Therapeutic management of Ehrlichia canis induced pancytopaenia and hepatopathy in a dog

This report describes the diagnosis and successful clinical management of Ehrlichia canis induced pancytopenia and hepatopathy in a one year old labrador retriever dog. The animal was presented to the Referral Veterinary Polyclinic, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar with a history of recurrent fever, lethargy, anorexia, vomiting and nasal bleeding. Detailed clinical examination revealed anaemia, pyrexia, tachycardia, tachypnea, hepatomegaly, lymphadenopathy, dehydration and serosanguineous nasal bleeding. Peripheral blood smear examination confirmed canine monocytic ehrlichiosis. Haemato-biochemical study revealed significant leukopenia, microcytic hypochromic anaemia, immune mediated thrombocytopenia, eosinophilia, lymphocytosis, hyperglobulinemia, elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and hypoalbuminemia. The animal was treated successfully using doxycycline (5 mg/kg BID per orally for 21 days) and supportive therapy using antacid, anti-histamine, anti-inflammatory steroid, antioxidant, hepato-protectant, hematinic, B-complex vitamins along with haemocoagulase to control epistaxis. The dog showed improvement in general condition and haemato-biochemical parameters after complete therapy.