As the days get warmer, thousands of ticks become active. This brings the need to prevent ticks from attacking your pet as ticks pose life-threatening complications like Tick Fever. By understanding the signs, causes, and ways to prevent tick fever, you can ensure your pet’s health and happiness. This blog on Tick Fever in Dogs: Causes, Types, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention helps you know everything about Tick Fever.
What Causes Tick Fever in Dogs?
When an infected tick bites a dog, infection is transmitted by the protozoa released in the blood. Tick fever is caused by protozoa which is transmitted on tick bite. In India, the most common tick responsible for spreading tick diseases is the Brown Dog Tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus).
P.S. In humans, not all mosquitoes cause diseases, except the ones that carry Dengue and Malaria. Similarly, not all ticks are dangerous, only the ones that carry an infection are deadly.
Common Type of Tick Borne Diseases in Dogs
|
Tick Diseases |
Cause |
Symptoms |
Result |
|
Babesiosis |
Babesia canis & Babesia gibsoni |
Fever, jaundice, pale gums, anaemia |
Can cause severe blood loss or organ damage |
|
Ehrlichiosis |
Ehrlichia species |
Fever, lethargy, loss of appetite, joint pain, internal bleeding |
High chances of recurrence, attacks platelets |
|
Hepatozoonosis |
Ingestion of infected ticks (not bite-related) |
Fever, lethargy, loss of appetite, joint pain, internal bleeding, muscle weakness |
Cannot be completely cured, requires frequent blood tests & medication to compress the symptoms |
|
Anaplasmosis |
Anaplasma species |
Fever, lethargy, loss of appetite |
Attacks platelets, increasing the risk of bleeding |
Symptoms of Tick Fever in Dogs
Major tick fever symptoms include high fever, vomiting, loss of appetite, joint pain, bleeding, and more. Tick fever might not necessarily mean having fever, more than 2 of these symptoms can also mean tick fever.
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Fever - Generally high fever (105*F)
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Lymphadenopathy - Swollen Lymph Nodes
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Anorexia - Loss of Appetite
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Indigestion - Vomiting & Diahorrea - Uncontrolled indigestion
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Joint Pain - Hind limbs are mostly affected
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Epistaxis - Bleeding from the nose
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Neurological signs - Seizures or walking difficulty
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Jaundice - Yellow discolouration of skin, gums & eyes
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Internal bleeding - Ehrlichia Canis attacks blood platelets
How to Treat Tick Fever in Dogs?
Treatment plan usually includes administering antibiotics and management to increase the chances of recovery. A medicinal course of the drug is administered mandatorily under a veterinarian’s supervision. Besides, supportive supplements are also given to boost immunity and platelets. Early diagnosis is the key to successful tick treatment for dogs. However, one must never stop the course of medicine in between, even if your pet seems better. Incomplete treatment often leads to worsened symptoms or even relapse of the disease.
Tips to Prevent Tick Fever in Dogs
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Tick Preventive measures include using tick shampoo for dogs, regularly checking their coat for ticks, removing ticks on dogs and disposing of them if found. If you suspect tick fever in your pet, immediately seek veterinary advice.
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It is crucial to be prepared for ticks in advance. As soon as the Tick Season (April-September) starts take the necessary steps to keep ticks away from your pet.
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Make sure to get rid of the ticks and identify their source. Tickproof your pet with a tick spray for dogs throughout the year.
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One of the biggest mistakes pet parents make is leaving the course of medicine in between. If your dog starts to look better after a few days and you stop giving the prescribed antibiotics, it increases the risk of the illness coming back.
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If after a few days, you feel that your dog is getting better and stop administering the prescribed antibiotics, it might lead to relapsing of the disease.
Prevention of Ticks on Dogs
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Tick-Proof Your Pet: Use tick shampoo for dogs like Shampooch or tick spray for dogs like Tick Free
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Regular Tick Checks: Especially after walks or outdoor play sessions, check under ears, paws, tail, belly and other tick prone areas.
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Regular Grooming: Regular grooming helps in the early detection of ticks and keeps your pet’s coat healthy.
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Clean Environment: Keep your home, backyard, and surroundings clean and tick-free.
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Be Vigilant During Tick Season: In India, April to September is the peak season for ticks, stay extra cautious during this period.
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Never Ignore Symptoms: Act fast if you notice unusual behaviour, appetite loss, or fever. Consult your vet immediately!
Get Tick Free Now!
Give your pet the best tick protection with Tick Free Combo! It helps to eliminate ticks and fleas from your pet’s skin and prevents their future occurrence. This combo relieves skin issues like irritation, itching, infection, rashes, redness, and inflamed skin caused due to tick bite. It contains a tick removing spray and a preventive shampoo. Made using natural ingredients, it serves as a powerful tick repellent for pets.
FAQs: Tick Fever in Dogs: Causes, Types, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention
How to remove a tick from a dog?
To remove tick from dog you can use a natural spray like Tick Free. and comb within 2-3 minutes to remove the tick.
How to remove ticks on cats?
Use a natural tick spray to remove ticks on cats within 2-3 minutes. Simply spray over the tick and comb within 2-3 minutes to easily remove the ticks.
What kills ticks on dogs instantly?
Tick Free Spray helps to instantly inactivate the ticks within 2-3 minutes, so that you can easily remove them using a tick comb.
