08/12/2025
**Anaplasmosis: What Local Pet Owners Need to Know**
At Trinity Veterinary Care, we're seeing a rise in anaplasmosis, a serious tick-borne disease affecting dogs in our area. Awareness and prevention are the best defense. Here's what you need to know:
**Signs & Symptoms:
- Lethargy
- Fever
- Joint pain or lameness
- Loss of appetite
- Vomiting or diarrhea
- Nosebleeds or bruising (due to low platelets)
- In severe cases, neurological signs
** How It Spreads:
Anaplasmosis is transmitted by ticks — primarily the black-legged (deer) tick. A tick usually needs to be attached and feeding for 12 to 24 hours to transmit Anaplasma phagocytophilum. This makes early removal and prevention essential!
** Diagnosis:
We use blood tests like CBC, blood smears, and SNAP 4Dx to detect infection and assess organ and platelet health.
** Treatment:
The first-line treatment is Doxycycline, typically given for 2–4 weeks. Most pets show improvement within a few days of starting antibiotics.
** Prevention:
- Use a veterinarian-recommended tick preventative year-round: Nexgard, Nexgard Spectra, Bravecto, K9 Advantix, Simparica Trio
- Avoid tick-heavy areas like tall grass and wooded trails
- Check your pet daily for ticks — especially around ears, toes, and under collars
- Keep up with annual tick-borne disease screenings
If your pet seems unwell or you've found a tick, don't wait. Early treatment can prevent more serious complications.
Call us at 613-823-3444
Trinity Veterinary Care – Keeping your pets safe, happy, and healthy.
