How To Avoid Ehrlichia In Dogs

To avoid Ehrlichia infection in dogs—a serious tick-borne disease caused by the Ehrlichia bacteria—you need to focus on tick prevention and early detection. Here’s a practical guide to protect your dog:

🔹 1. Use Effective Tick Preventatives

Apply monthly spot-on treatments (e.g., Frontline, Advantage Multi).
Give oral tick preventives like NexGard, Bravecto, or Simparica.
Consider tick collars (e.g., Seresto) for added protection.

Talk to your vet about the best product for your dog’s size, age, and health.

🔹 2. Check Your Dog Daily for Ticks

Focus on high-risk areas: under ears, around neck, between toes, under tail, armpits.
Remove ticks immediately using fine-tipped tweezers or a tick remover tool—grasp close to the skin and pull straight out.

🔹 3. Avoid Tick-Infested Areas

During peak tick seasons (spring and summer), avoid:
- Tall grass
- Bushy trails
- Leaf litter or wooded areas
Stick to clear paths and keep your dog on a leash.

🔹 4. Keep Your Yard Tick-Free

Mow grass regularly and clear leaf litter or brush.
Create a 3-foot barrier (like gravel or wood chips) between wooded areas and your lawn.
Use pet-safe tick control products in your yard, like permethrin-based sprays.

🔹 5. Regular Vet Checkups and Blood Tests

Have your dog tested annually (or more often if at risk) for tick-borne diseases using a 4DX test, which screens for Ehrlichia and other pathogens.

🔹 6. Use Year-Round Tick Prevention

Ticks can be active even in cool months. Continue preventives all year, not just in summer.

Symptoms to Watch For:

If your dog shows these signs after a tick bite, see a vet promptly:

Lethargy or depression
Fever
Weight loss
Bleeding or bruising
Swollen lymph nodes
Loss of appetite