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

Breaking Down the Canine Annual Visit

Almost all veterinarians recommend an annual visit for your canine companions. In this blog post, we will break down our standard “yearly exam” for dogs with what vaccines are given and all the other items involved. One thing to keep in mind about vaccines is that they work by stimulating the immune system agaisnt certain antibodies or antigens. If a pet has a disease, such as a urinary tract infection or skin allergies, it is not a good idea to give vaccines at the same time, as that puts too much stress on the pet’s immune system. Let’s start off with a breakdown of our canine yearlys:

Canine annual examination:

1. DHLPP-CV
2. Rabies Vaccine
3. Bordatella vaccine (optional)
4. Fecal flotation
5. Nail Trim
6. Heartworm test +/- annual bloodwork
7. Full Physical Examination

1. DHLPP-CV: a combination booster with a lot of letters representing different diseases – we will break down the acronym below:

• D: stands for distemper virus – a very contagious and often fatal viral disease in dogs. It is usually spread from nasal or ocular discharge in injected dogs. This disease can affect many different organ systems, including the digestive system, respiratory system or the nervous system.

• H: stands for Infectious Canine Hepatitis – this disease is caused by adenovirus (some vaccines can be called DA2PP) and can be transmitted by contact with infected dogs through the urine, feces or saliva. This virus can cause liver failure, respiratory disease or eye damage. 

• L: stands for Leptospirosis – this is a bacterial disease that dogs can get when exposed to the organism in water. It can cause serious liver and kidney disease if contracted.

• P: stands for parvovirus. This is an extremely contagious and serious viral disease that can be fatal. It attacks the gastrointestinal system, especially in young puppies. It is typically spread through fecal exposure and is highly resistant to most cleaning agents.

• P: stands for parainfluenza – this is a respiratory viral disease that can cause coughing, especially when many dogs are found in the same place (boarding, grooming, etc.)

• CV: stands for Coronavirus – a less common viral disease in dogs that affects the intestines.

2. Rabies Vaccine – required by law. We usually start giving a 3 year vaccine to dogs after they have had two one year vaccines in a row. We will give each dog a current rabies tag at every annual visit. See our previous blog post for more information on rabies.

3. Bordetella Vaccine – this oral vaccine is optional for dogs. It prevents Bordetella bronchiseptica, a bacterial infection known to cause “kennel cough”. This vaccine is recommended for dogs that get groomed regularly, attend training sessions with other dogs, are being boarded or go to the dog park often.

4. Fecal Flotation – a sample is evaluated for presence of worm eggs. Most dogs on regular heartworm prevention do not have intestinal worms, but there is increasing resistance with many of these worms. The most commonly found worms in canine feces include whipworms, hookworms and roundworms. Some facilities require a fecal done annually before boarding.

5. Nail Trim – a complimentary pedicure for all dogs seen at their annual exam. Done mostly to save your hardwood furniture and upholstery. We have yet to meet a dog that enjoys a nail trim.

6. Heartworm Test +/- Annual Bloodwork – we require a negative heartworm test annually to renew any heartworm medication prescriptions. This is a blood test, typically sent to an outside lab that also tests for exposure to a few tick borne diseases. We also offer two different types of annual bloodwork that include a heartworm test.

• Junior Profile: a mini-chemistry panel checking liver and kidney values, blood glucose, thyroid (T4) levels, a complete blood count looking at red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets, and of course, a heartworm test. We recommend this bloodwork for dogs once they turn 3-4 years old and annually after that until your pet reaches their “senior years.”

• Senior Profile: a full chemistry panel with a more in depth look at liver and kidney function, electrolytes, blood glucose, thyroid (T4) levels, a complete blood count looking at red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets, a urinalysis and a heartworm test. We recommend this bloodwork for dogs once they reach 7-8 years old. This is also a good panel for any dog that has been sick or having urinary issues. If you would like more information on senior pet care, click here. 

