Ask-the-Vet: Anaplasmosis
-1.jpg?width=50&name=Aly%20in%20RCHC%20shirt%20(+%20Mishka)-1.jpg)
Q: I just read your article on the website about anaplasmosis. My 1.5-year-old labrador just tested positive for anaplasmosis, and my veterinarian recommended a 10-day course of doxycycline. However, in your article, you do not recommend treating a dog with no symptoms, so I'm confused about what I should do. He has been on Frontline, but now I want to switch him to Bravecto so he doesn’t get infected again or with another disease. Should I wait until 30 days after his last dose of Frontline before starting him on Bravecto?
A: Anaplasmosis is a bacterial tickborne disease spread by black-legged ticks. Many dogs with anaplasmosis exposure (a positive result on an antibody blood test) will not show any clinical signs of infection (fever, lethargy, decreased appetite, etc.). This is because the dog’s immune system has already dealt with the bacterial exposure, but the antibodies their immune system has created are still hanging around in the bloodstream.
To be sure a dog is truly asymptomatic, the recommendation is to check blood work (specifically, a test called a Complete Blood Count and/or a blood smear). Dogs clinically affected by anaplasmosis often show signs of low platelet levels. As I do not know your dog's complete medical history, your veterinarian may have specific reasons for recommending a course of doxycycline. For that reason, I encourage you to speak with them about their goal of treatment as well as the risks or benefits. However, the general recommendations for anaplasmosis are:
- Clinical signs with low platelets - treat
- No clinical signs, with low platelet - treat
- No clinical signs, with normal platelets – do not treat
I agree with your thought about switching up flea and tick prevention since we know a break is occurring in his coverage despite your diligence with Frontline. There are so many options nowadays that knowing what is best for you and your dog can be daunting. Each product works a little differently, so picking the right product for you and your dog comes down to understanding how each works and choosing one that fits with your lifestyle (for example, one that works for 1 month, 3 months, 9 months, or one that is topical/chewable/collar). I recommend you check out one of my other health topics, which reviews preventatives here.
Frontline (and other fipronil products) do not repel ticks, meaning it won't prevent tick attachment to your pet's skin. Ticks could be found on your pet crawling around, but once the tick attaches, the product will kill the tick in about 24 hours. However, some tick-borne diseases can transmit infection in that amount of time. Bravecto (and other products containing isoxazoline) is a prescription-only medication that doesn’t repel ticks either, but it will kill a tick once it is attached. Compared to Frontline, however, it has a relatively faster kill time. It also lasted for 3 months instead of 1. Because Frontline and Bravecto are two different drugs, you do not need to wait 30 days to administer Bravecto.
Another topical option would be K9 AdvanTIX II, which will repel ticks to decrease the incidence of tick attachment, or the Seresto collar (however, this collar must be applied correctly to have proper skin contact; otherwise, a breakthrough can occur). And, of course, regardless of any preventative you use, diligent and routine tick checks—especially after exposure to high-risk areas.
Thank you for your thoughtful questions about your dog’s health. I hope this added information is helpful to you.