Therapeutic Management of Canine Ehrlichiosis: Lesson Learned from Bareilly, India

The study was conducted on 5 dogs presented at Teaching Veterinary Clinical Complex, Indian Veterinary Research Institute with history of anorexia, lethargy, weakness, high fever, vomiting, severe panting and heavy tick infestation. Physical examination of dogs revealed increased respiratory rate, pale mucus membrane and conjunctiva, dehydration and enlarged lymph nodes. Haematological finding showed marked anaemia and thrombocytopenia. Sonographic and radiographic investigation of the abdomen revealed splenomegaly and partial hepatomegaly. Parasitological examination found it positive for Ehrlichia canis and confirmed the ticks Rhipicephalus sanguineus. Dog was treated with doxycycline @ 10 mg/kg for 28 days in divided dose with supportive therapy. Dog showed marked recovery after 2 dose of doxycycline and re-examination of blood after 20 days gave negative results in rapid test kit.