04/28/2026
Tick season is here and while most people have heard of Lyme disease, there are a few other tick-borne diseases we’re seeing more often that aren’t talked about as much: Anaplasma and Ehrlichia.
These diseases can affect your pet in ways that aren’t always obvious right away. They can impact the immune system, lower platelet counts (which help with clotting), and lead to signs like lethargy, joint pain, decreased appetite, fever, or even bleeding issues in more serious cases.
The tricky part? Some pets don’t show obvious symptoms at all but the disease is still affecting their body.
So what happens if your pet tests positive? It depends on the situation, but typically we’ll recommend:
A PCR test to determine if there is an active infection and whether treatment is needed
Additional bloodwork to check platelet levels and organ function
Treatment (often antibiotics like doxycycline) if indicated based on results
Monitoring to make sure your pet is responding well
Most pets do very well with early detection and appropriate treatment, which is why routine testing is so important.
What can you do to help prevent this?
Keep your pet on year-round tick prevention
Check your pet regularly, especially after being outdoors
Stay up to date on annual testing
If your pet is bitten by a tick and is not on flea and tick prevention, we recommend scheduling a 4DX test 6–8 weeks after the bite to screen for these diseases. A 4DX test is a simple blood test that checks for Lyme disease, Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, and heartworm disease even if your pet isn’t showing symptoms.
We commonly recommend preventatives like Bravecto Quantum and Credelio Quattro, which help protect against ticks (and more), making them a simple way to reduce your pet’s risk.
If you have questions about tick prevention or testing, we’re always here to help tick season sneaks up fast, but prevention makes a big difference. 💙🐾