7. Full Physical Examination - there is nothing more valuable to a veterinarian than a physical examination. Looking at every aspect of your pet every year helps to keep track of your pet as they age. We can make sure any lumps or bumps are not changing significantly and check for early signs of arthritis or other disease. There have been many cases where a dog comes in for annual vaccines, and a very significant disease has been found and treated just from a good physical examination. 

Milly stay healthy because she gets her exam and vaccines every year!

Hopefully this has been a good break down of our typical canine yearly examination. Please post a comment if you have any questions. Call us today at 615-377-4959 to schedule your pet’s annual exam! 

Fleas, fleas and more fleas!

This week, I will be covering a topic that has plagued so many of our clients (and staff) this summer. Fleas. Those little pesky bugs that suck your pet's blood, cause intense itching, skin lesions, and worst of all, invade your home. 

The flea most often seen on your dogs and cats is actually the cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis. These fleas lay eggs on the fur of their host (your pet), and the eggs then fall onto bedding or carpet for hatching. Hatching leads to larvae which leads to cocooning pupa which, after several weeks, finally produces an adult flea. Adult fleas feed on their host almost immediately. They consume blood and excrete it in a blackish red pellets onto their host to create "flea dirt." Flea dirt looks a lot like pepper flakes on your pet's skin. These fleas cannot survive for more than a few days in temperatures less than 37 degrees F. To survive the winter, these fleas find a host to keep warm. These hosts can be your pet, if you are not treating topically. 

In some pets, flea allergy dermatitis (FAD) may develop secondary to flea infestations. FAD is a hypersensitivity to flea salvia that may cause dermatitis in dogs and cats. In cats, this typically presents as miliary dermatitis with small crusted spots on the neck, back and face. In dogs, there is intense itching, usually at the tail base but can occur all over the body. Dogs can lose hair and develop lesions in the skin from the intense itching. Occasionally, secondary bacterial or fungal infections may occur on the skin from the self-trauma. 

Fleas can cause more problems than just itchy skin. In young animals, too many fleas can lead to iron deficiency anemia from so much blood loss. Also, fleas are carriers of several different intestinal worms. The most common is the tapeworm. When grooming, your pet may ingest a flea which may then lead to a tapeworm infection as well. 

The goal of flea treatment is three-fold: 1. eliminate fleas on your pet(s), 2. eliminate fleas in your pet's environment and 3. prevent subsequent re-infestation. 

Eliminating fleas on your pet. There are so many products out on the market right now for flea control. Here is what we typically recommend for clients. Remember, please make sure you are purchasing the right product for your pet. Check the weight and species approved on all products before using them. 

1. Topical monthly flea and tick prevention - products such as Parastar Plus, Frontline Plus, K9 Advantix for dogs or EasySpot and Frontline for cats - these products may take up to 24 hours to start killing fleas
2. Oral monthly flea prevention - Comfortis or Trifexis (heartworm prevention as well)
3. Oral immedatiate treatment - CapStar, which kills fleas on the pet for 24 hours

To treat the environment, there are a few different things to do, depending on the degree of infestation. You may start by washing all the bedding your pet contacts and vacuuming the carpets (tip: put a flea collar in the vacuum bag). There are sprays out there to kill fleas in their various stages you can use as well. Usually, however, you will have to get a flea bomb to fully treat your home. There are also treatments that can be used on the yard. Concentrate these on places your pet goes, such as the doghouse, garage or special areas your pet likes to lounge. 

Preventing re-infestation is usually done by using a monthly prevention we mentioned earlier. Unfortunately, fleas can develop resistance to some of these products. If you notice a product stops working for your pet, wait a few weeks after application and try a different one. These products are ideally used year round. If you want to stop using topical products during the winter, just remember to use them a month after the first freeze and then re-start a month before the last freeze.

Hopefully this will help pet owners to deal with the terrible flea season we have seen in Tennessee this year. Remember, you are not alone if you are experiencing a flea infestation. If you have more questions, please let us know or call the office at 615.377.4959. Thanks!

- H