Lyme disease is the most known disease that dogs can contract from ticks. But the truth is that it’s not the only disease ticks transmit. They can also carry canine ehrlichiosis, canine anaplasmosis and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. The diseases can potentially be fatal to the animal but are often mistaken for other conditions. A trip to the veterinarian after detecting a tick bite is the best solution to diagnosing your dog with a tick carrying disease.
Tick bites aren’t 100% preventable, but there are ways to decrease your pet’s risk for being infected by a tick. There are several products and medications sold over the counter and by prescription by your veterinarian that work efficiently to keep ticks away. A veterinarian is the best person to talk to when trying to choose a medication that works best for your dog. Tick collars are an option that your dog can wear whenever he/she is at risk for tick bites. Vaccinations are another option veterinarians may offer if nothing else seems to work.
Be sure to check your dog for ticks every day. Tick season comes exists in the Fall, Spring and Summer—so it’s almost all year round. For warmer climate areas, tick season is year round. Ticks are small and often attach to hard to reach places, so it’s important to check your dog’s entire body. If your dog is furry, apply pressure while you rub your fingers through its fur. Feel for small bumps and pull the fur apart if you feel any to identify what it is coming from. If it happens to be a tick, don’t panic. Remove it using cautionary measures in order to protect yourself from infection. Wear rubber gloves and avoid crushing the tick. Ticks are hard to kill but the best way to destroy it is by burning it with a match and flushing it down the toilet. After removing it, clean your pet’s skin and wash your hands. Keep an eye on your dog. If it has any changes in behavior or appetite, talk to a veterinarian. They will properly diagnose your pet and prescribe the best treatment for its condition.
At every veterinary exam, ask for a tick screening. This is important because some tick borne illnesses do not cause any symptoms. The diseases have similar symptoms so self-diagnosing your dog isn’t the best choice. Lyme disease can be treated within just a few days if it’s detected early—so do what’s best for your dog and bring them to the vet!
Now, just because your dog got infected by a tick doesn’t mean you didn’t! It’s actually quite likely that humans living in the same premises as a tick infected animal will become infected as well. That is why it’s important to check yourself and your family for ticks regularly if you live in an infested area, you found a tick on your pet or if you have any other concern. Contact a physician if someone in your family experiences a tick bite and begins to have flu-like symptoms. This can indicate Lyme disease in humans which can be quite dangerous in its late stages.
Again, there is no way to completely protect your pets or yourself from tick bites. But there are plenty of ways to prevent them. Ticks are sneaky, unpredictable pests and outsmarting them will benefit your dog’s health as well as your own.
Brianna Elliott is an animal loving college student and writes articles for PSCPets.com - the animal lovers choice for animal and pet products including Azodyl which is designed for pets suffering from kidney issues. Her family has owned pets her entire life, including three cocker spaniels and one cat. Currently, they own one cocker spaniel and the same cat they have had since Brianna was five years old. She understands that tick bites are a common problem for dogs and thinks people need to learn more about them.
