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Cole has just been diagnosed with anaplasmosis ...sigh...there seems to be no end to these tick-borne diseases. According to what we've been told, this organism used to be the same as (or lumped in with?) Ehrlichia equii, but has recently been reclassified to Anaplasma phagocytophilum. I've been looking at info on the web, but because it is an emerging disease, most of the papers I've found have been on the genetics of the organism, it's reclassification, or the possible hosts/vectors of the disease...none of which is particularly practical information.

I intend to keep looking, but the thought occurred to me that perhaps someone from the forum might have had some experience with this disease. Has anyone had a dog with anaplasmosis?

We believe that infection occurred about 8 weeks ago. We noticed symptoms of increased water intake and urination about a month ago--kidney function at that time looked normal and there was no indication of diabetes. This past week he started to show a little more lethargy than was normal for him--still high energy outside, but tuckered by afternoon and sleeping up on the bed during the afternoons (his normal afternoon nap spot is in an orvis nest or on the couch). An Idexx 4Dx snap test today revealed exposure to the organism and two other tests also strongly indicated it--blood was also sent out to be analyzed for kidney function and to confirm the anaplasmosis and the results should be back in a few days. His spring snap test was negative for Ehrlichiosis, but I forgot to ask the vet if at that time the 4Dx snap test was even available...I'll have to call again tomorrow to find out if the snap test in spring was a 3Dx or a 4Dx and whether the 3Dx would have picked up the anaplasmosis.

Long-term chronic effects on the kidneys can occur, but we're hoping that he hasn't had it long enough to have caused any permanent damage.

He's been started on doxycycline and will be on it for at least a month, probably longer, if he can tolerate it. It's the drug of choice, and Lil Belle tolerates it well for her periodic Lyme's disease flare-ups, so we're hoping Cole will also be able to take it for long periods of time without too many side-effects

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I'm so sorry for Cole! I have no idea about anything ticky, but I wanted to wish you luck with this.

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Sigh...well, from our past experience with "things ticky", I think it's a fair bet we're going to need all the luck we can get. Thanks, Prin.

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from me too , good luck Cole I've never heard of this before. Hope he fully recovers.

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Thanks, Frenchy. He's still looking forward to your road trip to Hazel Run. He loves licking intruders to within an inch of their lives... hehehehehehe

We're keeping our fingers crossed that he can kick this and that it won't go chronic

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When will you know if he's ok ?

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I dont' know anything about it either but our brood sends their slobbery well wishes. Well, they would if they were awake.

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Originally Posted by Frenchy
When will you know if he's ok ?

We should () have some information back about kidney function tomorrow or Saturday. Not sure how long it will take for the 'ultimate' confirmation of the causal organism, though... And we won't know if the antibiotics are doing their job for at least a couple weeks. *the sound of fingernails being chewed alternated with the sound of fingertips drumming table* how I hate the wait!

Thanks, brandy...our Pack sends slobbery good wishes right back... and when roscoe finally gets his face dry from the setter spittle, be sure and give him a cookie, eh?

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for Cole and for you Hazel. I'm so sorry about this bad news. I'll be thinking good thoughts for Cole.

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Originally Posted by Skryker
for Cole and for you Hazel. I'm so sorry about this bad news. I'll be thinking good thoughts for Cole.

Thanks, Skryker. All the good vibes have to be helping!

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awe man... hazel i'm so sorry to hear this bad news :( hang in there and hopefully he'll be OK?! for a long while still!

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Awww Hazel, so sorry to hear about poor Cole . I did a quick look for Cdn search sites and found this:

Treatment. Six dogs were treated with doxycycline (5 to 10 mg/kg of body weight [2.3 to 4.5 mg/lb], administered orally every 12 h [q12h] or q24h) for 10 to 21 days, and two dogs were treated with tetracycline (22 mg/kg [10 mg/lb], administered orally q8h) for 14 or 21 days. Additional therapies included intravenous or subcutaneous fluids for two dogs, pyrantel pamoate for one dog, and levothyroxine for one dog. Transient therapies that were initiated prior to rickettsial disease identification but discontinued once the diagnosis was available included cephalexin for one dog and both carprofen and methylsulfonylmethane for another dog. A favorable and rapid response was reported for all eight dogs (100%). Six of the eight dogs appeared to have a complete resolution of the historical complaints and physical exam abnormalities within 24 to 48 h after the initiation of doxycycline or tetracycline. Two dogs (dogs 5 and 7) had progressive improvement, with a complete resolution within 5 to 6 days. There was no delay in the diagnosis or initiation of treatment for these two dogs compared to that for the other dogs. All eight dogs remained clinically healthy 7 to 19 months after the initial diagnosis.
The link is http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/art...z&artid=548079

Also, this article about a lab on Vancouver Island (good news too!)
http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/art...&artid=1187793

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Hazel so sorry to hear about Cole.

