Tick-borne diseases and their prevention
Tick-borne diseases and symptoms are usually non-specific and may resemble symptoms of other viral or bacterial infections.
The most common tick-borne diseases and symptoms are described in the article Ticks - everything you need to know about them.
Many of these diseases can be chronic or subclinical, and symptoms can appear even a few weeks after the tick bite. The course of the disease will be determined by the age of our dog, and whether he is struggling with other diseases, including his emotional state.
A healthy, young dog will survive the infection better than a senior or a dog that constantly suffers from allergies, diabetes or other infections. An important factor that impairs the functioning of the immune system is the emotions that our friend feels. What emotions impair the functioning of the immune system? Mainly fear, anxiety, but also aggression or depression.
There are cases where we do not find a tick on the body of our pet, because it falls off immediately after eating. In the case of a bite, time is important - namely how long the tick remains in the body of our dog. It takes about 24 hours to become infected with most known diseases - what does this mean for you?
A proven method of protection is to brush your dog immediately after returning home!
How does tick-borne disease manifest in animals?
Tick-borne diseases in dogs are characterized by symptoms such as:
- apathy and reluctance to walk and play
- fever
- loss of appetite
- recurrent lameness
- neurological disorders (e.g. seizures)
- problems with movement
- joint pain
- behavioral disorders
- loss of consciousness
- hyperesthesia
- paralysis of limbs
- chronic fatigue
- weakness
- vomiting and diarrhea
- presence of blood in urine
Tick-borne diseases and prevention
Of course, as always, it is better to take care of your friend in advance than to complain later at the vet's office. Currently, pharmaceutical companies from the zoo industry are competing in inventing the next "miracle" products. The earliest used include:
- drops
- pills
- collars
However, before you make a purchase, it is worth seeing what this product contains.
Realistically speaking, flea and tick remedies are pesticides! They protect our animals from irritations and infections caused by parasites. But aren't they toxic? If they work on pests, can't they also poison pets?
Warnings in many information leaflets recommend consulting a doctor if any of the products come into contact with human skin - however, it would seem that their direct application to the dog's skin is completely safe???? In recent years, many veterinarians have been paying attention to the composition of such a preparation. Several EPA studies have shown that preparations containing isoxazoline (as much as 66.6%) show a number of adverse effects, both in dogs and their owners.
On September 28, 2018, the FDA issued a warning that products containing isoxazoline cause a range of adverse effects in animals including:
- muscle tremors,
- ataxia,
- convulsions.
Isoxazoline is a group of active substances used in preparations against fleas and tick-borne diseases.
Although these preparations are effective in preventing tick bites, they may cause a number of undesirable symptoms.
Here are some potential side effects in dogs after using isoxazoline-based products:
- anxiety and over-excitement
- convulsions
- excessive salivation
- dizziness
- vomiting
- behavioral disorders such as aggression or apathy
- loss of motor coordination
- itching or redness of the skin at the application site
- digestive disorders such as diarrhea
If you notice any symptoms in your dog after using a product containing isoxazoline, it is important to consult your vet immediately. In the case of severe symptoms or symptoms that last longer than usual, medical intervention may be necessary.
Always follow the manufacturer's and veterinarian's recommendations for dosing and application of flea products. Also, make sure that the product is suitable for the species and size of your dog and that there are no contraindications to its use in your pet.
Let's support tick-borne diseases with appropriate prevention
When choosing the right product, it is worth basing your choice on a common sense risk-benefit assessment. If your Maltese rarely leaves the yard, which is regularly maintained for pest control, then the risk of exposure to the dog is relatively low and much lower than if you are camping frequently or going deep into the woods with your dog. On the other hand, if you are often in the woods or high-risk areas with your pets, you will need to stock up on protective chemicals and be sure to support your dog’s endogenous detoxification mechanisms.
Of course, using tick prophylaxis is a must, but there are safer ways to minimize the use of these strong chemicals, which will help increase resistance to a given drug substance and the burden of chemistry on the dog's body. Environmental scientists are strongly pushing for a return to rational use of tick remedies and a retreat from the overuse of broad-spectrum products that can have a harmful effect on the animal, human and environmental organisms. If our dog is soaking up poison that is supposed to kill worms, everyone who comes into contact with it is exposed to its effects - including your small child. In addition to limiting the use of topical or fatty pesticides on our dog, it is worth detoxifying - which we will write about in a separate article.
Take care of your pet naturally
If you are forced to routinely use chemicals against ticks, it is advisable to use probiotics and activities that support microflora.
At this point, it is worth noting that if we live in a high-risk environment, the most sensible solution will be the hybrid variant, i.e. alternating the use of natural repellents and chemical preventive measures.
Currently, there is a whole range of preventive measures, both natural and conventional.
Tick-borne diseases are not the end of the world and you can try to prevent them on your own.
How to make your own natural antiparasitic remedy:
- one teaspoon 5 ml of neem oil (we recommend purchasing from a health food store or a trusted essential oil manufacturer)
- one teaspoon 5 ml vanilla extract, you can find it in the kitchen cupboard
- one glass 2 250 ml of witch hazel extract
- 1/4 cup of aloe vera gel
Mix all ingredients into a spray bottle and shake vigorously. Then mix well and spray your dog immediately. Be careful with eyes. Repeat spraying every 4 hours, when outdoors, shake well before each use.
How to make your own anti-tick collar?
- 10 drops of lemon eucalyptus oil
- 10 drops of geranium oil
- 5 drops of Lavender oil
- 5 drops of cedar oil
Mix the oils, apply 5 drops to a bandana or collar. Remove it immediately after returning from a trip. Each time you go out, apply five drops to a collar or scarf before you go for a walk.
Important! Do not use these products if your dog is allergic to any of these ingredients.
Tick-borne diseases unfortunately have high percentages, but we can prevent this by taking care of our pet. Check him after every walk!
Do you properly secure and check your pet after walks? Share your experiences in the comments below!
We also invite you to visit our pet shop, where you will find unique products for your dog and for yourself as well.
We have both dog jackets and hoodies. We can also help yours find peace using Animal Reiki and holistic healing methods.
Sources:
- Leki stosowane w zwalczaniu inwazji kleszczy i pcheł - przegląd wybranych substancji czynnych Wieczorek A. , Janczak D.
- Zdrowy pies – R. Habib, K. Becker Ehrlichiosis and Anaplasmosis: An Update.Diniz PPVP, Moura de Aguiar D.
- Ticks and Tick-Borne Infections of Dogs in Two Jordanian Shelters. Far D, Takács N, Gyurkovszky M, Solymosi N, Farkas R.
- Tick-borne pathogens detected in sheltered dogs during an epidemic of Rocky Mountain spotted fever, a One Health challenge. Backus L, Foley J, Chung C, Virata S, Zazueta OE, López-Pérez A.
- How Changing Tick-Borne Disease Prevalence in Dogs Affects Diagnostic Testing. Kidd L.
- www.foreverdog.com
