Does Ehrlichiosis in dogs affect digestion or the nervous system?

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!

He would not be showing signs of Ehrlichia after 2 days. It usually takes 1-3 weeks from the time the dog was bitten until the time they show signs. Knoxxx must have something else going on OR he was bitten by a tick before and you didn't notice it. The symptoms you are describing are non-specific signs and could be signs of almost any disease. I hope your vet will be able to figure out what is going on so he will get the proper treatment. Here is an information sheet on Ehrlichiosis in dogs for you to read. This may be helpful for you: http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2+2102&aid=430 Best wishes.

Chronic ehrlichiosis can cause severe anemia as well as neurologic issues and shortness of breath which may affect breathing or cause your dog to breathe harder to make up for the lower blood count. If Honey is having trouble breathing in addition to another underlying illness, it is best to seek veterinary care for treatment to get her feeling better.

Depending on whether or not it appears to be an active infection it may be worth proceeding with treatment using doxycycline. There is a possibility of side effects in the puppies but the mother’s health may be more important. I’d recommend discussing with your vet.

Here's a great article that can give you a more in-depth look about Erlichiosis: https://www.petcoach.co/article/ehrlichiosis-in-dogs/ If Spock is currently on any medications to treat it (such as an antibiotic) it can change the gut flora which can lead to diarrhea during those times. Switching to a bland diet (like you have) or adding in a little bit of plain yogurt can help keep the gut calmer and encourage healthy bacteria. If he needs more of a probiotic boost, many vets now carry probiotics designed for pets as well. If the diarrhea is happening and he isn't currently on any other medications, bringing in a stool sample and having it checked is a good idea to rule out any common issues such as parasites that may be causing it.

If Lacey was found to be positive on a routine screening test as part of her yearly exam, it could be indicative of exposure to Ehrlichia but not an active infection. Ehrlichia is a type of tick borne disease that infects the white blood cells in a dog. If she isn't sick, I would recommend she have a blood test done called a complete blood cell count, or CBC. This measures and examines the red and white blood cells. If normal, she has been exposed and no further treatment is needed at this time. If abnormal her veterinarian may start her on a course of an antibiotic (doxycycline).

This is a tricky situation because there isn't a definitive answer with these circumstances. If a dog is positive for either (or both) Anaplasma and Erhlichia, then at a minimum, a CBC (complete blood count) should be run to check on the red & white blood cells, and platelets. Both of these diseases can affect blood cells, which can lead to bleeding issues. If any blood cell lines are affected, then yes, the dog should be treated. If all blood cell counts are normal and the dog is asymptomatic, then there's a bit more of a gray area. As in human medicine, veterinary medicine tries to be cautious in our use of antibiotics, which are the drugs used to treat these infections. Obviously, it's important to use antibiotics when they're needed. If they aren't absolutely necessary, then we should avoid overuse because this leads to bacterial resistance, meaning that the antibiotics may not work when we really need them. Personally, I tend to not treat positive dogs that are asymptomatic with normal CBCs, but other vets may have different preferences. https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/anaplasmosis/ https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/ehrlichia/