Tick borne disease in dogs, and what the symptoms and treatment options are! Ticks are parasitic insects that adhere to animals and humans, feed on blood, and transfer diseases straight into the host’s system. When an infected tick bites an animal or a human, the condition is transmitted into the victim’s body. Tick-borne disease is becoming a more severe hazard to canine and human health.
Tick distribution is shifting due to climate change, deforestation, and moving to live and traveling patterns of deer, birds, and rodents. This can change from year to year or even season to season. Ticks can be found in almost every portion of the United States, including in urban areas and many parts of the world. They are dangerous to both humans and pets and can have significant health effects for dogs, many of which can also have serious health consequences for humans.
Tick Borne Diseases in Dogs and the Immune System of Your Dog
Ticks can transmit a single organism or numerous organisms to your pet through a single bite, allowing diverse species to collaborate to release poisons and activate your dog’s immune system.
Once inside your dog, these organisms infiltrate their cells and hijack their immune system. Some tick borne organisms can even help each other life within your pet’s body, which can lead to repeated or chronic diseases.
Tick borne diseases in dogs causes organs and tissues to become infected and inflamed, resulting in various symptoms. In certain circumstances, symptoms may not develop for several weeks after your pet has been infected with the disease.
Tick Borne Disease Symptoms in Dogs
Many tick borne diseases in dogs are asymptomatic. However, frequent non-specific indications include:
- Fever
- Appetite loss
- Joint pain or swelling
- Lameness
- Lymph nodes swollen
- Bruising
- Unusual bleeding
- Lethargy
If left untreated, tick borne infections can harm the kidneys, neurological, immunological, vascular, and heart. Many tick borne illnesses, in particular, create difficulties inside the blood, resulting in severe bleeding and the inability of blood to clot properly. This, as well as other tick borne diseases, can be lethal.
Some Tick Borne Diseases in Dogs
Tick borne infections are common in dogs throughout North America. In some situations, these diseases are transferred by ticks that dogs encounter near their homes; in others, the pet caught the ailment while away from home (often while on out-of-state camping trips with pet parents). The following are some of the several tick borne diseases in dogs.
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Lyme Disease
Lyme disease can be found in dogs and people across America and is caused by the Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria, which is spread by infected black-legged or deer ticks. Lyme disease symptoms in dogs might include lethargy, lameness, fever, joint pain or swelling, and lymph node enlargement. Lyme disease in dogs can be treated successfully.
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Bartonellosis in Dogs
Although Canine Bartonellosis is less common in dogs than some other tick borne infections, the tick borne disease symptoms of this disease can be severe. Intermittent fever and lameness are some of the first indicators of Canine Bartonellosis. However, this infection can escalate to catastrophic problems like heart or liver damage if left untreated.
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Rickettsia Disease
Rickettsial organisms are obligate intracellular bacterial parasites that can be transmitted by infected ticks. Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF), Ehrlichiosis, and Canine Anaplasmosis are all infections caused by Rickettsia bacteria. Bacterial diseases, such as those described below, can be challenging to identify. Multiple tests and rounds of treatment may be required before a definitive diagnosis of your tick borne disease symptoms in dogs can be made.
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Rocky Mountains Spotted Fever
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, or RMSF, is transmitted by the RMSF wood tick, brown deer tick, and American dog tick. This tick borne disease is seen in dogs throughout Central, South, and North America and can even harm humans. Some of the most frequent symptoms of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in dogs include swollen lymph nodes, joint pain, loss of appetite, and fever. Dogs may also have neurological tick borne disease symptoms such as balance problems or weakness in some circumstances.
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Canine Ehrlichiosis
Canine Ehrlichiosis can be transmitted by various ticks, including the American dog tick, brown dog tick, and lone star tick. Symptoms of this illness may include fever, low appetite, nasal bleeds, and bruises. Tick borne diseases treatment can be more difficult in dogs who develop chronic illness symptoms. The keys to successful Canine Ehrlichiosis treatment include early diagnosis and tick borne diseases treatment.
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Anaplasmosis in Dogs
Canine Anaplasmosis symptoms are similar to other tick-borne infections, including lethargy, loss of appetite, stiff joints, fever, diarrhea, and vomiting. Canine Anaplasmosis, on the other hand, can cause convulsions in dogs in extreme cases.
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Canine Babesiosis
Canine Babesiosis is most commonly transmitted via the bite of infected brown dog ticks or American dog ticks. However, this illness can also be conveyed through the taste of an infected dog, contaminated IV blood, or transplacental transmission from a pregnant mother to her unborn puppies. Canine Babesiosis causes red blood cell breakdown, which causes symptoms such as jaundice, pale gums, lethargy, dark-colored urine, and, in some cases, widespread weakness and vomiting.
Tick Borne Diseases Treatment for Dogs
Tick borne diseases in dogs are routinely treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics. While your dog is receiving antibiotics, your vet may advise you to give him probiotics to prevent gastrointestinal problems. Recurrent tick borne illnesses can be challenging to overcome. Even if your dog appears to be recovering, frequent blood testing may be required to detect recurrences as soon as possible.
Mild tick borne diseases may only have one course of antibiotics.
Treating severe instances varies according to the tick borne disease symptoms, although many diseases might have long-term adverse effects and problems. Routine screening detects some asymptomatic dogs with tick borne illnesses.
The majority of tick borne illness cases have a favorable outcome. On the other hand, the results of diseases such as Lyme nephritis are less definite.
Tick Borne Diseases in Dogs: Prevention
Avoid ticks and tick-infested locations to prevent tick borne infections in dogs. It’s also critical to keep your dog on tick and flea preventative throughout the year. Tick repellents, repellents, and growth inhibitors are used in oral, topical, and collar applications.
In tick-infested locations, treating the environment is also critical. Ticks can reside in the house, yard, or kennel, and pesticides for tick borne diseases treatment may be necessary. There is no way to minimize tick exposure in energetic dogs who spend a lot of time outside. Tick-repellent products may be preferable for certain dogs. Ticks can be caught before they bite by carefully grooming after outdoor activity.
Some diseases are also zoonotic, which means they can spread to people. Because most tick borne diseases in dogs are transmitted only through biting a tick, humans do not get the infection from their pets. Unattached ticks brought into the house by pets may discover and bite a human.
Inspecting Your Dog for Ticks
Once they start feeding, most ticks are dark brown or black in color and rather large. An online search should help you learn what ticks look like in your area and where they are most commonly found. Ticks must be adequately removed to safeguard your dog’s health. Contact your veterinarian for advice on correctly eliminating ticks from your dog’s skin.
Takeaway
Finally, don’t abandon your dog’s favorite activity simply because uncertainty looms outside your door. Keep one eye on the dangers and the other on your darling dog. You and your dog will enjoy the outdoors better if you know how to prevent tick-borne infections and keep your dog safe.
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