Ticks and Dogs: Unraveling the Diseases They Can Cause

Ticks are not just pesky parasites; they can be carriers of various diseases that pose significant threats to our canine companions. In this article, we will explore the common diseases that ticks can transmit to dogs and the symptoms to watch out for.

Symptoms of Tick Infection in Dogs

Skin irritation: ticks pierce the dog's skin with larger mouthparts to suck blood, causing itching, pain, irritability, scratching and rubbing of the affected area, leading to bleeding, redness, swelling, inflammation and other symptoms of the skin at the site of the tick parasitization. 

Anemia and lethargy: If the body is heavily infested with ticks, it can lead to negative effects such as anemia, body lethargy, and stunted growth. 

Also Read: Understanding Lethargy in Dogs: Causes, Symptoms, and Solutions

Dyskinesia or paralysis: Certain neurotoxins in ticks can cause gradual dyskinesia or even paralysis of the dog's limbs. Left untreated for long periods of time, dogs can become staggered and depressed, even causing life-threatening injuries. 

Transmission of diseases: Ticks are vectors of bacteria, viruses, rickettsiae and protozoa, and may transmit blood diseases, such as canine hemophilic mycoplasma infections (Bartonella haematobium), with common clinical manifestations including infertility, fever, lethargy, anorexia, weight loss and hemolytic anemia. 

Decreased appetite and depression: After a tick bites a dog, the dog may show signs of decreased appetite and depression. 
Increased body temperature: In severe cases, the body temperature may also increase. 

If you notice any of these symptoms in your dog, you should take him to the veterinarian immediately so that he can get timely treatment. Meanwhile, in order to prevent tick bites, it is recommended to use insect repellent for your dog on a regular basis and avoid letting your dog enter tick-intensive areas. 

What Diseases Do Ticks Cause in Dogs?

Ticks are not just a nuisance; they are carriers of harmful diseases that can severely impact your dog’s health. In this article, we’ll explore the most common tick-borne illnesses in dogs, their symptoms, treatment options, and tips for prevention.

Tick-Borne Diseases in Dogs

1. Lyme Disease

   • Caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, Lyme disease can lead to lameness, joint pain, fever, and lethargy in dogs.
   • Symptoms may not appear immediately, making it crucial to monitor your dog after a tick bite.

2. Anaplasmosis

   • This disease, caused by Anaplasma phagocytophilum, can result in fever, lethargy, and loss of appetite.
   • Anaplasmosis can also affect a dog's blood cells, leading to anemia.

3. Ehrlichiosis

   • Ehrlichia canis is the culprit behind this disease, which can cause fever, weight loss, and bleeding disorders.
   • Chronic cases can lead to more severe symptoms, including organ damage.

4. Babesiosis

   • Babesia canis and Babesia gibsoni are the protozoa that cause babesiosis, a disease that can lead to anemia, jaundice, and weakness.
   • This disease can be particularly dangerous for dogs with compromised immune systems.

5. Tick Paralysis

   • Some ticks secrete a neurotoxin that can cause paralysis in dogs.
   • This condition can be life-threatening if not treated promptly.

How to Properly Handle Tick Infection in Dogs?

If your dog is infected with a tick, here are the steps to properly handle the situation.

1. Remove the tick

Use an in vitro dewormer or alcohol to spray onto the tick, wait for the tick to paralyze or die, and then use tweezers to pull it out vertically. Avoid removing the tick directly by hand as the head of the tick may remain in the skin and cause infection. 

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2. Sequestration

Do not dispose of the removed ticks or step on or pinch them. It is recommended to seal them in a plastic bag and then dispose of them, as the body fluids of ticks are infectious. 

3. Anti-inflammatory and sterilization

After a tick bite, the barbs in the mouthparts may damage the skin, and ticks may transmit blood diseases, so it is important to disinfect and disinfect the affected area promptly. 

4. Appropriate medicated bath

Observe whether the ticks on your dog have been completely cleaned up. If they have been cleaned up, it is recommended to take your dog to the vet for a medicated bath. 

5. Seek medical treatment in time

If there are many ticks on your dog's body, or if your dog has anxiety, fever, itching, vomiting and other uncomfortable symptoms after being bitten, it may be that the tick's mouthparts remain in the skin and trigger inflammation, so it is recommended to go to the hospital and let the professional doctor deal with it. 

6. Prevent tick infection

Regular use of products containing insect repellent ingredients, such as insect repellent collars, drops or oral medication, can effectively prevent tick infection. Avoid areas where your dog has a high concentration of ticks, such as grass and bushes. 

When dealing with a tick infection in your dog, it is important to proceed with caution to avoid further damage to your dog. If you are unsure of how to handle the situation, it is recommended to consult your veterinarian or take your dog to a vet promptly.

Precautions

When dealing with ticks, do not forcefully pull out or crush them by hand, because after being stimulated, the ticks will burrow more and more into the body and release tick saliva in increased dosage. yanking the ticks down hard, the barbs will easily stay in the skin, and the neurotoxins carried in the barbs will easily cause secondary skin infections. 

If the owner is inexperienced or has clumsy hands, it is suggested that it is safer to deworm the ticks by dropping the medicine. 

Ticks are not only as simple as parasites, they can also carry and transmit several very serious parasitic diseases, such as Lyme disease, etc. Therefore, after dealing with ticks, you should closely observe your dog's health condition, and seek medical attention promptly if any uncomfortable symptoms appear.

Related: Lyme Disease in Dogs

How to Prevent Your Dog from Getting Ticks?

I. Environmental Management

• Regular cleaning of the environment

Regularly clean your dog's living environment, including kennels and yards. Remove fallen leaves, weeds and other debris that may harbor ticks to reduce tick habitat. For example, thoroughly clean the kennel at least once a week by washing and exposing cushions, blankets, and other items in the kennel to the sun.
For lawns and bushes in your yard, mow them regularly to maintain a lower vegetation height. Ticks like to inhabit tall grass and bushes, and lower vegetation reduces the space for ticks to survive.

• Use environmental tick repellents

During the active tick season (typically spring through fall), a tick-specific environmental repellent can be used in outdoor areas where your dog frequents. Spraying according to product instructions can effectively kill ticks and inhibit their growth and reproduction. However, you should pay attention to choose a pet-safe product, avoiding the dog contact with the area that has just been sprayed with insect repellent, until the agent is dry and not harmful to pets.

II. Dogs' own protection

• Regular deworming

Regularly use pet dewormers that contain tick repellent ingredients. Depending on the product instructions, this can come in the form of topical drops, oral pills, or deworming collars. For example, topical drops are usually used once a month and are effective in preventing ticks from colonizing your dog.

• Inspection and Cleaning

Immediately after your dog returns from an outing, perform a full body inspection of your dog, especially the ears, neck, abdomen, legs, tail and other areas where ticks tend to attach. Carefully touch the dog's fur with your hand to check for the presence of ticks. If a tick is found, treat it promptly and in the proper way.

At the same time, wipe the dog's body with a wet towel to remove any ticks and other debris that may be attached. If your dog is dirty, bathe your dog, but be careful to use dog-friendly bath products to avoid irritating the skin.

• Avoid tick-heavy areas

Try to avoid taking your dog to tick-heavy areas such as grass, woods, and swamps. If you must go, dress your dog in specialized tick-proof clothing, such as an anti-tick undershirt or leg warmers. These garments are made of special materials that can stop ticks from getting close to your dog's body to a certain extent.

FAQs

What are the odds of a dog getting Lyme disease from a tick?