3 Tick Diseases That Can Impact Your Dog
If you like to take your dog outdoors and go on hikes with them, you need to protect your dog from ticks. You can do this by having your dog wear a tick collar and by putting tick treatment on your dog's body. Your vet can help you find the right tick protection solution for your dog. You should also check your dog after each walk for ticks.
You want to protect your dog from ticks because not only can they suck your dog's blood, but they can also transfer diseases to your pet via their bloodstream, which is a hazardous transmission method.
#1: Babesiosis
One tick-borne disease your dog can pick up from a tick is babesiosis. You can get babesiosis when a tick that bites your dog passes it to them through their red blood cells. The signs of this type of infection are not that obvious. You will notice your dog experiences weakness, fever, and difficulty breathing. They may also have a decreased appetite and pale gums.
A babesiosis infection can be determined via a blood test and can be treated with medication. It is essential to treat babesiosis promptly.
#2: Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
RMSF is not contained to just the Rocky Mountain region. This disease can be found throughout the U.S. Both ticks and mosquitoes can carry it. It is caused by a bacterium, rickettsia, that can be transferred to dogs via the feeding tick.
Once infected with RMSF, your dog will experience nausea, fever, muscle pain, vomiting, and poor eating. To diagnose this, your vet will have to test your dog's blood for the presence of RMSF. Your dog must be treated as soon as possible to avoid serious consequences.
#3: Lyme Disease
Lyme disease is one of the more familiar tick diseases, as it impacts both humans and dogs. Lyme disease can be hard to spot but is often associated with more painful movement or less movement from your dog. The best thing to do to protect your dog against Lyme disease is to get your dog vaccinated against it.
If you take your dog outside and you notice that their behavior changes, check their body for ticks and take them to the vet. Let the vet know if you find a tick or if you think your dog has been exposed to a tick bite. This will allow your vet to test for the different diseases your dog may have been infected with and prescribe the right treatment to fix your dog up and prevent serious consequences. Speak with a veterinarian for more information about any of these diseases.