My dog has ehrlichia. Will it cause breathing problems or lung issues?

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!

Yes, that is basically all you can do now other than only leash walking so she does not get too excited and gets her blood pressure up and gets another nose bleed. While it looks like a lot of blood is lost, there is not and your dog will be fine. Just make sure she takes her doxycycline (or other medication prescribed) for the prescribed period and she should be fine.

I would Holiday examined by a vet, as it's not normal for a dog to breathe heavy without exercise. It could be a tick borne disease, but it could also be a respiratory illness, heartworm disease, or heart disease among other causes that are leading to her symptoms. The vet can do a physical exam, blood tests, a urinalysis, and x-rays to diagnose what is causing his symptoms, and can treat accordingly.

There can be many causes of a bloody nose in a dog including infection (viral, bacterial, fungal), neoplasia, trauma, etc. If you suspect Ente has Ehrlichiosis he should see a veterinarian to be examined, have a blood test to confirm that he has it, and then be put on antibiotics. Ehrlichiosis is a bacterium that is transferred via tick bites and there is no other treatment other than antibiotics. The diagnosis needs to be confirmed so that he is put on appropriate antibiotics and because it needs to be established that this is the cause of his bloody nose.

That is a great question, and one that doesn't really have a crystal clear answer. If she was initially treated during the acute phase, its possible that that bacteria was completely eliminated. It is possible that the antibodies produced by her body may prevent a second infection, however there is no guarantee of this. If a second infection develops, it is more likely to be subclinical, and it may or may not ever progress to being chronic and symptomatic. Having said all of that, I wouldn't be overly stressed. Use a monthly tick prevention moving forward, and if she develops any symptoms of illness, take her to your vet. https://www.petcarerx.com/article/identify-ehrlichiosis-symptoms-at-all-3-stages-of-the-disease/1545 Thank you for asking PetCoach!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Respiratory signs like that can be a sign of many conditions such as pneumonia, bronchitis, heart disease, among many other possibilities. I recommend that you have Cooper evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Likely diagnostics to be performed include thoracic radiographs and bloodwork. Treatment would be dependent on findings. Good luck and have a good night!

The prognosis can be good if the disease is mild and her platelet count is normal. If this is the case then antibiotics and Tick medication is the treatment and may be about $200-300 with testing depending on your area. If then blood work is bad and shows a low platelet count and she is sick from it, than it can take longer to treat and may require hospitalization which can get more expensive. You vet can start with an exam and blood work and give you a better estimate for treatment from there