Are you familiar with the symptoms of Anaplasma in dogs? When you ignore the symptoms of anaplasma, it can lead your dogs to serious health issues. Anaplasma in dogs can transform a little illness into a life threatening emergency. This disease silently attacks the body as it is a tick borne disease. When you do not treat this, it can cause serious complications such as chronic pain and internal bleeding issues. You need to understand the symptoms of this condition if you want to save your dog. In this blog, we will provide extensive information about Anaplasma in dogs.
What is Anaplasma in Dogs and How Does It Affect Your Dog
Anaplasma is a bacterial disease in dogs that is caused by tick borne organisms which affects the blood cells of the dog. There are two types of anaplasma which are classified due to their differences. The first type is Anaplasma phagocytophilum, which affects white blood cells of a dog. The second type is Anaplasma platys, which affects platelets, which are responsible for blood clotting. The infection increases when an infected tick bites a dog. This is because it transfers the bacteria into the bloodstream.
How Does Anaplasma Affect Their Body?
It can interfere with the normal blood function when it enters the body. This disturbance in normal blood function leads to immune system stress and clotting problems. The signs of anaplasma often go unnoticed because this disease does not show immediate signs. That is the reason why you do not recognize the symptoms before they become more serious.
Causes and Transmission of Anaplasma in Dogs
Bacteria are responsible for Anaplasma in dogs. These bacteria spread through the bites of an infected tick. The bacteria can enter the body when a tick bites a dog. It causes infection when it affects the bloodstream. Black legged tick and the brown dog tick are the types of common ticks that transmit the disease.
The dogs who spent longer time outside are at a higher risk of this disease. The reason is that ticks are common in outdoor and natural areas. They can affect your dogs while they play in grass, walk in wooded areas or live in warm places. You can see anaplasma in your dogs during summer and spring. This is because ticks are most energetic in these seasons. You can reduce the risk of infection by preventing ticks and checking your dog regularly.
Early Symptoms of Anaplasma in Dogs
Early symptoms of anaplasma include lethargy, loss of appetite, mild fever and joint pain. Lethargy is one of the first symptoms that makes the dog less active and weak. You may notice a loss of appetite because your dog eats less than usual. Some dogs may feel difficulties in walking as they experience joint pain or stiffness. These signs are very mild, so you can think that the dog is just tired or has a small illness.
Many dog owners often ignore the early symptoms of anaplasmosis in their dogs. They think that the dog will recover on its own as the symptoms do not seem serious at first. The infection increases slowly when you do not treat your dog. You may not notice these early symptoms easily because they may come and go. You should seriously notice these early symptoms because it is necessary for quick diagnosis and treatment.
Advanced Symptoms You Should Never Ignore
Anaplasma in dogs becomes serious when you do not treat your dog early. The symptoms get worse and more noticeable as the infection increases with the passage of time. One of the most advanced symptoms is that your dog does not go away easily due to a high fever. Severe joint swelling and pain may also develop as the infection increases, which make harder for your dog to move or stand properly.
In some cases, you may also notice nosebleeding due to blood related problems. When the infection gets worse, it affects the whole system of your dog and vomiting or diarrhea may also occur. If you do not treat anaplasma, it can lead to serious health problems. Therefore, early treatment is very important to prevent this disease.
When to See a Veterinarian
You should take your dog to a veterinarian when you notice any symptoms of disease. You may notice sudden changes in its behaviour such as low energy, less interest in playing or unusual weakness. You should take quick action if you think your dog may have anaplasma. You should not wait until the symptoms get severe. Your dog recovers quickly when you visit the veterinarian on time.
Diagnosis of Anaplasma in Dogs
Veterinarians use many tools to diagnose anaplasma in your dog. A common first step is a blood test (CBC) which is used to detect changes in blood cells. PCR is another test that is used to detect the presence of bacterial DNA. It provides more accurate results. An antibody is a common test that is used to check whether the immune system has reacted to the infection. The diagnosis is confirmed by analyzing the results of all tests. You should diagnose this disease early as it is important to start treatment quickly. It also helps to prevent serious problems later.
Treatment Options for Anaplasma in Dogs
You can treat anaplasma in dogs with a course of an antibiotic such as doxycycline or tetracycline. These antibiotics are commonly used for a specific duration, usually for two weeks. You can observe improvement after 24 to 48 hours of starting the antibiotic treatment but the total duration depends on the severity of the infection in your dog.
Supportive care is also important with antibiotics to get the best results. If your dog is in pet boarding, you should monitor it regularly because it is important. You can control anaplasma effectively when you start the treatment on time. Good pet nutrition can also support the body during anaplasma infection.
Prevention Tips for Dog Owners
Anplasma can affect your pet grooming, therefore it is necessary to take care of your pet. You can prevent this disease with the help of simple tips. Some simple tips you should follow to prevent anaplasma are given below.
- You should use tick prevention products throughout the ear as it is one of the most effective ways to prevent anaplasmosis in dogs.
- Avoid areas where ticks are common such as tall grass and bushes, to prevent anaplasmosis.
- You can prevent disease transmission by removing ticks quickly.
- You can give extra protection to your dogs with vaccinations as they reduce the risk of anaplasma in dogs.
- You should follow year round protection because ticks can be active in different seasons.
Conclusions
You should not ignore the early symptoms of anaplasma because they can harm its health. The symptoms may become severe with the passage of time when you ignore them. You should visit your health care provider if you have any doubts about symptoms of anaplasma. Early diagnosis is important to maintain its health as you start the treatment on time. To get more information visit Park Hills Animal Hospital as it provides all information about your pet health issues.
