Dog disease from a tick bite. How to detect if your dog has been bitten by a tick

lethargy and apathy towards food, toys and the owner;
excessive sleepiness;
the desire to constantly stay in one place;
increased body temperature (about 39–40 °C);
the dog is very reluctant to eat, and may completely switch to water or even refuse it;
If the tick is in the ear area, your pet may constantly turn its head, scratch itself, and show other signs of anxiety.

Treatment of a dog after a tick bite consists of completely removing the insect, followed by disinfection of the wound. If there is a suspicion that there is a dangerous virus in the animal’s blood, the tick should be placed in a glass container (small jar or test tube) and sent for testing to a laboratory available at almost any veterinary clinic.

After a tick bite, a dog often develops weakness associated with the active development of a viral infection in the blood. The animal refuses food and water, which negatively affects the overall health of the pet. Help for the dog consists of maintenance therapy: injections of glucose and B vitamins are recommended, as well as plenty of fluids, which, if necessary, are administered forcibly using a spoon or large syringe. Activated carbon or special products containing sorbent substances can eliminate signs of intoxication. Particular attention should be paid to the dog’s urine: with piroplasmosis or other viral infections, kidney function is impaired, which leads to severe darkening of the urine and the appearance of blood impurities in it.

Tick removal methods

The dog was bitten by a tick, what should the owner do in such a situation? There are many ways to get rid of a tick that is already firmly attached to your dog's skin. The most common methods are the following:

Ways to combat ticks

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The most common and affordable means that provide a reliable level of protection against ticks are the following:

Acaricidal preparations produced in the form of drops applied directly to the dog’s skin. Thanks to penetration into the subcutaneous space, acaricides change the composition of the fatty glands, which, in turn, begin to slowly release substances poisonous to insects onto the skin. In the event of a bite, the tick dies quickly enough, without having time to infect the animal.
Repellent preparations contain components that affect the olfactory organs of insects, as a result of which the dog’s skin becomes unattractive for further invasion. Repellents are available in the form of easy-to-apply sprays, drops, and are also included in long-lasting collars.
Combined formulations combine acaricidal and repellent components, minimizing the risk of a bite.

When using anti-tick products, it is strongly recommended that you take precautions and consult your veterinarian first. The dosage of drugs is calculated taking into account the animal’s weight, health status, age and gender. It must be borne in mind that acaricides have a strong effect, and some of them are contraindicated in puppies, pregnant and lactating dogs.

Diseases spread by ticks

How dangerous is a tick bite for a dog? In addition to pain, the sensation of a foreign object on the skin and constant itching, a tick bite is fraught with a high danger in the form of infectious diseases, the most typical of which are:

Bartonellosis. The causative agent of the disease was first discovered by residents of the tropics, exposed to constant attacks by mosquitoes. In our conditions, the bacteria that cause this disease are quite successfully transmitted by ticks. Symptoms of bartonellosis are elevated temperature, fever, joint pain, hemorrhages in the eyeballs, disruption of the heart and internal organs, and general intoxication of the body.
Hepatozoonosis is a chronic disease, the causative agent of which, in a normal state of immunity, may not manifest itself for a long time, being in a passive stage of development. Any health problems, stress, pregnancy or even a common cold lead to immediate activation of the virus, which is manifested in increased secretion from the lacrimal glands, weakness, fever, pain in muscles and joints.
Ehrlichiosis is a viral disease that can be transmitted not only to dogs, but also to people. The main symptoms are weakness, lack of appetite, inhibited reaction, followed by a feverish state.
Borreliosis is characterized by inflammation of the joints in areas close to the bite, which can lead to the development of arthritis.
Piroplasmosis is the most common and dangerous disease transmitted by ticks. Symptoms of piroplasmosis are severe weakness, up to complete failure of the limbs, darkening of urine, gastrointestinal upset, and general intoxication. A pet bitten by a pyroplasmic tick suffers from a fever, its mucous membranes become noticeably pale, and a complete refusal of food and water may occur.
Encephalitis - transmitted by infected ticks, the causative agent of the disease is common to both dogs and humans. A few days after the bite, the virus attacks the membranes of the brain, so early treatment and prevention are the most effective.

