Ehrlichiosis

This is a rickettsial tick borne disease seen in Europe, Africa, America and Asia that infects white blood cells. It can cause sudden and severe symptoms or lead to a slowly progressive illness that looks like some auto immune diseases. This disease can transmit soon after ticks start to feed, so using a tick treatment that kills and repels ticks and regular tick checks after walks is the best prevention.

www.esccap.org/travelling-pets-advice/
Symptoms
  • Fever, loss of appetite, lethargy
  • swelling of lymph nodes and spleen
  • variable symptoms like stiffness and reluctance to walk, coughing or difficulty breathing
  • low platelets which can lead to poor clotting and bleeding disorders
  • the long, chronic form can cause severe weight loss and affect various organs with different symptoms (for example kidneys, eyes, brain, spleen, lungs). If your dog has vague ill health following travel abroad, even years later, please make sure your vet is aware you have been outside of the U.K.
Prevention
Multiple, newly attached ticks- these are very small initially so check your pet carefully after walks

  • There are several spot-on and tablet forms of medication to deter ticks from attaching to your pet and to kill them. These should be started at least a week before travel to an area where Ehrlichia exists. The Travelling Pet Vet can advise specifically depending on where you are headed and your risk level. Many products licensed for use in dogs are highly toxic for cats, please only use products as advised.
  • Check your pets daily for ticks, especially after walks in long grass or wooded areas. Face, ears, belly, groin and feet are hot spots for ticks, but they can occur anywhere. Run your fingers against the direction the fur normally lies to see down to skin level, ticks can be very small initially and grow larger as they feed.
  • Get to know your pet’s normal skin. Know where their nipples and little skin tags lie, so these aren’t inadvertently injured by attempted removal.
  • Ticks should be removed as soon as possible, including the mouth parts. Tick hooks are the easiest way to do this, do not use heat or petroleum jelly to make them detach. Remove them with steady, even pressure to avoid leaving the mouth parts in the skin.
  • Affected skin and your own hands can then be cleaned with soap and water.
  • Do not crush a tick between your fingers. They can be disposed of by placing them in alcohol, wrapping in a sealed bag or they can be flushed down the toilet.