Ticks and what to look out for after a bite.

J

jerros

Forums Enthusiast
My pup's been on frontline plus. A few months back I found a dead tick in his hair and thought "Wow this stuff's great!".

Well today after a walk Vash was being excessively stubborn so I decided to just tickle him all over and I felt something unusual just south of his left front leg on his belly. So I decided to take a gander at what it was, One NC Lone Star Tick. I pulled out the alchol and tweezers and was trying to get a good hold of the little bugger when Vash decided he had had enough of just laying down on his back.

It wasn't engorged yet, but the head didn't come out cleanly due to my pups constant moving. He also wasn't a huge fan of me trying to get the head out later (In fact I think he's pretty mad at me now, seeing as he won't come when called).

These little buggers have the toughest to get out heads too...

Anyway, I've got the things parts in a glad container in case my pup gets sick. But this tick seems to be a host to a number of various illnesses. Rocky Mountian Spotted Fever, Ehrlichiosis, Southern Tick Rash Illness (not sure if dogs get this one), and potentially lyme disease.

What should I keep my eye out for in order to know if I should head to the vet?

I really really hate ticks....I guess I'll have to be even more vigilant than I already am about letting vash near any of the tall grass areas on our walks.
 
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To be on the safe side, I would get a tick disease blood test done. It's not very expensive and if Vash is infected, you will catch it in it's early stages.
 
We got swamped by Lone star ticks not too long ago. The small ones are ridiculously tiny after getting off about 15, I still found a tiny one a few days later hiding out on Toulouse.

That said, when I looked it up when we got attacked - it seemed the most important thing to look for was a fever. Toulouse has had lyme before from a deer tick, so he got combed over endlessly. Despite finding one a bit burrowed in, he's absolutely fine.

Just keep checking him over.

I don't think Lone stars really carry lyme that often, so your biggest issue is tick fever.
 
Lyme is the least worrisome of most of these. Ehrliciosis is the only other I've had experience with (currently battling my horse's second bout in two months with it) and several friends who've had dogs with it. It can be very serious very quickly. Look out for listlisness, going off feed, any signs of soreness or lameness but not necessarily all of them. If you've any doubt, take him to the vet.

Lyme exhibits the same symptoms, but not as seriously as quickly in my experience. Barkley's had it a number of times now. He usually gets lame on one leg and doesn't have his usual pep. I know when I see that it's time for a round of doxycyclene. Sometimes they'll have fever but not always, I've found.

The good news is, that once treated, animals improve quickly. But it's key to see the vet as soon as you think he's acting off.
 
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