The symptoms and treatment of infectious diseases spread by ticks are largely similar, so the most complete picture can be obtained only after a blood test. Signs of a tick-borne infection can only be detected through careful monitoring of the dog's health, so this issue should be given special attention. If a dog is bitten by a tick, symptoms may appear during the first hours of illness. In this case, do not panic, because your anxiety will be transferred to your pet, which greatly reduces the effectiveness of further treatment.

Prevention is the key to health

What to do if your dog is bitten by a tick? You should not rely on your own strength; you should immediately seek qualified veterinary help. The rate of infection development is quite high, given the lack of immunity in domestic dogs, the risk of death increases every hour. After a tick bite, dogs begin to show anxiety, their behavior changes dramatically, which should attract the attention of an experienced owner.

In urban conditions, protective preparations should be applied at least once a month throughout the entire period of insect activity from the beginning of April until the first frost.

If neurointoxication does occur, it can manifest itself in a dog in different ways. But most often, “tick paralysis” occurs. As a rule, first the pet’s hind limbs, pelvic region, and, as a result, the front limbs fail. But malfunctions in motor functions are not the limit of the progression of a tick infection. Your four-legged friend may simply lose his voice some time after an insect bite. This phenomenon is called dysphonia. The connections work as before, but there is either no sound at all or it is intermittent.

But much more serious consequences arise from disruptions in the functioning of the cranial nerves. The pet's swallowing reflexes do not function well, and he may simply die from suffocation. But such complications appear infrequently; most often, a dog breeder has to treat his pet for problems with motor skills.

Remember: sometimes motor disorders go away on their own after 2-3 days. This means that your dog’s infection was mild and there are no complications to worry about. But if your pet's health continues to deteriorate, it's time to consult a veterinarian. Delay in this case could cost the dog’s life.

Local changes at the site of the bite

If a dog is bitten by a tick, what consequences may occur? Already 2-3 hours after you remove the insect from the dog’s skin, skin disorders are noticeable. This allergic reaction of the body makes itself felt in different manifestations. This is influenced by several external factors:

After two days, purulent reactions may occur on the dog’s body. All this happens due to harmful microorganisms that enter the animal’s body through the tick’s saliva. The main thing is to provide complete treatment at this stage. If you are the owner of a small breed dog, you may need to inject antihistamines into your pet's skin. This way, you will eliminate the possibility of further development of allergic reactions.

Infectious diseases

If the first symptoms do not always alert dog owners, further progression of the infection can result in much more serious consequences. But the main problem lies in the fact that the dog owner cannot always associate the symptoms with a tick bite. Infectious diseases make themselves felt much later; several months may pass after the bite.

That is why you need to contact a veterinarian as soon as possible. To clearly understand what owners of dogs suffering from an infected tick bite have to deal with, consider the list of the most common diseases:

bartonellosis. This disease affects red blood cells and macrophages. Its manifestations can be varied. Sometimes a dog is a carrier of the disease for several years, and there are no special symptoms. But there are cases when a dog dies suddenly, without previous signs. Diagnosing the disease is difficult; the most common symptoms include fever, weakness or partial failure of the hind legs, drowsiness, and weight loss. In some cases, the dog has meningitis, swelling of the lungs, or hemorrhages in the eyeballs;
hepatozoonosis. This infection will not cause harm to humans, but among dogs the disease is quite common. Pests enter leukocytes and spread throughout the body. Interestingly, a pet becomes infected with such a disease not through a tick bite, but rather due to its ingestion. Moreover, the symptoms appear after some time, which completely confuses any dog breeder. And all because while the pet’s immunity was high, the infection “sat” in the body. At an unfortunate moment for the dog, the disease becomes active, and you may experience the following symptoms - fever, lacrimation, weakness, muscle or joint pain;

