What are Ticks ?
Ticks are parasites that feed on your canine’s blood externally. In the unfortunate case of a severe infestation, they lead to a tick fever. Tick fever is a broad classification of a group of diseases.While these diseases are quite common all around the world, dog owners need to know about it, well in advance to be able to deal with it. If you want to know more, keep reading.
As stated by well known animal activist and political leader Mrs. Maneka Gandhi in Pet Talk, the most common Tick fever in India is the Canine Babesiosis.Tick fever is a broad term for a group of diseases like Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Lyme disease, babesiosis and ehrlichiosis. Having endured the excruciatingly painful ordeal myself, I feel obligated to spread awareness on this particular disease group.
How do dogs catch ticks ?
Let’s begin by understanding how your dog could catch such an infection.The disease begins to spread when an infected tick bites the dog and releases the infection directly into the bloodstream. The gravity of it all is that it doesn’t take multiple ticks to spread the infection, even the bite of one could begin the spread. New ticks pick up the infection from an infected dog and act as hosts for other dogs. Hence, Tick fever is known to be highly contagious. If your dog goes to dog daycare, make sure the place is tick free.
Tick Fever Symptoms
Now that most of the horrible details have been covered, here are some of the early symptoms that you can look out for:
- Disinterest
- Lethargy
- Loss of Appetite
- High fever
- Pale Appearance
Confirmation of this disease however must always be carried out via a blood test before turning to suitable treatments. Make sure you get a blood test by consulting a good vet.
Treatment
While every case may differ from others a little, there are some generalized treatments for this fever. If the anaemia seems severe and the gums show a lot of paleness, it is vital that the IV is controlled with great precision.Treatment usually consists of a mix of antibiotics and/or antiprotozoal medications, as well as palliative support such as intravenous fluids, vitamins, and gastroprotectants, depending on the cause.
Basic treatment is aimed at clearing the infection and reversing the anaemia. A usual dose is 100 milligrammes per kilogramme of body weight, given twice a day. The dose may change depending on the dog’s condition, so consult your veterinarian. To avoid acidity, something like Rantac is given.
Conclusion
My personal hands-on experience with tick fever was no cake walk.It was the most difficult time for me and my dog.The daily hospital visits, extreme medication and the adverse impacts of the infection were extremely overwhelming for my dog. Not only was it torturous to watch him in pain, but also very tough to maintain hope. Since – “prevention is better than cure”, get the best dog groomers near you to check your puppy regularly.
