Key Points
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Ticks and fleas cause many serious health risks for your dog.
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Consult a vet if you notice your dog is lethargic or not acting like themselves.
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Prevention is key to keeping your dog safe from fleas and ticks.
Fleas and ticks pose a significant risk to your dog's health. These external parasites survive on your pet's blood, causing many health issues. You can "fight the bite" with these four strong pillars: understanding the threat from parasites, knowing the symptoms to look for, preventive action, and appropriate control measures.
Not every dog is as fortunate as yours, with an owner who cares about their health and well-being. The unwanted, unloved, and unfortunate Precious Betty, a boxer, got lucky in early August 2023 when a kindhearted mailman found the puppy collapsed in a Fresno, California, driveway. She was suffering from anemia due to the large number of ticks on her. Action by the mailman and workers with two rescue agencies saved Betty's life.
Knowing the risks of fleas and ticks allows you to notice warning signs earlier. This enables you to curb potential health hazards, keep the infestations under control, and protect your dog from the aggravating effects of these parasites and the diseases they carry. Effective preventive measures keep these pests at bay. In case of infestation, proper control methods result in more rapid eradication.
Allergic Reactions
Fleas and ticks cause allergic reactions in dogs. This condition, called flea allergy dermatitis, occurs due to the dog's hypersensitivity to flea saliva and causes the bug bites to itch even more than normal. Not every dog has this reaction, but many do.
This reaction involves intense itching, inflammation, and redness around the bite site. Other risks from allergy dermatitis include hair loss, skin thickening, and skin infections due to repetitive scratching from your pet. It causes extreme discomfort, a decrease in the quality of life, and severe skin infections that often require expensive medical treatments.
Anemia
Anemia in dogs happens when fleas or ticks consume a significant amount of your dog's blood, reducing the body's red blood cells and causing an insufficient oxygen supply to organs and tissues. Common symptoms include paleness, lethargy, weakness, increased heart rate, and collapse or fainting. If you observe these signs in your dog, seek veterinary care immediately.
The VCA Animal Hospitals says, "Anemic dogs also have little stamina or energy, so they seem listless or tire more easily. Additionally, weight loss, labored breathing, loss of appetite, a faster heart rate, or signs of blood loss (bloody nose, blood in the stool, urine, or vomit) may also be seen. Pale gums and lethargy indicate the need to perform blood tests."
Follow your vet's comprehensive treatment plan and implement effective parasite control to address this issue. Monitoring their progress during treatment and observing improvement in their general health are important in this process. The prognosis for success depends on your dog's health state before the anemia happens. For dogs with preexisting illnesses, such as autoimmune disorders, the outcome is less than favorable.
Mental and Physical Distress
Fleas and ticks torment your dog with constant itching and discomfort, causing them significant stress and anxiety. This aggravation affects them both mentally and physically. Remaining in a constant state of stress and/or anxiety affects their health by lowering the immune system's ability to fight off infections.
Watch for excessive scratching, restlessness, irritability, decreased appetite, and changes in behavior. These signs often indicate distress and infestation. Eliminate the infestation as quickly as possible. The quicker you do, the better for your dog.
Skin Infections
Fleas and ticks cause many types of skin infections in dogs, including impetigo, cellulitis, and abscesses. These result from excessive scratching and biting of the infested areas. Infected areas get inflamed, red, and start to secrete pus. Other symptoms of infection include hair loss, obvious discomfort, fever, and lethargy.
Immediate medical treatment stops the progression of the infection. After finishing the treatment program, it's important to establish preventive measures against future flea or tick infestations to avoid recurrence. This includes using flea and tick protection and getting rid of the fleas in your house.
Tick Paralysis
Tick paralysis is a potentially fatal condition caused by neurotoxins in tick saliva. These "nerve poisons" enter the dog's blood when the tick is feeding and affect the dog's nervous system. Prevention is important, but ticks aren't always easy to spot — especially on dogs with dark fur. If you've been in a tick-infested area like the woods with your dog, always check them for ticks when you get home.
Symptoms of tick paralysis start with general weakness, progressing gradually to partial or complete paralysis. If you notice your pet showing difficulties in standing or walking, consult your vet immediately.
Removal of the offending tick usually leads to rapid improvement. Follow-up treatments may include anti-toxin administration, oxygen therapy, or ventilation in severe cases.
Transmission of Diseases
Ticks and fleas are notorious vectors for diseases like Lyme disease, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever, among others. These all have serious implications for your dog's health. Symptoms include fever, joint pain, lethargy, and loss of appetite. The treatment often involves the use of antibiotics and other medications prescribed by a vet.
Vaccines play a significant role in preventing certain tick-borne diseases. It's important to consult your vet about the beneficial vaccines and stay on schedule with their administration.
Stay Safe
The risks from fleas and ticks on dog health are vast, ranging from irritating allergic reactions to life-threatening paralysis. Understanding these implications and the relevant symptoms promotes a healthy life for your pet. Effective preventive measures (like flea collars) and prompt treatment work hand-in-hand to safeguard your dog's health.
Continued research and increasing awareness among pet parents substantially contribute to advances in flea and tick prevention, management, and overall canine health. You play an important role in the fight to protect your pet from parasites. Remain vigilant for any tell-tale symptoms that something is wrong. If you think something may be wrong, assume it is and call your vet. In short, if you're in doubt, check it out.
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