With warmer weather and plenty of outdoor activities to check off your summer bucket list, it’s the perfect opportunity to include your dog in the fun! Your furry friend requires a certain amount of daily exercise, but you must be cautious when taking your dog outside, as ticks pose a threat to their well-being.
Ticks carry serious illnesses that can have negative health implications. Understanding how to identify tick-borne illnesses in your dogs can allow you to take preventive measures to help keep your canine companion safe and healthy!
Common Tick-Borne Illnesses in Dogs
Lyme Disease
Lyme disease caused by the bite of a black-legged or deer tick infected with the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, is one of the most well-known tick-borne illnesses. Dogs infected with Lyme disease may show symptoms such as fever, lameness, swollen joints, and loss of appetite. If left untreated, it can lead to more severe health issues, including kidney damage.
Canine Anaplasmosis
Caused by the bacterium Anaplasma phagocytophilum, anaplasmosis can lead to symptoms like fever, joint pain, lethargy, and vomiting. If these symptoms appear in your pet, seeking veterinary care is essential, as timely treatment can prevent more severe complications like seizures.
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) is transmitted by the Rocky Mountain wood tick, brown deer tick, and American dog tick. This tick-borne illness can affect dogs in Central, South, and North America, as well as humans. Common symptoms of RMSF in dogs include swollen lymph nodes, joint pain, decreased appetite, and fever. In some cases, dogs may also experience neurological symptoms like balance issues or weakness.
Canine Ehrlichiosis
Ehrlichiosis, caused by Ehrlichia canis, is usually carried by the brown dog tick. Symptoms of this condition typically appear about 1 to 3 weeks after your dog has been infected, often resulting in fever, weight loss, swollen lymph nodes, and respiratory distress. Early detection and treatment are crucial to prevent the disease from progressing to a more severe, chronic stage.
Canine Babesiosis
Canine babesiosis is mainly transmitted through the bite of infected brown dog ticks or American dog ticks. However, it can also be spread through the bite of an infected dog, contaminated blood from intravenous transfusions, or a pregnant mother to her unborn puppies through transplacental transmission. Canine babesiosis leads to the destruction of red blood cells, resulting in symptoms such as jaundice, pale gums, lethargy, dark-colored urine, and, in some cases, generalized weakness and vomiting.
Preventing Tick-Borne Illnesses
Prevention is the best approach to protect your dogs from tick-borne illnesses. Here are some effective preventive measures!
Perform Regular Tick Checks
After spending time outdoors, thoroughly check your dogs for ticks. Use tools such as fine-toothed combs and grooming brushes to help detect ticks. Pay special attention to areas like behind the ears, under the collar, and between the toes.
Use Tick Preventatives
Apply tick preventatives as recommended by your veterinarian, such as topical treatments, tick collars, or oral medications.
Maintain Your Yard
To keep your yard tick-free, you must regularly maintain it by mowing the grass, removing leaf litter, and pulling tall weeds where ticks thrive.
Practice Safe Tick Removal
If you find a tick on your dog, remove it promptly using the Original Tick Key™. This tool ensures safe and effective removal without squeezing the tick’s body, reducing the risk of disease transmission.
Protecting your dogs from tick-borne illnesses is vital for their health and safety. TickKey International, Inc. offers the Original Tick Key™, sold in stores across the United States and internationally, to ensure your beloved pet stays tick-free.
Call (203)300-5078 or visit us online today to find a retailer near you!
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