Dog’s Health – Four Complications That Dogs Can Acquire From Tick Bites
Dogs are man’s favorite pet. Some even considered them as part of the family. Just like a human kid, house dogs are given special attention by their owners. They are being fed, groomed and nurtured. When a dog is ill, it is brought to a veterinarian who specially cares for animals. One of the most common health problems of dogs is tick infestation.
Ticks are pests. Some say that they belong to the same family of spiders and mites. They are not insects, but rather arachnids. Ticks are precarious because they carry certain diseases. As previously mentioned, they fed on their hosts by sucking on its blood. By this method, they transmit diseases from one host to another.
Generally, when a dog is affected by ticks, the most common symptoms distinguishable are fever, sudden loss of desire for food, irritation, swelling in the area, stupor and depression. Dog owners must report these symptoms to their vets for expeditious diagnosis and management.
If tick bites are not managed, it can develop into fatal complications. Complications from tick bites often have general symptoms. It is consequential to know the different complications of tick bites in order to arrest the condition as soon as possible. Cited below are some of them:
Ehrlichiosis
Brown dog tick bites and lone star tick bites are the most common causes of this condition. The causative agent is rickettsia organism. It is bacteria. But some say that it is a virus because it produces flu-like symptoms. The common symptoms of this condition range from loss of desire for food to fever, joint pain, anemia and bruising. Other possible symptoms are eye swelling and decrease levels of all types of blood cells. This condition is managed by antibiotic therapy like doxycycline or tetrachycline.
Anaplasmosis
This condition is frequently mistaken as Ehrlichiosis because their symptoms are relatively equivalent. Pets that are suffering from Anasplasmosis and Ehrlichiosis can show signs of fever, headache, muscle discomfort, chils, nausea and lethargy. On the other hand, they have different causative factors. If Ehrlichiosis is caused by rickettsia organism, Anasplasmosis on the other hand is caused by rickettsial parasite of ruminants. Same treatment with Ehrlichiosis, antibiotic therapy is the most effective management for Anaplasmosis.
Tick Bite Paralysis
This particular condition is very atypical in dogs. When the female wood or mountain ticks release a poison, this disease frequently follows. This toxin blocks the signal between the nervous system and the muscles. Paralysis is the common effect when the nerve function is stopped. Watch out for signs of weakness, difficulty of breathing and walking. The most effective management for tick bite paralysis is removal of ticks. As soon as the tick is detached, the dog is on its way to improvement. On the other hand, complete recuperation is achieved in twenty four to seventy two hours. If symptoms on the other hand become severe or if the paralysis has progressed intravenous fluid may be given or the dog may need a ventilator to assist in breathing.
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
This is a dangerous complication and most of the time fatal. Some countries call this disease as tick typhus and Tobia fever. The disease is carried by the bite of the Rocky Mountain wood tick or the American dog tick. Rickettsia then enters the dog in the tick spit. The most common signs and symptoms of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever are hyperthermia, nausea and vomiting, decrease in appetite, muscle pain and headache. Late signs of the disease are Petechial and maculopapular rash, abdominal and joint pain. Doxycycline is the drug of choice for the management of this disease.
Tick bites should not be taken for granted. It can cause complications and the symptoms are very daunting. Prevention is still best key to manage tick infestation. So be sure to maintain a tick free home habitat!
Manage fleas with Frontline for dogs. Frontline for Dogs treats all types of fleas and ticks and kills them fast.
