Tick invasion in dogs is putting more risk of Lyme disease. Experts tell tick-borne diseases can be deadly for dogs. Vets tell us about the symptoms of what pet owners need to be aware of that. When it comes to Lyme disease, dogs don’t get a bulls-eye rash as people do. One of the first signs can be lameness and appearing tired. Some of the symptoms also include fever, joint pain, and paralysis. And if these symptoms go undetected for long periods of time, they can lead to kidney failure.
Can Tick Fever Affect Long-Term Growth in Young Dogs? No, tick fever has nothing to do with growth. Most dogs get better within a few days of treatment. In rare cases, long-term medication and hospitalization may be required. Mostly, Lyme tick disease has no long-term effects. However, it can cause kidney failure if Lyme disease is not treated early. While Ehrlichia can cause excessive bruising and bleeding if left untreated for a long time.
Tick-borne illnesses are as follow:
There are six tick-borne diseases that pet owners need to be worried about. They are Lyme, Ehrlichiosis, Anaplasmosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Babesiosis, and Bartonellosis.
Anaplasmosis attacks the white blood cells and they will collapse and go into an acute crisis. The transmission of the bacteria that causes Ehrlichiosis and Anaplasmosis happens within a few hours of the tick attack.
Symptoms of Anaplasmosis include:
- High Fever
- Joint pain and stiffness
- Loss of appetite and vomiting
- Diarrhea
Symptoms of Ehrlichiosis include:
- Being Tired
- Poor Appetite
- Enlarged Lymph Nodes
- Abnormal bruising, bleeding
- Chronic eye inflammation
Check whether your dog has Lyme disease:
Any dog that is lame without a traumatic event, indicates Lyme disease. Pets with these symptoms need immediate medical treatment including antibiotic and IV treatment some cases the Lyme disease can lead to organ failure. Ticks need to be attached for 24 hours to spread the bacteria that causes Lyme. The name of the bacteria is Borrelia burgdorferi.
Dogs can be infected for months before they come down with symptoms. And usually, it is too late to save them.
Lyme disease is an infection that can’t be detected. They will have no outward signs until they get kidney failure.
How long and effective is Lyme Vaccination?
Vets recommend your dog be tested for tick-borne disease every year. Pet owners can also consider getting a vaccine against Lyme. The shot protects between 60% to 80% of dogs. Boosters are needed following the initial series of vaccination.
Vets recommend oral medications to prevent tick-borne diseases. They must be given every 30 days.
Are Dogs Immune to Lyme disease?
No. Antibiotics can only treat Lyme disease, but cannot cure it. Your dogs are likely to become re-infected if your dog is not undergone yearly checkups or monthly oral medications.
However, there is no vaccine for Ehrlichia or Anaplasma, making it difficult to prevent tick infection.
Can a Tick make your cat sick?
Cats are generally not considered a risk for Lyme disease because they are highly resistant to infections.
They are at risk for Anaplasmosis and exhibit similar symptoms like fever and lack of appetite. And they can be treated with a course of antibiotics just like dogs. The best way to prevent exposure to cats is to keep your cat indoors.
Is Lyme Disease Therapy 100% effective?
No, Lyme disease cannot be eliminated. Dogs are treated with doxycycline for months or years until they develop antibodies against the disease.
Even after the diagnosis, the infection tends to hide in the body for years until new complications arise. However, evidence suggests that antibiotic treatment may decrease antibody levels than without its treatment. Alternatively, a poor antibiotic treatment is worse than no treatment.
Time Taken for Dogs to show Symptoms after a Tick Bite:
In general, symptoms start 2-7 days after the tick first bites your dog, and generally take a few tick bites at once to start the paralysis.
Ticks can easily hide under the fur of dogs. Thus, making it very hard to find. So, the only way is to check for signs such as fatigue and poor balance on the back of your dog’s legs.
It can also be hard for dogs to drink, chew, and breathe even though no symptoms of fever or daily diseases are present. In case of respiratory failure, chest muscles will get paralyzed and death will occur within hours.