I was actually wondering last night after I got in bed about his vet appointment. I remembered you saying you were taking him in due to his lethargy.

I have never heard of it either. Hunter and Cassie both send their well wishes and slobbery kisses,

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Hazel I just did a little bit of research into Anaplasmosis.

Here is what I have found so far:
A 7 year old dog from Vancouver Island was found to have this after being exposed to ticks approximately 6-8 weeks prior to symptoms. He was treated and recovered completely. Source: Canadian Veterinary Journal, 2005, 46(9) p. 825-827.

Also in the Journal of Small Animal Practice, 2005, 46(6) p.300-303, gave a case of a dog being treated for this by doxycycline for 10 days and recovered completely.

Hope this makes you feel better. In the meantime, I will do a little more searching after lunch, to see if I can find out anything else.

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Thanks, TD and HO. Cole is reveling in all the virtual slobbers he's getting--he's a very social boy!

And thanks so much for the info, Teri. I'd actually pulled a couple of papers off that site for further digestion, but I don't think either of these were in the list. It certainly does look very positive.

Hubby and I were discussing it last night--we're hoping that we're right about the infection being incurred 8 weeks ago. I have to find out for sure if previous versions of the snap test would have picked up an exposure to A. phagocytophilum--if not, Cole had an episode when he was about 9 months old that could very well have been the initial infection. He was experiencing a totally unrelated problem at the time that might have 'muddied the waters' and made the infection less apparent. But some of the odd symptoms he was having at the time were consistent with Anaplasmosis. that the 3Dx snap test would have caught it subsequently (and I see in my OP that I got that wrong... distracted, I guess...I'll go fix it now...)

Thanks for all the info and support, everyone. You are the best!

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Hazel,I just want to send you lots of positive thoughts and keeping my that beautiful Cole will have a quick recovery

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Originally Posted by chico2
Hazel,I just want to send you lots of positive thoughts and keeping my that beautiful Cole will have a quick recovery

Thanks, chico. Actually, he already seems to be responding to the doxycycline. Seemed a little peppier when he went out this morning--his first action was to try to intice Lil Belle into a fine game of head wrestling before their morning constitutional...

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Originally Posted by Hunter's_owner
Also in the Journal of Small Animal Practice, 2005, 46(6) p.300-303, gave a case of a dog being treated for this by doxycycline for 10 days and recovered completely.

Hope this makes you feel better. In the meantime, I will do a little more searching after lunch, to see if I can find out anything else.

Thanks, HO--it does. Especially the 10 day part. English setters seem to have very sensitive digestive tracts--none of ours can tolerate erythromicin for more than 2 days, for instance--and even though Lil Belle tolerates doxycycline well, we've never used it for Cole before. We're a little worried that we won't be able to keep him on it for the full 30 days that the vet recommends. 10 days we should be able to manage with no problems--even if he does experience side effects

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Actually Hazel in some of the studies I read, doxycycline was the one with the most favourable results. The one on Vancouver Island used tetracycline, but most others that I read abstracts to stated doxycyline.

I will look to see if I can find anything about that.

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Originally Posted by Hunter's_owner
Actually Hazel in some of the studies I read, doxycycline was the one with the most favourable results. The one on Vancouver Island used tetracycline, but most others that I read abstracts to stated doxycyline.

I will look to see if I can find anything about that.

The vet mentioned to hubby yesterday that there were other drugs that could be used, but that doxycycline was the one of choice. We're really hoping that Cole tolerates it as well as Lil Belle does. She was on it for 2 months straight last year for a flare-up of her chronic Lyme's and didn't have any troubles till the very end....

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Hazel, I found another article: Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 2005, 43(2) p. 796-801.

A direct quote from this states that "Treatment with doxycycline or tetracycline resulted in rapid resolution of clinical signs".

Other than that there is very little "scholarly" info available on treatment. Most of it is about testing for it.

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Hey, thanks again, HO.

I just spent a frustrating afternoon with no land-line long-distance, toll-free, or ISP service. But we did finally hear from the vet (luckily, hubby works in the same town as the vet) -- the first results from the tests yesterday are back. Cole's kidney and liver function look great and his blood chemistry is pretty much normal. So far so good!

Meanwhile, back at home, the Sheriff was more of his old self today--spent hours outside with Macie watching the mouse runs just outside the fence and barking when they saw the tails zip by through gaps in the grass. Not sure what the mice are saying to them as they go by, but I believe Cole was barking back, "I dare ya to come in here and say that!"

Silly Sheriff!

Still drinking a little more water than we'd like, but even that was better than it was yesterday

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I'm so glad Hazel ! Like you said, so far so good. Let's keep our and hope we'll get more great news from you.

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*$#*^%@# ticks* grumble grumble grrrrrrrrrrr

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Hazel, I just read your post now and I'm so sorry to hear about Sheriff Cole. All fingers and paws crossed here for him.

