Tick Bourne Diseases:
Lyme disease is transmitted by the deer tick and the western black legged tick. Usually an infective tick must be attached 48 hours before transmission occurs. Dogs don’t show signs for 2 to 5 months post infection.
Lyme disease affects animals differently, and many display no clinical signs at all. In dogs, the most common signs are:
- Lameness, fever, swollen joints, kidney failure, not himself/herself, anorexia.
Disease progression if left untreated:
- Damaged joints, fatal kidney disease.
Lyme disease prevention:
- Lyme vaccine works by helping to block the transmission (from tick to dog) of the spirochete that causes Lyme disease.
- Apply a topical tick control product monthly. Frontline Plus kills ticks that may transmit Lyme disease.
- Brush dogs frequently during tick season & conduct thorough tick checks.
- If you find a tick attached, remove it promptly with tweezers and without crushing the tick. Contact North Mankato Animal Hospital if you are concerned.
Anaplasmosis is transmitted by the deer tick or the black legged tick that carries bacteria and when they bite the dog they spread the infection.
Infected dogs may not show any clinical signs, but the most common signs are:
- Lack of energy, high fever, swollen/very painful joints, loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea.
Disease progression if left untreated:
- Very low numbers of platelets and white blood cells, chronic joint pain, neurological signs.
Anaplasmosis Prevention: (There is currently no vaccine for Prevention)
- Apply a topical tick control product monthly. Frontline Plus kills ticks that may transmit Anaplasmosis.
- Brush dogs frequently during tick season & conduct thorough tick checks.
- If you find a tick attached, remove it promptly with tweezers and without crushing the tick. Contact North Mankato Animal Hospital if you are concerned.
Ehrlichiosis is transmitted by the brown dog tick that carries the bacteria and bites the dog, spreading the infection.
Most common signs of infection:
- Loss of appetite, depression, fever, painful joints, bloody nose, pale gums.
Disease Progression if left untreated:
- Permanent blindness, autoimmune diseases, bleeding complications, death.
Ehrlichiosis Prevention: (There is currently no vaccine available for Prevention)
- Apply a topical tick control product monthly. Frontline Plus kills ticks that may transmit Ehrlichiosis.
- Brush dogs frequently during tick season & conduct thorough tick checks.
- If you find a tick attached, remove it promptly with tweezers and without crushing the tick. Contact North Mankato Animal Hospital if you are concerned.
Diagnosis of tick diseases:
- Simple blood test- 4dx snap test, can detect 4 infections in one blood sample in less than 10 minutes.
- Other tests- Complete blood count, chemistry profile, urinalysis, other special tests depending on initial findings and clinical signs.
Treatment of tick diseases:
- Antibiotics
Prognosis of tick diseases:
- If caught and treated early, the outcome is usually very good for a full recovery from symptoms. Some of these infections cannot be cured completely, but early intervention usually provides the best prognosis.
NO PREVENTION IS 100% EFFECTIVE. TEST YOUR DOG ONCE A YEAR.
