria and is transmitted by the Brown Dog Tick.  This bacteria contributes to low levels of blood platelets, the small cellular components in blood that help clots to form.  Low platelets can impact proper blood clotting ability and lead to internal bleeding. This can cause some dogs to develop bruising or nosebleeds.

Spring and Fall are peak seasons for Ticks in many parts of the U.S.

The dangers of contracting Anaplasmosis are highest in SPRING through FALL.  In fact, Fall is a peak time for ticks in many regions of the U.S., which many people don't expect. 

DIAGNOSIS:

Dogs with anaplasmosis often have many of the same symptoms as those with Lyme disease, and being infected with both is not uncommon.  Both a physical exam and a blood test can be done by your Veterinarian to test for Anaplasmosis and other tickborne diseases. 

TREATMENT:

There is no vaccine for Anaplasmosis, preventing tick bites is the best way to prevent Anaplasmosis in dogs.  Anaplasmosis is treated with an antibiotic, usually Doxycycline for 30 days.  Dogs usually start showing improvement  in just a few days and prognosis for recovery is good.

Anaplasmosis, or Tick Fever in dogs is treated with antibiotics

HOW TO KEEP YOUR DOG SAFE FROM ANAPLASMOSIS AND OTHER TICKBORNE DISEASES:

Some Tick-borne diseases can be transmitted into your dog’s system in as little as 3 to 6 hours of a tick bite, but Anaplasmosis from Deer Ticks usually takes 48 hrs or more to infect a dog. Early diagnosis and treatment of tickborne diseases is very important.  If not diagnosed and treated in a timely manner Anaplasmosis can result in severe illness.   

Your best protection against  ticks and the diseases they carry is to use good tick control.  I've used two medications that have worked very well for my dogs Icy and Phoebe; 

Simparica Trio is a chewable that protects against ticks, fleas and heartworm. 

 BRAVECTO, is a long lasting (12 weeks) chewable flea and tick control medication.  If you find a tick on your dog, contact your Veterinarian right away.

CAN PEOPLE GET ANAPLASMOSIS FROM DOGS?

Humans can be infected with Anaplasmosis through tick bites as well.  Your dog cannot transmit Anaplasmosis to you, humans get it by being bitten by an infected tick.  According to several news reports, David Letterman contracted Anaplasmosis in 2009 from a tick bite while camping in the yard with his son.  

If your dog is diagnosed with Anaplasmosis, it means that ticks infected with Anaplasmosis are likely in the area.  

People should be diligent about checking themselves for ticks after being outdoors, and protecting themselves and their dogs against ticks.

SOURCES FOR THIS POST:
Drs Foster and Smith’s Pet Education.com
VCA Animal Hospitals
Canine Health Foundation
Dr. Patty Khuly for Embrace Pet Insurance
Merck Animal Health Technical Assistance 

Disclaimer:  I am not a Veterinarian or a Vet Tech, nor do I play one online!  I share information I have learned myself through various sources (notated above), and based on my experiences with my own dogs.


Have you or your dog ever gotten a tickborne disease like Anaplasmosis or Lyme Disease?  Leave us a comment and tell us about it!

Extended Flea & Tick Protection In A Tasty Chew #12Bravecto

We love the great outdoors, and so do our dogs!  We like nothing better than taking our dogs on outdoor adventures like hiking, camping, or going to the beach.  They love to run through bushes, swim in lakes & ponds, hunt for critters in tall grass, and roll around in wet sand by the ocean.



Icy loves to lay in tall grasses but she's not alone in the grass, pesky fleas and ticks also love tall grass!

With all that time outdoors comes the threat of fleas and ticks, they’re unavoidable!  Whether your dogs have outdoor adventures far from home or right in your own backyard, flea prevention and tick control is important for their health and safety! 

This post is sponsored by BRAVECTO® and the BlogPaws® Pet Influencer Network™. I am being compensated to help share information about BRAVECTO.  But we only share information we feel is relevant to our readers. Neither Intervet Inc., nor Merck & Co Inc., are responsible for the content of this article and have not written, reviewed, or edited it in any fashion.  

It's important to make sure our dogs are protected from fleas and ticks year round.  Using a messy, oily topical treatment every month isn't very convenient.  It's no fun having to make the dog sit still while you clumsily apply it without getting it all over your hands, either!  There's got to be a better way to protect our dogs from fleas and ticks, right?  There is!

  LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT BRAVECTO® (Fluralaner)

BRAVECTO is a tasty chew that provides up to 12 weeks of protection against fleas and ticks* 

BRAVECTO starts killing fleas within 2 hours and kills 100% of fleas in 12 hours!

BRAVECTO is FDA approved and is only available from your Veterinarian or Veterinary Clinic

BRAVECTO is easy and convenient to use.  Just 1 tasty chew provides up to 12 weeks of flea and tick protection*  That's nearly 3 times longer than monthly treatments!

There are a lot of flea and tick control products out there, but only BRAVECTO provides a tasty oral chew that lasts for up to 12 weeks!*  

* BRAVECTO  kills fleas, prevents flea infestations, and kills ticks (black-legged tick or "deer tick", American dog tick and brown dog tick) for 12 weeks.  It also kills lone star ticks for 8 weeks.

BRAVECTO  is only available by prescription.  Visit your Veterinarian so you can start extended flea and tick protection for your dog right away!

Icy loves to hike, and swim in the creek in Sedona, AZ.  So do pesky fleas & ticks!

I’m really excited about the extended flea and tick control  BRAVECTO chews provide!   I was happy to learn that BRAVECTO  is made by Merck, one of the largest and most trusted pharmaceutical companies in the world. 

Most of us know that Merck Pharmaceutical produces medications that improve the health and well being of people, but did you know that Merck is also a global leader in the research, development, and manufacturing of veterinary medicines?   

We all want to be diligent about the health of our pets, using products that are both effective and safe for them is vitally important.  It gives me peace of mind to know that BRAVECTO is made by Merck.  It's FDA approved (for dogs over 6 months) and Vet recommended.  I have confidence that BRAVECTO is not only effective, it's also safe to use on my dogs!

Hiking is one of our favorite activities to do with our dogs.  Flea & tick protection is a must!

The fact that BRAVECTO comes in a tasty chew, is fast acting, and only needs to be administered every 3 months is a huge convenience.  Compared to a messy topical treatment that needs to be applied every month, I think it’s a big improvement in controlling fleas and ticks!

If you're wondering "How can I get rid of fleas?", ask your Veterinarian about BRAVECTO, the tasty chew that offers up to 12 week protection against fleas and ticks.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION:
The most common adverse reactions recorded in clinical trials of BRAVECTO  were vomiting, decreased appetite, lethargy, diarrhea, polydipsia, and flatulence.  BRAVECTO  has not been shown to be effective for 12 weeks' duration in puppies less than 6 months of age.   BRAVECTO  is not effective against lone star ticks beyond 8 weeks after dosing.


Remember, fleas and ticks don't take a holiday, they're still here in Fall & Winter!

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information published. However, it remains the responsibility of the readers to familiarize themselves with the product information contained on the USA product label or package.