More Tick-borne Illnesses

Ann

Ann

Moderator
Just a heads up to all...we are all aware of Lyme disease and know to watch our dogs for symptoms but as Abby's Dad noted, there are other tick-borne illnesses that we need to watch for too.

Yesterday morning my mare, Topaz, was listless and uninterested in her food...a complete departure for my foodie horse. When we took her temperature we found it was up. The vet came out just a few hours later and by then her temp was quite high. They mega dosed her with Doxycylene (same antibiotic used on Lyme) and in a matter of hours she had improved.

But this is an illness that can get very serious, very quickly. I have two friends who lost dogs to it last year. So be sure when you ask your vet to test for Lyme that you also ask for a check on other tick-borne illnesses too. Fortunately it is easily treated, but don't wait. Symptoms in dogs, as in horses, include listlessness, lack of appetite, and fever.

Here's a site that tells you more about it. This illness can also be spread by dog ticks, as well as deer ticks. Dr. Shelli, please correct me on any of this if I'm wrong. Just want everyone to be aware.

http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_ehrlichia_infection_in_dogs.html
 
I must say I have only ever worried about paralysis tick because it is so prevalent in Australia, mostly along the coast. But I admit I never thought about other ticks causing problems (I dont think we get Lyme disease here though). How do you check for ticks when a sheltie coat is so thick and are there any particular areas of the dog that should be checked the most.
 
Anne is right. Many different species of ticks carry many diseases that effect many different species(dogs ,cats, people ,horses etc).

Some of the different diseases carried by ticks that can effect dogs
1.Lyme carried by deer tick
2.Canine ehrlichosis carried by brown dog tick
3.Canine Anaplamosis carried by Deer tick
4.Rocky Mountain Spotter Fever carried by American dog tick, wood tick and lone star tick
5.Babesiosis carried by deer ticks, American dog tick and brown dog tick
6.Canine Bartonellosis carried by Brown dog tick
7.Hepatozoonosis carried by brown dog ticks and gulf coast ticks

Also tick paralysis which is caused about 64 species of ticks world wide.

That why a good tick control system(preventatives and checking them over everyday) is so important.
 
danisgoat said:
That's crazy! I really was not aware of all the ticks.

I do not use any preventative on my horse.
Click to expand...

There aren't many equine products for ticks. A few years back, there was a spot-on, made by Farnam I think. I tried it on my horses and they hated it. I couldn't see that it did much either so I gave it up. We just use fly spray and a natural preventative we put in their food called Bug Off. Seems to help a little. With big animals who live in the grass, it's a lost cause I'm afraid.
 
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