ehrlichiosis. This tick-borne disease is characterized mainly by increasing fever. 2-3 weeks after the tick has been on your dog’s skin, your pet may become inactive and even lethargic. There are cases when the disease does not manifest itself in any way until the very end, and then it turns out that your four-legged friend’s internal organs are affected;
borreliosis. Another name for the disease is Lyme disease. This disease is primarily dangerous because it is transmitted intrauterinely. The first signs include inflammation of the joints. Subsequently, a reddish ring forms around the bite site, which increases in size. After a few weeks, borreliosis manifests itself in full. The dog suffers from fever, stiff gait, swollen lymph nodes, weakness and poor appetite. Joint inflammation can become chronic;
piroplasmosis. Perhaps this disease most often appears in dogs after a tick bite. Lethargy and lack of appetite eventually develop into jaundice and heart failure. The color of the urine becomes dark and there may be blood in it.

Remember that all of these infectious diseases are fatal if left untreated. Therefore, it is advisable to contact a veterinarian immediately after removing a tick from your dog's skin.

First aid

If pet owners independently remove a bloodsucker that has burrowed into the animal, it is recommended to send the insect to a laboratory to determine its danger.

There is virtually no threat from a tick bite unless a pathogen enters the bloodstream. After removing the insect, the wound will heal quickly. The danger is posed by the fact that ticks are carriers of various diseases.

In winter, ticks are in a latent state - they sleep. During this period, their body produces toxins that accumulate and become dangerous. At the moment of the bite, the toxin penetrates the dog and has a negative effect on it.

Tick activity is greater in the spring. A hungry insect, awakened from hibernation, tries to find food for itself, and therefore domestic animals are its frequent victims.

armpits of the forelimbs;
the ears or the area around them;
abdomen and groin area;
areas along the line of the spine.

What symptoms should you expect from a tick bite:

Ticks on dogs can “travel” through the body for several days after they land on the fur. They move slowly in order to achieve the most optimal conditions for their feeding. Therefore, when examining animals at home after a walk for ticks, you need to be very careful. This procedure is recommended to be carried out at the doorstep of the house. If the bloodsucker is still on the fur, it may fall to the floor during the inspection. When the procedure is carried out in the house, the bloodsucker will overtake its victim again after some time.

If the animal behaves suspiciously and after examination a tick is found embedded in its skin, it is recommended to immediately take the pet to a veterinary clinic. If veterinary assistance cannot be provided immediately, owners are advised to attempt to remove the bloodsucker themselves. For this case, you will need special tweezers.

Important! After removing the bloodsucker, the bite site must be treated with a disinfectant.

The consequences of a tick bite are not always tragic, even if the animal is infected with some disease. Pet owners should be aware that preventive vaccinations against various diseases only increase the chances of recovery. That is why it is necessary to follow the recommendations of specialists and carry out vaccinations in a timely manner.

For a person, a tick bite is not as terrible as for an animal, but the occurrence of unpleasant symptoms is inevitable if the insect was a carrier of one of the diseases.

After a tick bite, in addition to encephalitis, a dog may develop the following diseases:

piroplasmosis;
hepatozoonosis;
bartonellosis;
Lyme disease;
Erchiliosis.

If the animal only experiences symptoms of body intoxication, then such consequences of a tick bite can be considered the least dangerous. It will be difficult and unsafe to manage without medical help for any complication.

One of the common complications after the bite of an infected tick is a disease such as piroplasmosis. Even with timely and correct treatment, the pathological process can lead to complications.

As a result of the bite, the skin is damaged and pathogens enter the bloodstream. Symptoms of the disease will appear as:

apathy;
lethargy;
refusal of food;
increasing the daily norm of water consumed;
increase in body temperature.

