Anaplasmosis In Dogs
Anaplasmosis in Dogs: What Pet Parents Need to Know
Anaplasmosis is one of the most misunderstood tick-borne illnesses affecting dogs today. While Lyme disease gets most of the headlines, Anaplasmosis can cause equally troubling symptoms—and sometimes it flies completely under the radar.
Whether you’re seeing unusual symptoms in your dog or you just got a positive test result and don’t know what to do next, this blog will help you understand the risks, the symptoms, and the next steps from both a conventional and holistic perspective.
What Is Anaplasmosis?
Anaplasmosis is caused by a bacteria transmitted by ticks—most commonly the black-legged tick (Ixodes scapularis) and the brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus).
There are two main types of Anaplasma that affect dogs:
Anaplasma phagocytophilum – infects white blood cells; often spread by the same tick that carries Lyme disease
Anaplasma platys – infects platelets; spread by brown dog ticks, more common in southern states
Once infected, some dogs show acute symptoms, while others carry the bacteria for months—or even years—with no outward signs of illness.
How Dogs Contract Anaplasmosis
Dogs are exposed when bitten by an infected tick. This usually happens:
During warm months (spring to fall)
In wooded, grassy, or rural environments
On hiking or camping trips
In backyards with wildlife traffic (especially deer and rodents)
Ticks typically must be attached for 12–24 hours or longer to transmit Anaplasma. Many pet parents never even see the tick—especially if it was in an ear, between paw pads, or around the groin.
Symptoms of Anaplasmosis in Dogs
Many dogs never show symptoms at all. For those that do, symptoms often appear within 1–2 weeks of a tick bite and may include:
Lethargy or low energy
Loss of appetite
Joint pain, stiffness, or lameness (often shifting from limb to limb)
Fever
Vomiting or diarrhea
Bruising or nosebleeds
Pale gums or low platelet count
Neurological signs (rare but possible)
Symptoms can mimic Lyme disease or Ehrlichiosis, and co-infections are common.
Diagnosing Anaplasmosis
Anaplasmosis is usually identified through a SNAP 4Dx test, which checks for antibodies to Lyme, Ehrlichia, and Anaplasma.
A positive SNAP means the dog was exposed—but doesn’t confirm active infection
A C6 test or PCR can help determine whether the infection is active
A CBC (Complete Blood Count) may show low platelets or signs of immune stress
Some dogs test positive on a SNAP test with no symptoms and completely normal lab work—this is where a personalized approach becomes essential.
Conventional Treatment Options
Most veterinarians will treat a positive case (with or without symptoms) with:
Doxycycline, a broad-spectrum antibiotic, typically for 21–30 days
NSAIDs or pain meds for joint inflammation
Bloodwork follow-up to check platelets and white cells
However, there are risks:
Overuse of antibiotics—especially when symptoms are absent—can damage the microbiome, weaken immunity, and create long-term imbalances. In these cases, many pet parents choose to support the immune system naturally and monitor rather than jumping straight to medication.
Breed Considerations & Chronic Risk
Some breeds, like Golden Retrievers, Labradors, and German Shepherds, may be more prone to long-term immune reactions or joint inflammation following tick disease.
There is no vaccine for Anaplasmosis in dogs. Once infected, dogs can carry the bacteria for months or years—even if symptoms never appear.
Tick-borne illnesses are immune-driven, and how your dog handles the exposure depends greatly on:
Their overall immune health
Gut function and diet
Stress and inflammation levels
Co-infections (like Lyme or Ehrlichia)
What If My Dog Is Positive but Has No Symptoms?
That’s actually more common than you might think.
C6 testing
The C6 test is a quantitative blood test that measures antibodies to a very specific peptide (called “C6”) found only in the Lyme disease-causing bacteria, Borrelia burgdorferi. It’s one of the most commonly used tools to evaluate whether a dog has been exposed to Lyme disease, and in some cases, whether treatment is needed.
Unlike the basic SNAP 4Dx test (which gives a yes/no answer for Lyme and other tick diseases), the C6 test gives you a numerical value—something like “C6 = 70.”
Why the C6 Test Is Unique
It detects antibodies to the C6 peptide, which is not present in Lyme vaccines—so vaccination won’t cause a false positive.
It helps differentiate between natural infection and vaccination exposure.
It allows for monitoring over time to see if antibody levels are rising or falling—useful in tracking disease progression or response to treatment.
How to Interpret C6 Values
C6 ValueWhat It May Indicate<30Negative or very low exposure30–60Low-level exposure; monitor if asymptomatic60–100Moderate antibody response; clinical evaluation needed>100Strong immune response; suggestive of active or recent infection
But here's the key:
The C6 test doesn't confirm active disease on its own. It only confirms that the immune system has seen Borrelia and responded.
What Else Should Be Considered?
Symptoms (limping, fever, lethargy, joint pain, etc.)
Urine testing for protein (Lyme can trigger Lyme nephritis in rare cases)
CBC/chemistry panel to assess inflammation, platelet counts, and organ function
Repeat C6 in 3–6 months to monitor changes
When to Take Action vs. When to Monitor
Many holistic vets (and even some conventional ones) do not treat based solely on a positive C6 unless:
The dog is symptomatic
C6 values are rising significantly over time
There are co-infections (like Anaplasma or Ehrlichia)
There’s evidence of kidney involvement (e.g., protein in urine)
If the dog is clinically healthy with no symptoms and stable bloodwork, many pet parents opt to support the immune system naturally and watch carefully rather than rushing to antibiotics.
It’s essential to consider your dog’s history, symptoms, and bloodwork rather than relying on a single test result to make treatment decisions.
Top 5 Things You Can Do Today
Even before symptoms appear—or while you're waiting for results—there’s plenty you can do to support your dog naturally:
Feed a fresh, whole food diet, anti-inflammatory diet to support the immune system and reduce inflammation
Use natural tick prevention (essential oils, cedar oil sprays, tick tags) to avoid re-exposure
Add immune-modulating herbs and mushrooms to your dog's daily routine.
Watch for signs of joint pain, bruising, or behavior changes
Avoid unnecessary stressors like vaccines, synthetic flea/tick products, or highly processed foods during recovery
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