Canine ehrlichiosis is a tick-borne disease caused by Ehrlichia canis, an intracellular parasite belonging to the Rickettsial genus, which infects red blood cells to the point of causing alteration of their functioning and destruction of platelets.
Ticks become infected by taking blood from a dog presenting with the disease, both in the larvae and nymph stages, act as a reservoir of disease and can transmit the infection to sensitive dogs for at least 150 days after acquiring the infection.
Ehrlichiosis has a worldwide spread; in Europe it is mainly present in Italy, Spain and Portugal.
The evolution and outcome of the infection depend on a great variety of factors, including the bacterial load received. The presence of concomitant diseases, sustained by other parasites carried by ticks or other pathogens, can influence the manifestations and severity.

There are no age or sex predispositions for ehrlichiosis, however the German Shepherd seems to be more susceptible than other breeds.

ANAPLASMA SPP

Anaplasmosis is an infectious disease caused by a bacterium of the genus Anaplasma, and transmitted by the so-called “wood ticks” (Ixodes ricinus). These ticks are the carriers of bacterial infection and transmit it to the dog when they attach themselves to its skin and bite it to make their blood meal. The geographic distribution of the disease follows that of its vector. The incubation of the disease after a tick bite is 1-2 weeks.
Once the dog is infected, the bacterium settles inside the white blood cells, causing progressive damage in the animal such as chronic pain in the limbs and, in rarer cases, neurological disorders. Some subjects also develop irreparable damage to the kidneys and intestines.
The biggest problem of anaplasmosis and other tick-borne diseases is the possible co-infection, or the combination of multiple diseases in the same debilitated animal because it is more easily attacked and carried by the same tick, such as Borreliosis or Lyme disease.
Symptoms may not be clear and appear suddenly, so the disease is difficult to treat; an early diagnosis, on the other hand, allows a complete recovery.