The first stage will last for several days, after which the symptoms of the disease will disappear on their own, but not for long. The resumption of pathological signs is more pronounced. The dog refuses everything and lies down almost all the time. At this time, red blood cells are destroyed. The color of the urine changes to a darker color and can sometimes take on a greenish tint. Despite refusing to eat, the pet suffers from bouts of diarrhea. In especially severe cases, paralysis of the limbs is observed.

Treatment of piroplasmosis should be comprehensive. In addition to drugs that promote the rapid elimination of toxic substances from the body, the animal must be given vitamins, hepatoprotectors and drugs that stabilize cardiac activity.

Any disease must be treated correctly. If the diagnosis is made incorrectly and the animal is prescribed an antiparasitic therapeutic course when it is not required, for the dog everything can end in death or long-term rehabilitation. Even one injection will be enough to cause harm.

Sometimes entire outbreaks of piroplasmosis, an infection spread by ticks, are directly recorded. What are the symptoms and consequences after their bites? Is it possible to organize treatment at home? Every owner of a four-legged friend - absolutely everyone - should be able to notice special clinical signs, determining that the dog has been bitten by a tick and know what to do about it then.

What is important to pay attention to

If your dog is bitten by a tick, symptoms may not appear immediately. The incubation period in practice can vary from several hours to 3 weeks.

During this period, you need to be very attentive to the health of your dog, because... piroplasmosis is quite variable in its symptoms and does not always occur with all the main classical signs.

What is usually noticed

When visiting the clinic, the veterinarian pays attention

increased body temperature (and the indicators can be either blurred - stay slightly above 39°C, or critical - up to 40-42°C). Those. There is always an elevated temperature, the only question is within its limits;
visible mucous membranes and whites of the eyes turn yellow, the mouth may become very pale (sometimes this is noticed by the owner of the house).

Additionally, it may still be revealed

tachycardia (rapid heartbeat) and shortness of breath (breathing is frequent, heavy, especially worse after physical activity) - signs of developing heart failure against the background of hemolytic anemia;
bloody diarrhea with mucus;
“yellow” vomit;
failure of the hind limbs (weakness in support, up to paresis);
against the background of dehydration, in 2-3 days the dog turns into a “bicycle” and the skin turgor decreases significantly (no skin folds in any part of the body straighten out);
severe yellowing of plaque on the teeth near the gums.

If the clinical picture is unclear, it is recommended to take a blood test for an accurate diagnosis. The main symptoms do not always appear, leaving no possibility that a tick bit the dog and it is piroplasmosis. For example, there is a chronic form of the course, in which all the symptoms are so mild that owners do not always pay attention to the condition of their pets.

How and with what to treat piroplasmosis

As soon as an accurate diagnosis has been made and it is confirmed that the dog was bitten by a tick, treatment should just start immediately! The pathology is terrible in its consequences - destroyed red blood cells “hit” the liver and kidneys first, then affecting the cardiovascular system in the form of developing heart failure.

The question that worries dog owners is what to give their dog if they are bitten by a tick? We answer - nothing!

It is impossible to overcome piroplasmosis at home! There are no folk recipes. The animal runs the risk of dying because the owners delayed their visit to the veterinarian so long that irreversible pathological processes began in many organs and systems. If you are bitten by a tick, the consequences mainly affect the liver, kidneys and heart.

When confirming the diagnosis, therapeutic regimens usually always have three main stages, not counting the recovery period:

a special antipyroplasmosis medicine is injected;
the state of intoxication is eliminated;
Maintenance therapy is prescribed for damage to internal organs and systems responsible for the evacuation of destroyed red blood cells.

The first thing pet owners ask is: “if the dog is bitten by a tick, what should I inject?” An ordinary person is not required to know the names of the drugs used to treat piroplasmosis. It is enough to notice changes in the animal’s health status in time and take it to the veterinarian. If your dog is bitten by a tick, your veterinarian will confirm the symptoms and prescribe treatment. What to treat and in what dosages will depend not only on the animal’s body weight, but also how much the body has suffered from the disease.

