From page 38
tick bite.
or loved one by keeping the
The severe form causes death
grass cut and trees and shrubs within a few hours and
trimmed.
treatment is of little avail.
More commonly dogs suffer
You also need to treat your
from the less severe form.
pets proactively with regular
monthly use of a proven tick This is recognised by the dog
being listless or lethargic,
repellent. You can use
losing its appetite and
powders, shampoos, dips,
running a temperature. If
collars, spot-ons or tablets
your dog shows these
and it's best to consult your
symptoms, do not wait until
veterinarian for the best
its mucous membranes
product for your particular
become pale, white or
pet.
yellow, which commonly
For dogs, one of the natural
repellents that a lot of people suggests a more advanced
stage of the disease. Fever is
have success with is rose
present only while the patient
geranium oil, which can be
is actively fighting the
applied to your dog's collar.
parasite; the disease may be
Do not use any essential oils
present with a normal
on cats.
(38,5°C) or subnormal
It's very important to check
temperature. Yellow faeces
your pets for ticks because
ticks carry biliary fever which and brown or red urine also
suggests the presence of
is an illness of the liver and
biliary fever.
often fatal to dogs. It is
Biliary in cats is caused by
caused by the parasite
Babesia felis. Fortunately it is
Babesia canis, which is
introduced into the body by a only found along the coastal
regions of South-Africa. It is
important to note that biliary
in cats does not present with
the same symptoms as in
dogs.
Another disease transmitted
to cats is Feline Infectious
Anaemia. Once a critical level
of red blood cells has been
destroyed, patients start to
display clinical sings of
anaemia (pale or yellow
mucous membranes, lethargy,
anorexia and weight loss).
Frustratingly, this organism
may remain unnoticed for
weeks and diagnosis through
blood smears or external
laboratory tests remain
problematic. Fortunately cats
39
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TICKS
respond well to, albeit
prolonged, antibiotic and
corticosteroid ther apy.
Proper tick and flea control
and prevention, however,
remains the first and most
important line of attack.
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