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tetracycline is used more often in Canada
and doxy in the US , interestingly enough doxy is not even listed in my vets vets pharmaceutical book, he would have had to order it in.

Tetracycline is used for a shorter period of time and doxy is needed for a longer period, and if using doxy I would go 6 to 8 weeks there simply is too many incidences where the disease is not eliminated when given for a shorter course. And don't give any dairy products while using that includes yogurt, it makes the doxy less effective.

Canada is still new to the research is tick diseases I do know that in BC they have been doing outstanding research but they don't have the years of experience dealing with tick diseases like some of the US centers, in the south have.

A friend of mine lost her greyhound to Ehrlichia equii, Jazz did receive the doxy treatment at first improved for a bit and crashed again the Veterinary college here in Guelph then contacted a university in the US and they recommended Imizol shots instead but he was already to far gone for it to be of help. and lost his battle shortly afterm the adopted owner only had him for about 4 months is was really heartbreaking to follow at the time. He was only 2 years old :(

Since your dog had a problem at 9 months and now again it could be the same thing and may have not been eliminated and he may actually have multiple tick diseases occuring at the same time, which could include babesia even. I know you feel the Snap test is the best but it does not tell you how many organisms are in the blood and therefore you do not know how serious it is or at what stage it is at, the other problem is if their are concurrent tick infections such as lyme + ehrllichia or babesuia + ehrlichia , the results could be skewed this is why IFA testing is still considered the best way to test for tick diseases, a PCR DNA test can done after treatment, you must wait a few months, to see if the disease has been eliminated, The PCR DNA test is the real gold standard and very sensitive but requires that you know exactly what organisms DNA you are testing for but too expensive to use as a diagnostic test for all forms of tick disease so better to use only as a means to checking for active infections after treatment or if their are symptoms that could be related but titers are low especially in the case of babesia. I don't expect you to take my word for this, so I would like you to contact Cynthia Holland director of Protatek labs in Arizona and has been researching tick diseases for years you can ask her if Snap testing is reliable whether or not IFA testing is better and why also ask her about treating for the equii mentioning he had been treated before, and if she would recommend any other treatment instead, she is pretty good about answering questions, she is very willing to answer questions it is still the number one recommended lab in the US by greyhound groups and by Tick-L (an email based forum for owners of dogs with tick disease) also vets when dealing with contact her for advice on treating

You can either phone her or click of the link for Protatek Reference Laboratory and that will allow you to email your questions to her I have talked to her myself in the past when I had questions, she is very responsive

North Carolina State University contact is Dr. Ed Breitschwerdt who is also a leader in tick disease research and they do the PCR DNA testing, this was ehere Maya's test was done to be sure she did not have an active exposure after showing positive for Babesia I have no idea how responsive they are to questions but you can give it a shot
They also do IFA testing so should be able to provide info on reliabilty of Snap testing and whether IFA testing is better and why and can answer questions on how long to wait after treatment for DNA testing

this has contact of both labs and others though Protatek and NCSU are considered the leading research facilities with Protatek having been doing a lot longer

http://blackgsd.googlepages.com/testlaboratories

If you want to become a member of Tick-L to ask questions sign up is here

there is info here on how to register
http://www.minden.com/nowhereelse/sub_on.htm

More info here http://saluqi.home.netcom.com/ticklinks.htm

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I signed on again today to post an update and OG, somehow I missed your final post--must've been off long enough so that the thread rolled off the new posts for the day. Thanks for the information--I'll have to check out the links if my connection holds ( phone line problems the past few days)

On followup tests, Cole is still showing normal organ function and bloodwork. He's finishing up his first course of the doxycycline--has tolerated it rather well, although we did have to start yogurt. The concensus was that the dairy would only decrease the efficacy of the drug by 20-30% and at the dose Cole is taking, that was deemed to be insignificant.

The concensus was also that Cole was only infected this fall--so we caught it really early. If he'd had it since he was 9 months of age (he's now 4), the onset of the chronic symptoms would likely have been much much worse. He was never treated for Ehrlichia or Lyme's at the age of 9 months--it actually resolved as another problem. My thought was only that if he had been exposed then, the symptoms would have been masked by the other problems he was having. (As it was, with the anaplasmosis, he had only some minor, hardly noticeable lethargy, and, of course the increased water uptake.) All the symptoms he had have reversed, but we'll have to evaluate him after the meds again.

Interestingly, and I don't think I mentioned it in this thread, 3 of the girls also showed exposure. They're just finishing up their doxy, now, too, and the vet is confident that should be enough. They never showed symptoms--just a slight positive in the snap test and all the other bloodwork was normal. But I'll look at the links that you gave--maybe there will be some info in there that might convince the vet that another course of antibiotics might be called for. Thanks, OG.

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