The most important is considered to be an injection against piroplasmosis - an injection with a specific drug that effectively kills the causative agent of the disease, stopping the destruction of the body from the inside. After this injection, restorative therapy begins for those organs and systems that have suffered from the infection.

It is advisable to take a blood test - clinical and biochemistry - to know for sure the dog’s condition after piroplasmosis! Only based on the test results can you correctly select restorative and restorative treatment.

Well-fed and hungry tick

Direct drugs for piroplasmosis

Diminosene based:

Azidine;
Neosidine;
Berenil;
Veriben;
Pyrogard;
Triponyl.

The composition of these drugs usually immediately includes an antipyretic - a substance that reduces body temperature. It is important not to use anything additional antipyretic with them, especially NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)! It is not recommended to repeat injections over the next 6 weeks, although some instructions state repeating after 24-36 hours.

Based on imidocarb:

Imizol;
Imidosan;
Forticarb;
Diprocarb;
Pyro-stop;
Imidocarb.

Repeated injections are given no earlier than after 2 weeks. They combine well with diminazene drugs, the main thing is that there is an interval between doses of at least 1 day. In case of overdose, symptomatic therapy is used to prevent cerebral edema.

Dosage: Empirical dosages are most often used, providing the necessary therapeutic effect, but with minimal side effects. The dosage indicated in the instructions is not always adequate for a given animal.

According to the instructions, injections are made subcutaneously or intramuscularly, but in practice it has been noted that it is better to inject into the muscle - a slower entry into the blood gives a softer and longer-lasting effect.

Features of application: It is important to very accurately calculate the dosage by weight - medications have a certain toxicity. Overdose should also be avoided in case of severe piroplasmosis. With the mass death of pathogens, the body can also receive toxic shock from poisoning with their decay products. That is why It is recommended that these drugs be administered simultaneously with prednisolone or dexamethasone.

Side effects from the administration of drugs are prevented by the administration of atropine.

If it is not possible to determine the exact weight of the dog, it means that less is always administered, but with a mandatory repetition after 24 hours, rather than immediately giving a potentially larger dose than necessary.

Depending on the general condition of the body against the background of piroplasmosis, additional supportive therapy is used. The selection of medications, dosage and duration of treatment is determined only by a veterinarian!

Droppers or subcutaneous injection of solutions to relieve intoxication

saline;
glucose 5%.

Introduction Features: you need to be very careful when placing IVs, because... with severe kidney damage and problems absorbing fluids, there is a high risk of pulmonary edema. It is safer to administer subcutaneously in smaller dosages.

Drugs that support and improve liver function

are not always needed, because The liver is the last to suffer:

Cardiac and Respiratory Support

lauretin C: 1-5 ml/animal once a day - every other day or daily - until the condition normalizes. It is administered intramuscularly or subcutaneously, but very slowly.
sulfocamphocaine: maximum administration – up to 2 ml, depending on the dog’s body weight.

Active vitamin preparations that stimulate hematopoiesis (production of red blood cells)

gamavit: intramuscularly 2-3 times a day for 5 days, 0.5 ml/kg (but not more than 10 ml at a time);
vitamin: 3-5 ml/10 kg twice a day intramuscularly or subcutaneously for 5 days;
catozal: subcutaneously, intravenously or into the muscle, 1-3 ml/10 kg of dog’s body weight every other day for 2-4 weeks. In especially severe cases, administer daily;
butasteam: 1-5 ml into the muscle, subcutaneously or intravenously once a day for 5 days, repeat the course after 5-14 days;
vitamin B12: daily into the muscle, subcutaneously/intramuscularly, 500 mcg if the dog weighs up to 15 kg and 1000 mcg if more than 15 kg (1 or 2 ml, depending on the dosage in the bottle).
duphalight: 50 ml/5 kg subcutaneously or slowly intravenously.

