Is my dog's diarrhea caused by ehrlichia, or something else?

Hello and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Soft stool is not something thought to be caused by erhlichia so I don't think it's related. Antibiotic use can definitely result in softer stool so if you've just finished the antibiotics you may want to introduce a probiotic. A bland diet of boiled chicken and sweet potato or rice may also help. If the softer stool persists or any other signs develop like vomiting, inappetance or lethargy then I would schedule a visit for Spock to see your veterinarian. I hope the diarrhea resolves quickly!

Hello and thank you for your post! I am sorry to hear that Spock has ehrlichia. This disease is treatable and can be cured. However, you should know that the test most veterinary clinics use is a snap test to detect antibodies against ehrlichia. If you are going back in 3 weeks to have this same test performed, Spock will likely continue to show a positive result. This is because his body has made antibodies against ehrlichia. If he had a previous infection and ehrlichia is not causing any of these symptoms, he will still show positive on this SNAP test so if you are going in to have the same SNAP test performed I would have your veterinarian send out a tick fever PCR test to the laboratory. This will detect DNA to ehrlichia and not antibodies. If Spock is positive on the PCR, it means that he has a current active infection. If you do not know if Spock has ever had your licio previously, I would still treat this with Doxycycline for 4 to 6 weeks total treatment time. I hope this helps, please feel free to contact me with any further questions or concerns you may have. I am also available via consultation

Hi there, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Diarrhea is not typically a symptom of tickborne disease so this is probably unrelated. Sometimes diarrhea can be a result of antibiotics, but usually it starts earlier in the course of treatment, so the timing doesn't seem related to that either. More likely she got into something that upset her tummy. As long as she's feeling fine, probiotics are a great idea, and you can feed a bland diet of boiled chicken with white rice for a few days. Once her stools improve, mix the rice/chicken mixture with her kibble to gradually switch her back. If the diarrhea doesn't improve over the next few days, and certainly if she starts acting sick (decreased appetite, vomiting, lethargy, etc), then a vet visit is in order. Hope this helps!

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Luna. I'm sorry she has Erlichia! The doxycycline can cause stomach upset, and to help with that, try giving her the medication with food. Give it with some boiled white meat chicken (no bones or skin) and white rice. You can mix in some low sodium chicken broth as well to keep her hydrated. It is very concerning she can't keep down water, and keep a close eye on her. Take her back into the vet first thing in the morning if she is still like this. I hope this helps!

While less common than fever, lameness and lethargy, Ehrlichiosis can cause vomiting and diarrhea, as well as neurologic signs (tremors, changes in pupil size, head tilt and a loss of balance). Regardless of the types of signs seen, Ehrlichiosis is typically treated with doxycycline for 4 weeks and most dogs do quite well. Some additional supportive medications can be necessary to treat any signs of gastrointestinal upset or excessive terming. If Amaia has been diagnosed with Ehrlichiosis, be sure that she has been examined by her vet and ask about starting doxycycline and supportive medications to treat any GI or neurologic signs. I hope that she feels better soon!

Hi there. If your dog has a history of Erlichia and Scout is already 11 I would encourage you to take him back for a re-evaluation. He may need fluid therapy, etc and your doctor will be familiar with your case. My best to you and Scout

Hello and thank you for reaching out to our consultation service. although it is possible to get diarrhea from a tick related disease, it is not common at all. it would be more likely that she has either eaten something that is not agreeing with her or she has a disease or condition unrelated to the tick. If she continues to eat and drink normally as well as wants to play, I would wait for 48 to 72 hours with feeding her regular diet. If after the 72 hours, the diarrhea is still present, she needs to be seen by a veterinarian. If at any point, she starts to act lethargic or vomit, etc., I would take her to the veterinarian as soon as possible so that they can do a physical examination and possibly some diagnostic testing. Thanks a lot for your question. I hope I have helped.