Anaplasmosis in Dogs: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Ticks can carry many dangerous bacteria, including Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Bites from Anaplasma-infected ticks are what cause anaplasmosis in dogs, a potentially harmful disease.¹

Let’s take a closer look at anaplasmosis and what to expect if your dog is diagnosed. 

What Is Anaplasmosis in Dogs?

Along with Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever, anaplasmosis is a zoonotic pathogen.¹ There are two forms of anaplasmosis in dogs:

• Anaplasma phagocytophilum, or A. phagocytophilum: This is the most common form of anaplasmosis in dogs, and the infection is found in a dog’s blood cells.² It’s commonly transmitted by the deer tick and the Western black-legged tick.¹
• Anaplasma platys, or A. platys: The less common form of anaplasmosis is transmitted by the brown dog tick and infects a dog’s platelets.¹ There are usually few or no signs that your dog is infected with this form.²

Although anaplasmosis has a good prognosis with a quick recovery period, it can still greatly affect your pup’s health and overall quality of life.¹ If you find ticks on your dog or in your living space, keep an eye out for signs that your dog has been infected.

Anaplasmosis Symptoms in Dogs

Dogs infected with anaplasmosis can experience a variety of symptoms, which usually appear within 1 – 2 weeks of being bitten, so you’ll have to watch your dog for several days after discovering the tick.¹

Signs to look for with the more common form of anaplasmosis, A. phagocytophilum, include:¹

•  Joint pain
• Lack of appetite
• Fever
• Lameness
• Lethargy

Less common symptoms include:¹

• Labored breathing
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Persistent coughing
• Seizures

If you notice any of these symptoms within 1 – 2 weeks of your dog being bitten, it may be time to bring them to your veterinary clinic for an official diagnosis.

Potential long-term effects of anaplasmosis in dogs

Though the A. platys form of anaplasmosis in dogs often doesn’t cause symptoms, one of the possible long-term effects of anaplasmosis in dogs is called cyclic thrombocytopenia. This causes a temporary decrease in your dog’s platelets. Because platelets are key to the blood clotting process, dogs with cyclic thrombocytopenia can exhibit bruising and nosebleeds, which may warrant a trip to the vet.¹

How Is Dog Anaplasmosis Diagnosed?

There are multiple ways to detect anaplasmosis in dogs, including special test kits, indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) tests, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests.¹ Your vet may use some or all of these. If your dog tests positive for anaplasmosis, you’ll begin treatment based on your vet’s recommendations.

It’s possible your dog may test positive for anaplasmosis, despite having no symptoms or clinical signs. This could mean your dog is carrying the infectious bacteria, even though their health hasn’t declined. Regardless, you should still seek vet advice. Even if your pup never falls ill from anaplasmosis, it could make them more vulnerable to other diseases in the future.¹

Anaplasmosis Treatment and Recovery

Treating anaplasmosis in dogs is relatively simple. As with most tick-borne diseases, your vet may prescribe an antibiotic called doxycycline.¹ This is a common antibiotic that’s prescribed to dogs for a variety of reasons. Most dogs can take it with no side effects, but it’s possible your dog could experience vomiting or diarrhea.³

Treatment can last as long as four weeks, but most dogs typically start to recover within 24 – 48 hours once they start taking doxycycline regularly.¹ Even if symptoms seem to clear up, you should still follow your vet’s prescribed regimen. Once the antibiotics are finished, it’s a good idea to bring your pup to the vet for a final checkup and clean bill of health.

Prevention of Anaplasmosis in Dogs

The simplest way to prevent your dog from tick-borne infections, like anaplasmosis, is to make tick prevention a priority. There are a number of topical medications available that can help deter tick bites. You typically give your dog these on a monthly basis.⁴ A MetLife Pet insurance policy for dogs with a Preventive Care add-on could help cover tick prevention.

You should also examine your dog any time they've been in areas commonly infested by ticks. After walks or if your dog’s been running or playing in grassy or wooded areas, be sure to inspect them thoroughly and remove any ticks you may find. After dealing with ticks you may find, be on the lookout for any symptoms.

Pet Insurance Can Help With Dog Anaplasmosis

Anaplasmosis in dogs may not be a deadly disease, but it can still become costly to deal with. Pet insurance might be worth it to help you offset those unexpected costs. While prescribed medication might not be too expensive, vet bills for testing and diagnostics are usually higher.

Take Fred, for example. When his owners noticed he was exhibiting symptoms following a tick bite, they took him to the vet. The exam cost $225, but thankfully, their MetLife Pet Insurance policy reimbursed them $200.⁵

Interested in seeing how pet insurance could help with costs related to illnesses as well as routine care? Get a free quote today to find out how much you could save on anaplasmosis treatment.