CONTINUED: PUP CARE
WHAT CAN YOU DO ABOUT TICKS?
Dogs are very susceptible to tick bites and tickborne diseases. These small
Besides speaking with your vet about
arachnids feed off the blood of other animals. A variety of tick species
tick prevention agents, inspect your
exist. Be on the lookout for these buggers and the issues they cause.
dog after being outside.
Look between their toes and legs,
DEER TICKS AND LYME DISEASE: Deer ticks, infected with a bac-
peek inside their ears and feel the fur
terium known as borrelia burgdorferi, are responsible for transmission of
around the neck. If you find a tick,
Lyme disease, which can cause lameness, fatigue, swollen joints and swol-
removal should be done immediately
len lymph nodes. Symptoms may take months to appear. In worst-case
making sure to get all parts of the
scenarios, kidney failure can occur. There is a vaccine available for Lyme
tick’s body removed from your dog.
disease. Where to be on the lookout: California; northeast, mid-Atlantic
and upper central regions.
Click here to learn how properly
remove a tick.
BROWN DOG TICKS AND CANINE EHRLICHOSIS: Brown dog
ticks are responsible for causing a bacterial infection known as Canine
Mountain spotted fever. Symptoms can include fever, skin lesions, stiffness
Ehrlichosis. Similar to Lyme disease, the symptoms may take months to
and neurological problems. Where to be on the lookout: This condition
develop; however, symptoms may disappear only to reappear years later.
occurs through the Unites States but is most prevalent in California, the
Fever, weight loss, runny nose, depressed mood and bleeding from the
southern region and the Rocky Mountains.
eyes can occur. Where to be on the lookout: The Gulf region.
CANINE BABESIOSIS: The blacklegged tick can cause Canine
CANINE ANAPLASMOSIS: Both deer ticks and brown dog ticks
Babesiosis, bringing on anemia, fever and fatigue. Hypotension and shock
can cause Canine Anaplasmosis, a condition that causes arthritic joints,
can result in rapid death. Where to be on the lookout: Southern states,
high fever, lack of appetite, diarrhea, vomiting and seizures. Where to
including Oklahoma, Arizona, and Arkansas.
be on the lookout: New England and California; northwest central and
mid-Atlantic regions.
While exposure to ticks sounds scary, being informed is key in making the
most out of your pets' adventures. We're happy to say that a few months
ROCKY MOUNTAIN SPOTTED FEVER: The bite of an American
ago, a repeat blood titer showed Spock's Valley Fever has improved. He's
dog tick, Lone Star tick and Rocky Mountain wood tick can cause Rocky
looking forward to his travels with his brother, Prince, and sister, Rachal.