Learn the Truth About Ticks
Many people don’t realize that there are two times of the year when ticks are most prevalent: early spring and fall. Ticks are common parasites that can be found anywhere from the deep woods to city limits. Each year, thousands of dogs and their owners become infected with serious diseases transmitted by a number of different ticks. These diseases can be prevented with routine care for your pet along with awareness about ticks and how they function. We at Ash Veterinary Clinic want to make owners aware of ticks and the diseases they carry because when you know about the risk you can help keep your best friend happy, healthy and tick-free.
Not all ticks are found in the same area. The two that are most prevalent in Southeast Michigan are deer ticks and brown dog ticks. The deer tick is often referred to as the black-legged tick. It is small and unassuming, but don’t be fooled by appearances because this tick can transmit Lyme disease. Lyme disease is a zoonotic disease, which means that it can infect people as well as pets. The brown dog tick is found throughout the United States and Canada, and it is also likely to live indoors which means it could inhabit kennels, your home and even your bed. Dogs are the brown dog tick’s host of choice and this tick is a known carrier of canine ehrlichiosis and babesiosis. Ehrlichiosis and babesiosis are zoonotic diseases, as well.
While Lyme disease is well known, it certainly is not the only disease that dogs—or people—can contract from ticks. What’s common among all vector-borne disease like these is that symptoms can be vague and difficult to recognize. Often many pet owners do not know their dog is suffering from a debilitating tick disease until it is too late. Lyme disease is an infection of the tissues that often leads to lameness. In general, symptoms in dogs are difficult to detect and may not appear until several months after infection. Also, symptoms may come and go and can mimic other health conditions. While a “bull’s eye” rash at the site of the tick bite is common with human Lyme disease infection, dogs have no such indicator. In fact, a dog infected with Lyme disease may show few if any signs, but some of the more common symptoms of this disease can include lameness, loss of appetite and depression, reluctance to move and fatigue. The strain of ehrlichia that is transferred by the brown dog tick is an infection of white blood cells that can affect bone marrow function, including production of blood cells. Common symptoms can include depression and/or lack of energy, loss of appetite, runny eyes and nose/discharge, spontaneous nose bleeds, bruising on gums and belly or lameness/joint pain. Babesiosis is also transmitted by the brown dog tick. It can also be transmitted from dog to dog if an infected dog bites another. The disease affects red blood cells, and as a dog’s immune system tries to eliminate the infected blood cells, anemia, pallor and general weakness may result. A dog infected with babesiosis may show any of the following signs; lack of activity/lethargy, generalized weakness, vomiting, loss of appetite and weight loss.
Tick borne diseases and the risks they pose to your dog can be minimized with preventive measures including topical medications and vaccinations. One of the first things you can do to protect your dog is to learn about the ticks and diseases in your area. Reading this article has already helped you take the first step. This way you will better understand the risks your dog is likely to encounter in his or her daily adventures. Here at Ash Veterinary Clinic, we offer three different types of tick prevention for your pet. They are all applied topically every month and one of them costs less than 33 cents per day! We also offer a Lyme vaccine to help prevent against Lyme disease, which is transferred by the deer tick. This vaccine is given yearly after a two series booster is given initially.
It is extremely important for you to check yourself and your pet thoroughly when coming inside from a day outdoors. Ticks start at your feet and migrate upwards. If you are headed out to a wooded area, it is recommended to wear long pants. When ticks hit a clothing barrier, they have nothing to attach onto. Be sure to check between your dog’s toes, behind ears, under armpits and around the tail and head too. If you do feel anything, separate the hair to see what is there. A tick that has embedded itself in your dog will vary in size, something from the size of a pinhead to a grape depending on how long it has been attached. Ticks are usually black or dark brown in color but will turn a grayish-white after feeding in what’s referred to as an engorged state.
Removing embedded ticks is a delicate operation because it is easy for a piece of the tick to break off and remain in your dog’s skin if done improperly. Never use petroleum jelly, a hot match, nail polish or other products to remove a tick. Doing so can harm your dog and may cause an embedded tick to release more disease-carrying saliva. Infection can occur as early as 24 hours after attachment, so we recommend taking your pet to the veterinarian right away. If you have any questions regarding tick borne diseases or think that your pet may have a tick, please call Ash Veterinary Clinic in Carleton at 734-782-2827.
