Tick-Borne Diseases in Dogs - A Guest Blog!

Our new technician, Tiffany, has adapted a report she did in school to educate everyone on tick-borne diseases that affected our canine companions. Thanks to Tiff and congrats on her graduation this weekend! We can't wait to get her working full time!

Tick Borne Diseases

What Is a Tick Borne Disease?

• This is a disease that is carried by infected ticks, which transmits the disease to dogs through biting them.

What are the most common tick borne diseases in our area?

1.     Lyme Disease

2.     Ehrlichiosis

3.     Anaplasmosis

4.     Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

What is Lyme’s Disease?

• Is caused by a bacteria known as Borrelia bourgdorferi. This disease is transmitted by the black-legged tick.                                                     

What is Ehrlichiosis?

• Is caused by a rickettsial bacteria that infects the white blood cells. There are two forms of Ehrlichia that can be found in your dog.

1.     Ehrlichia canis

2.     Ehrlichia ewingii

• Ehrlichia canis is transmitted by the brown dog tick. This disease mostly affects the dog's bone marrow.

• Ehrlichia ewingii is transmitted by the lone star tick. This disease leads to joint pain and lameness.                                                   

What is Anaplasmosis?

• Caused by an infectious bacterium known as Anaplasma. There are also two forms of this disease as well that your dog can contractt.

1.     Anaplasma phagocytophilum

2.     Anaplasma platys

• Anaplasma phagocytophilum is transmitted by the deer tick. This tick causes an infection in  the white blood cells.                                                

• Anaplasma platys is transmitted by the brown dog tick. This tick causes an infection of the blood platelets that can lead to bleeding disorders.                                                  

What is Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever?

• This disease is caused by a rickettsial bacteria that reproduces only inside living cells. This disease is transmitted by the American dog tick.

Symptoms tick borne diseases cause in your dog are : muscle aches, fatigue, decrease in appetite and energy, and fever.  These symptoms can also be indicators of other clinical problems. Therefore, if you suspect your pet may have been exposed to one of the diseases, a simple blood test can tell us if the dog has in fact been exposed to the disease. Based on these results, treatment plan can be designed to match your animal's needs.

The best way to protect your dog from getting these tick borne diseases is by using preventatives on your pet that kills all the life cycles of the tick.  Products like Ovitral, Parastar Plus, K9 Advantix, and Fronline plus work very well when used every month. We recommend using parasite prevention year-round in the Middle Tennessee area. 

- Tiffany