Tick-Borne Diseases in Dogs

Although it is impossible to know if a tick is carrying the disease, just one bite from them can infect your dog. The worry is that the disease symptoms are so vague and owners may not realise until too late that their pet has been infected.

Diseases from ticks are known as zoonotic, which means that you (as a human) can get infected too if the tick latches onto you. If your dog is found to have a tick, it is vital to check your family and yourself to ensure there no other ticks around.

Ticks bring with them the possibility of several serious diseases for your dog which includes Lyme disease, Ehrlichiosis, Anaplasmosis and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

Symptoms of Tick-Borne Diseases in Dogs

There are many combinations of symptoms of tick-borne disease depending on the disease carried by the tick including:

• Fever up to 105°F (40.5°C)
• Loss of appetite
• Enlarged lymph nodes
• Inflammation of joints
• Vomiting and diarrhea
• Facial or limb swelling
• Coughing
• Breathing difficulties
• Abdominal pain

• Blood clotting issues and abnormal white blood counts
• Loss of interest in food
• Weight loss
• Changes in the gum color within your dog’s mouth
• Discharge coming from the eyes or nose areas
• Lethargy
• Weakness
• In more severe cases dogs may exhibit round, purplish-red spots inside of the eyelids and mouth caused by bleeding below the surface. About 30% of dogs will experience central nervous system symptoms such as:
• Altered mental states
• Impaired balance

Types 

• Lyme disease

is a bacterial infection that can affect dogs and humans and is transmitted by deer ticks and western blacklegged ticks

• Ehrlichiosis

is a blood infection that is transmitted by the brown dog tick; symptoms are slow to become apparent only showing until months after the first bite

• Rocky Mountain spotted fever

symptoms include fever, a stiff awkward gait, and neurological problems such as the development of seizures

• Anaplasmosis

is a blood cell infection transmitted by deer ticks and western blacklegged ticks; it shows symptoms similar to Lyme disease but also includes vomiting, diarrhea and the development of seizures

Diagnosis of Tick-Borne Diseases in Dogs

Prevention is the best management to avoid these nasty parasites. Their bites may respond to treatment but leave adverse effects on your dog’s health for many years to come. If you live in an area where ticks are known, checking your dog thoroughly after walks especially if you have visited heavy, busy areas and long grass, is advisable. If your pet is off his food, feeling tender to touch or is showing any other symptoms, transport your dog to the veterinarian clinic for a full check-up.

Some symptoms of tick disease can mimic other diseases, so it is best to find out in the early stages what the cause of your pet’s discomfort is. Your veterinarian will do a full physical check of the body, especially in areas where your dog’s hair is not so thick to see if there are any bite signs or ticks still attached. He will be able to show you the correct way to remove ticks. Blood tests will be done to determine what the disease is. Often your dog may have more than one tick-transmitted disease which often causes more severe symptoms. Blood test results that point to tick fever include low platelet count, anemia, and abnormal white blood cell counts. Other diagnostic tests can be useful in detecting low protein levels, abnormal calcium levels, electrolyte abnormalities, and abnormal liver or kidney values which point towards a diagnosis of tick fever.

 Treatment of Tick-Borne Diseases in Dogs

The drug chosen for treatment will depend on the specific disease that the tick has infected your dog with. The most common antibiotics used to treat tick fever in dogs include tetracycline, doxycycline, and minocycline. Doxycycline is the most popular and effective for the three most common diseases (Ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and Lyme disease.) The dose is determined via body weight, and the dosage will need to be administered twice a day for six weeks or longer. All tick-borne diseases in dogs are administered treatment in the form of a broad spectrum antibiotic therapy. Ideally, the best results come from treating when the disease is in its early phases. In some cases, your vet may also recommend a blood transfusion to treat anemia or other supportive therapies.

Screening for tick-borne diseases should become a natural part of your dog’s annual check-up. The prognosis for treatment during the acute phase is good if your dog gets immediate treatment. German Shepherds and Doberman Pinschers tend to have a more severe chronic form of the Ehrlichiosis disease, and the prognosis here is quite poor. Depending on the time that has passed since your dog was first infected, the treatment and recovery time can vary considerably. Your dog will require home care and plenty of rest to allow treatment to work effectively.

Prevention of Tick-Borne Diseases in Dogs

Preventing tick born diseases primarily comes down to controlling ticks, and your dog’s contact with ticks. Year-round preventive medications from your vet can help to kill ticks that begin feeding on your pooch, and taking the time to examine your dog for ticks each time you return home from a walk can help to prevent the transmission of the bacteria to your pet.

Any ticks found on your pet should be swiftly and properly removed using tweezers to grasp the tick gently right where it enters your dog’s skin, then pulling the tick straight off. Do not tightly grasp, or squeeze the tick. Handy tick removal devices are available from most vets and pet stores. These little tools can make tick removal fast and simple. Do not touch the tick as fluids and excretions from an infected tick can spread the disease to humans.

If you are unsure about how to remove ticks, visit your vet where they will be happy to show you how, or remove the tick for you. A tick preventative product prescribed by your veterinarian will help prevent tick attacks such as monthly parasite preventatives (including Frontline and Revolution) or tick collars , can be used; be sure to follow your veterinarian’s advice when using these products.

Dr.Ajeet Singh

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