Tick-borne diseases pose a serious health threat for Wake Forest pets and their owners. These illnesses can be both painful and life-threatening if preventative care isn't administered by your vet. Here are some common tick-borne illnesses in dogs, as well as symptoms to keep in mind.
Tick-Borne Illness in Dogs
Tick-borne diseases impact thousands of dogs across the US every year and are capable of producing some very serious and painful symptoms for your pooch. Some of the conditions spread by ticks can be fatal for dogs.
How Tick-Borne Diseases Attack Your Dog’s Immune System
Ticks are able to transmit a single type of organism or multiple organisms to your dog through a single bite (coinfection), allowing different organisms to work together to release toxins and trigger your dog’s immune system. Once these organisms have found their way into your pup they invade your dog's cells and hijack their immune system. Some tick-borne organisms are even capable of helping each other to survive inside your pet's body, which can lead to recurring or chronic infections.
Illnesses spread by ticks can lead to your dog's organs and tissue becoming infected and inflamed resulting in a multitude of symptoms. Symptoms may not even appear until several weeks after your pet has be exposed to the disease.
Common Tick-Borne Diseases Seen in Dogs
There are a number of tick-borne illnesses seen in dogs across North America. In some cases these diseases are spread by ticks that dogs encounter near home, in other cases, these diseases have been contracted by the pet while away from home (often on a camping trip or hike). Below are some of the most common tick-borne diseases diagnosed in Wake Forest area dogs.
Lyme Disease
- Caused by the Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria which is transmitted by infected black-legged ticks or deer ticks, Lyme disease is seen in dogs and people across North American. The symptoms of Lyme disease in dogs can include fever, lethargy, lameness, joint pain or swelling, and the enlargement of lymph nodes. Lyme disease in dogs can be successfully treated.
Canine Bartonellosis
- Although Canine Bartonellosis is less common than some other tick-borne diseases we see in dogs, the symptoms of this disease can be very serious. Look out for the early signs of this disease like intermittent fever and lameness because if left untreated this condition can lead to serious conditions such as heart or liver disease.
Rickettsial Diseases
Rickettsial organisms are bacterial obligate intracellular parasites that can be spread by infected ticks. Rickettsial bacteria can cause a number of illnesses in dogs including Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Ehrlichiosis, and Canine Anaplasmosis. Bacterial diseases such as those listed below can be very challenging to diagnose. These diseases typically require multiple lab tests and rounds of treatment before a concrete diagnosis can be made.
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
- RMSF or Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever is carried by the Rocky Mountain wood tick, brown deer tick and American dog tick. This tick-borne condition can be seen in dogs across Central, South, and North America, and can also affect humans. Swollen lymph nodes, joint pain, poor appetite, and fever are some of the most common symptoms of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in dogs. In some cases, dogs may also experience neurological symptoms such as balance issues or weakness.
Canine Ehrlichiosis
- There are a number of different ticks that can transmit Canine Ehrlichiosis, including the American dog tick, brown dog tick and the lone star tick. Symptoms of this condition typically begin to appear about 1 -3 weeks after your dog has been infected and may include fever, poor appetite, nose bleeds, and bruising. Early diagnosis and treatment are the keys to the successful treatment of Canine Ehrlichiosis. Treatment can be far more difficult when the disease has developed into chronic symptoms.
Canine Anaplasmosis
- The most common symptoms of Canine Anaplasmosis are much the same as other tick-borne diseases and include lethargy, loss of appetite, stiff joints, fever, diarrhea, and vomiting. In severe cases, however, Canine Anaplasmosis can lead to seizures in dogs.
Protozoal Diseases
Also transmitted by ticks are Protozoal intracellular parasites. These organisms migrate to dog’s red blood cells are the cause of the Protozoal diseases listed below.
Canine Babesiosis
- Canine Babesiosis is primarily spread through the bite of infected brown dog ticks or American dog ticks. However, this condition can also be spread through the bite of an infected dog, contaminated IV blood or transferred from a pregnant mother to her unborn puppies through transplacental transmission. Canine Babesiosis causes the breakdown of red blood cells, resulting in symptoms such as jaundice, pale gums, lethargy, dark-colored urine, and in some cases generalized weakness and vomiting.
Canine Hepatozoonosis
- Although Canine Hepatozoonosis is a tick-borne disease, your pet could contract the disease by consuming an infected animal such as a rodent or bird. Dogs infected with this disease will often show mild symptoms or no symptoms at all. That said, depending on the strain of the disease more severe cases can lead to symptoms that can seriously impact your pet's mobility such as muscle, bone, and/or joint pain. Other symptoms of Canine Hepatozoonosis include fever, pale gums and skin, and enlarged lymph nodes.
Treatment for Tick-Borne Disease in Dogs
Dogs diagnosed with tick-borne illnesses are typically treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics. While your dog is undergoing treatment with antibiotics your vet may also recommend giving your pup probiotics to prevent gastrointestinal issues.
Recurring tick-borne conditions can be challenging to beat. Even after your dog appears to have recovered, regular blood work may be necessary in order to detect recurrences as early as possible.
Protecting Your Dog Against Tick-Borne Diseases
Year-round tick prevention medications are the number one defense against tick-borne diseases in dogs. Speak to your vet to find out which parasite prevention medication is best for your pet based on where you live, your pet's age, and your dog's lifestyle. While these medications go a long way to protecting your dog, no tick prevention method is 100% effective, so diligence is always a must.
If your dog has been in areas where ticks are known to live such as farmland, forests, or areas with tall grass, be sure to check your dog for ticks once they get back in the house. Most ticks are dark brown or black in color and fairly large once they have begun to feed. An online search should help you to learn what ticks in your area look like and where they are typically found.
Ticks need to be removed carefully to protect your pup's health. Contact your vet for instructions on how to properly remove ticks from your dog's skin.
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.