Symptoms

• Lethargy is an early warning sign of ehrlichiosisdog image by Michal Tudek from Fotolia.com
  
  The acute stage of the disease generally shows no outward signs at all, and can begin as soon as one week after exposure and last for up to a month. Dogs begin showing depression, fever, lethargy and joint pain during the subclinical phase, which can last for years. If the dog's immune system doesn't eliminate the ehrlichia, the disease moves into the chronic phase. Weight loss, anemia, fluid accumulation in the legs and fever can occur, and in severe cases the dog may begin displaying neurological signs such as a head tilt, circling or seizures.
  
  

Diagnosis

• A blood test can show if a dog has been exposed to ehrlichiatest tubes image by Ruta Saulyte from Fotolia.com
  
  Chronic ehrlichiosis is diagnosed by a combination of physical exam and multiple blood tests. The most common test looks for antibodies, but if the dog is very weak and not producing enough antibodies, the test may come back as a false negative. Additionally, a positive test means the dog has been exposed to the disease, not that it is necessarily infected. Newer tests look for the ehrlichia organism itself, but their inability to distinguish between live and dead organisms means they cannot gauge the extent of the infection. A comprehensive workup would include both tests if ehrlichia is suspected.
  
  

Treatment

• In severe cases, a blood transfusion may be necessaryblood transfusion dropper image by alma_sacra from Fotolia.com
  
  There is no cure for ehrlichia once it has reached the chronic stage, and symptoms may return off and on for the rest of the dog's life. Doxycycline is the drug of choice to fight ehrlichia, although results may not be seen for up to a month, and is administered for six to eight weeks. Intravenous fluids will help with dehydration, and severe cases may require a blood transfusion. Corticosteroids may be administered if the dog's immune response to the organism begins to destroy platelets or cause arthritis.
  
  

Prognosis

• If the infection is too far advanced, the dog may not respond to treatmentdog image by Trav from Fotolia.com
  
  Chronic ehrlichiosis has a guarded prognosis. If the infection has progressed to the point where the bone marrow is not producing adequate blood cells, the dog may not respond to treatment.
  
  

Prevention

• Dogs who spend time among hedges are more likely to be exposed to ticksboring dog image by Kostyantyn Ivanyshen from Fotolia.com
  
  A monthly flea and tick preventative will kill any ticks that attach, but you should always examine your dog after he spends time outside. Ticks tend to live on vertical surfaces, such as trees, shrubs and fences and can hide in the dog's ears or between his toes.