Features of application: The duration of courses of vitamin and metabolic medications is determined by the veterinarian. Vitamin B12 is best administered intramuscularly. There is rapid absorption into the blood with slow excretion (up to 24 hours), i.e. maximum effect.

General immunomodulators

ribotane: 3-5 days, 1-2 ml intramuscularly or subcutaneously once a day. Repeat the course after 10-15 days;
azoxyvet: by any possible injection method, 0.3-0.5 mg/kg is administered once a day if the dog’s weight is up to 3 kg, 0.3 mg/kg - more than 3 kg, but less than 10 and 0.2 mg/kg when the weight exceeds 10 kg. Usually 5-7 injections are enough;
immunofan: 1 ml subcutaneously or intramuscularly once a day. The number of injections is determined by the veterinarian.

It is strongly recommended that after the course of treatment you undergo blood tests - general and biochemistry. You need to know exactly what state the body is in after the disease. The recovery period can take up to six months. Piroplasmosis is a dangerous and insidious infection, terrible for its complications. Based on the test results, a decision is made whether to stop therapy or continue.

Ixodid ticks are carriers of many diseases. Of the entire population, 3-15% of bloodsuckers are infectious. After a bite, symptoms do not appear immediately. It is necessary to monitor your pet’s behavior, and at the first signs of infection, immediately contact a veterinarian.

Dangers of tick bites

The saliva of an infected tick contains toxic substances that can cause allergic reactions and pathologies of important body systems in your furry friend. When scratching, the wound may become suppurated due to infection.

Symptoms of a tick bite in dogs with toxic brain damage include suffocation, which can kill the dog. Possible damage to the nervous system includes loss of the swallowing reflex and dysphonia - the inability to make sounds. A favorable outcome is a temporary loss of motor activity with full recovery.

The owner should take the pet to the veterinarian when the first signs of a tick bite in dogs appear. The animal immediately changes behavior - apathy and anxiety from the blood sucking appear. The dog begins to itch frequently, trying to get rid of the unpleasant neighborhood. After 1-3 days, local symptoms appear. The next week will show which tick has infected your pet. If it is an ordinary insect, then the animal will recover after the blood-sucking insect is removed. In case of contact with an infected individual, the animal may experience symptoms of one of the dangerous diseases.

The intensity of the signs manifests itself differently in each dog. It depends on the following factors:

breed and weight - in a small individual, symptoms will appear more quickly;
the general health of the animal - strong immunity will slow down the development of clinical manifestations;
time of year - in hot weather symptoms appear faster;
the presence of concomitant pathologies - other diseases weaken the defenses of the four-legged friend’s body, which will affect the intensity of the manifestations.

Local signs

Symptoms of a tick bite in dogs appear as a local reaction. If the blood-sucking insect was found and removed from the animal, then after 2-3 hours the following symptoms appear at the site of the insect’s penetration:

skin redness;
swelling of varying degrees;
constant itching;
moderate pain;
fever, chills;
granulosa dermatitis.

After removing the bloodsucker, it is imperative to disinfect the wound. Failure to comply with this condition may lead to the risk of infection, the occurrence of a secondary infection, which manifests itself in the form of suppuration at the site of infection. For small breed dogs, injections of antihistamines are recommended to relieve itching.

Dog behavior

Symptoms of a tick bite in dogs form a clinical picture. Its important element is the behavioral instincts of the animal. The following signs of a tick bite in a dog should alert the owner:

Decreased activity - the dog stops jumping and running, loses playfulness, and does not ask to go for a walk. She shows lethargy and apathy.
Loss of appetite – complete refusal to eat, even your favorite treats. It is rarely possible to force feed a pet.
Impaired motor functions - the animal spends more time in a lying position. It seems that the movement brings him physical suffering. The animal's movements are characterized by staggering.