Mary Allen
Spring is wonderful, but not everything that comes with it. Because with the heat comes the ticks.
In addition to being disgusting when they suck our blood, ticks can spread diseases. TBE, tick-borne meningitis, can affect dogs, but it is unusual for the dog to become seriously ill. However, we humans can become seriously ill, so especially you who live in risk areas should be vaccinated. Dog life means outdoor life and nowadays ticks are also found in many of the cities’ parks.
Anaplasmosis, formerly known as Ehrlichia, and Lyme disease (which also affect humans) are two other tick-borne diseases. Symptoms include decreased general condition, fever, and often lameness on various bones, sometimes bleeding from mucous membranes and nose, and symptoms can occur up to six months after the dog has been infected. But even here it is unusual for the dog to become seriously ill. However, veterinarians recommend that you use some type of tick prevention if you live in areas with a lot of ticks.
Tablets Against Ticks
Today, many choose to give tablets as protection against tick infestations. The tablets, which are prescription-only, are given in the dog’s mouth and contain insecticides that deter and kill the tick.
But just like with any drug, some dogs can react to the substance with various side effects, the most common being diarrhea.