When you see that the dog looks depressed and less alert, you must always look for these signs.
Can Ehrlichia transmit from dog to human?
The tick that causes Ehrlichia called Rhipicephalus sanguineus, may not be involved in human transmission as it rarely bites people.
Moreover, till now no evidence has shown that gives any information about the transmission of Ehrlichia from dogs to humans.
How can you remove ticks from your dog?
To remove ticks, use fine-pointed tweezers. Stretch the dog’s fur and grasp the tick as close as possible to the skin. Then pull up very gently slowly and steadily.
Another way is to use a tick removal hook, which is much easier than using tweezers. For the tick-dense region where your dog frequently hosts the distressing little creatures, this is particularly helpful. Several types of hooks are available, including the Tick Twister or the Tick Stick. You just position the trenches on each side and pull them out.
Should you worry if your dog has tick fever?
As soon as you encounter symptoms like joint pain, fever, painful crying, walking difficulty, and lack of appetite in dogs, immediately rush to a vet or seek advice for treatment.
Nasty tick bites also cause rashes in dogs. Likely, your dogs may not show the symptoms above. However, if your dog is left untreated for several weeks after tick bites, they are likely to suffer from Lyme disease.
Can a hot bath remove ticks in dogs?
No, a warm or hot bath won’t kill ticks. They even survive outdoors in rainstorms.
Don’t get worried if you find a tick. Stay calm! When you clearly sight a tick, use tweezers and begin removing it.
Natural Remedies to Prevent Tick in dogs:
Many people look for more natural ways to care for their pets. Some of which are more effective than others.
Therefore, we bring you some natural tips to help prevent and remove ticks in dogs. However, it is very important you know this is not a replacement for veterinary treatment which needs to be carried out beforehand to ensure your dog hasn’t suffered any dermatological or other health problems.
Ticks are ectoparasite arachnids. It means they are parasites that live externally on another living being. Their greatest activity is between spring and autumn.
They can act as vectors for many diseases, some of them very seriously. For this reason, we need to have our dogs properly dewormed and examine their skin after a walk or hike. Especially during the most active tick period.
We must eliminate them within 24 hours as this is the approximate time for ticks to hook into the skin and transmit pathogens.
When ticks are very small, they can be difficult to register. So we need to be attentive to the following symptoms like redness, severe itching, rash, and swelling.
In the most serious cases when there is a generalized parasitosis. The veterinarian will advise using veterinary products which have much greater effectiveness. They can also remove the ticks one by one using special tweezers for this purpose. They are also able to apply products like drops, collars, tablets, serums, shampoos, and sprays which are designed to help eliminate parasites definitively.
Natural remedies are not a replacement for veterinary treatment but can be used in a supplementary fashion after you have consulted a veterinary specialist.
01. Apple Cider Vinegar:
Apple cider Vinegar is the composition of acetic acid and apple juice that tastes sour due to vinegar. It may help eliminate ticks as well as other parasites such as fleas and lice.
Mix equal parts of water and apple cider vinegar in a bowl. Once ready, dip in a clean cloth and rub it over the dog’s skin.
02. Citrus:
Citrus fruits are thought to repel ticks. It is advisable to use lemon but oranges, grapefruit, and lime are also valid.
Mix two cups of water with two lemons cut in half. Cover and let simmer for an hour to infuse. Let it cool and put the mixture into a spray bottle. Apply to the dog’s body, but check the reaction and ensure you don’t get it anywhere near their face and eyes.
03. Chamomile:
Some reports suggest chamomile is an effective remedy as to a tick repellent.
To use simply prepare a chamomile tea. Let it cool and rub it on the dog’s skin to get rid of the ticks. It’s also possible that chamomile can help prevent the growth of tick eggs.
04. Natural Oils:
Several essential oils might also help us to get rid of ticks in dogs. These include neem oil which can be applied to the dog’s skin when mixed with water. When using an essential oil, you will need to dilute only two drops in half a liter of water.
Now, you have some help and effective methods to remove ticks from dogs and prevent them from coming back.