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Lyme disease is rearing its head in Western Pennsylvania. Veterinarians are seeing more cases this year than in recent years. Lyme disease is a potentially fatal disease transmitted from ticks to both animals and humans. Antibiotics can be used to treat the disease. There is a vaccination that can protect your pets, but can cause serious adverse reactions. Your veterinarian can tell you what course of action is best for your pet.
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Lyme disease in dogs often causes several symptoms, including depression, fever, decreased appetite, weight loss and joint stiffness. Look for chronic stiffness as an indication of a dog that has Lyme disease with help from aveterinarian in this free video on dog health. Expert: James Talbott Bio: Dr. James R. Talbott is a staff veterinarian at Belle Forest Animal Hospital and Kennel in Nashville, Tenn. Filmmaker: Dimitri LaBarge
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A tick is a small parasite related to spiders. They are most normally found in wooded areas and those fields of high grass and like mosquitoes and fleas pose a health hazard to your dog and to people as well as they carry the Lyme disease, Rocky mountain spotted fever and other illnesses that can affect your dogs health and even his life. While many people know that ticks can be detrimental to their dogs health they simply aren’t sure what to do to protect their dog from these parasites. Here are a few tips that may help you to protect your dogs from ticks and keep him healthy.
Since ticks are found in wooded areas and high grass and especially prevalent during the spring and summer it is a good idea to keep the grass in your yard mowed and short. Ticks are far less likely to inhabit areas where there is no tall grass.
You will also want to keep your yard free of spilled bird seed and other things which might attract mice and squirrels because ticks often use these animals as a host and food source.
Don’t allow your dog to roam. The best way to protect him from ticks is to limit his access to areas where there is not a high concentrations of these parasites.
If you take your dog camping with you check him/her every three hours for signs of ticks. Make sure you check him thoroughly including the inside of his ears and around the genital area. Ticks do not attach immediately to a new host and usually don’t start feeding until after they are on the host for about 4 hours. (It is also wise to thoroughly check all humans who are camping in wooded areas for ticks as well.)
If you find a tick use a pair of tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the body as possible and pull the tick straight out. Never remove a tick with your bare hands. Ticks have teeth designed to latch onto a host and remain fixed and twisting and turning the tick may result in leaving the head with the disease carrying fluids attached.
Once the tick is removed then clean the area with soap and water and apply antiseptic.
Using protectants such as Advantix and Frontline Plus may prevent ticks from using your dog as a host. Ask your Veterinarian about these and other products that may help to protect your dogs from ticks.
If your dog has had access to any area where ticks may live and suddenly appears lame, feverish and has a loss of appetite and appears lethargic then take him to your Veterinarian immediately for treatment. Be sure to tell your Vet of the places your dog has been so that he can be tested for tick spreading diseases.
Your dog is your trusted companion and your friend. You want to be able to share those outside adventures, picnics, hiking and camping trips with him but, you also want to keep him safe. Following these few tips will help protect your dog from ticks and the associated health problems they cause while still enabling him to enjoy all those out of door adventures.
Babesia infection or babesiosis refers to infection with a protozoal parasite from the species Babesia. These small parasites infect the red blood cells of mammals causing anemias and blood clotting problems in our pets. Babesia species are found worldwide, although in North America, most cases found in dogs occur in the southern United States. Pockets of the disease also exist in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. My first confirmed case was accidentally discovered in a routine dog neuter that turned out not to be so routine. After the surgery, the dog continued to have bleeding problems from the surgical area. A blood sample was sent to the lab and with a special tick panel, the babesia organism was discovered. It took weeks on special antibiotics for the dog to recover.
How does the dog get Babesia?
The dog must be bitten by a tick infected with the parasite. The species Ixodes is the common tick capable of transmitting the disease but other ticks may also spread Babesia. The disease may also be spread from animal to animal through bite wounds or abrasions. It is also possible for an infected mother dog to pass the parasite to her unborn puppies through the placenta. I have also seen this occur in dogs infected with other tick bourne diseases such as Ehrlichia Canis.
Special blood panels are used to diagnose Babesia in pets and if a tick bourne disease is suspected, it is wise to test for the other tick diseases at the same time which include Erhlichia, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Lyme disease.
Best prevention is to monitor your pet frequently for ticks and use tick control products if you are in a tick infested area or take your dog to an area where he may pick up ticks.
Keep your dog free of fleas and ticks with Advantix. This great product provides awesome protection for your dog. No one likes to find fleas hopping on their dogs or ticks embedded in their dog’s skin. Advantix kills nearly all fleas within the first several hours, so it is helpful in dogs with dermatitis caused by flea allergies. Safe enough to use on very young puppies, Advantix does not lose its ability to kill fleas and ticks even after getting wet while swimming or bathing.
So if you should see a flea hopping around on your dog or find a tick imbedded in his skin, reach for K9 Advantix and protect your dog and your home from an infestation. Advantix does not need a prescription to use but may be purchased from your veterinarian.
Using Frontline Plus is a fast, efficient way to control fleas and ticks on your pets. The last things a pet owner wants to see on their pets are fleas and ticks. Just seeing one of these nasty little insects makes my skin crawly! Yech! I have had very good luck on my large pack using Frontline Plus. Although I get this product from my veterinarian, no prescription is required. The most complete spot-on safeguard available, Frontline kills 98-100% of adult fleas on your dog or cat within twenty four hours! With a special ingredient that kills flea larvae and eggs, it also keeps all stages of fleas from developing. When Frontline Plus stops the development of new fleas, it totally breaks the life cycle of the flea.
Lyme Disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever are transmitted by four major ticks. Frontline Plus kills all stages of these ticks, which is why I use this product. Applied easily between the shoulder blades of my dogs, Frontline Plus is completely waterproof, so I don’t need to reapply it after shampooing the dogs.
Available for small, medium and large dogs, there is also a Frontline Plus for cats. Another great product for controlling emergency flea infestations is Frontline Spray. Frontline Sprays are free from possibly dangerous insecticides which are sometimes found in pet store sprays. Take it from me; Frontline Plus is an excellent way to control fleas and ticks on your pets. To purchase this and other great products, go to www.luvurdog.com.
K9 Advantix Teal is a once-a-month topical tick, mosquito and flea treatment for dogs and puppies 7 weeks of age and older. It contains imidacloprid and permethrin. It also remains effective after swimming or bathing. This is the ultimate protection for your dog! Each packet contains 4 applications providing 4 months of protection. Protect your dog today. Effective Flea & Tick Control . . . No Prescription Required!Guaranteed US EPA approved. Each package of K9 Advantix for Dogs lasts 4 to 6 months (One vial per month) Kills 98%-100% of fleas within 12 hours – helpful in dogs with Flea Allergy Dermatitis Protects against deadly Lyme Disease, spread by ticks Repels and kills mosquitos, carriers of dangerous West Nile Virus Water-resistant, easy to apply formula stays on in baths or in the rain
Long Acting KnockOut Flea & Tick Spray with Nylar (insect growth regulator) by Virbac kills fleas for 2 months and kills ticks (including Lyme Vectors) for 1 month. Nylar IGR sterilizes fleas for 3 months.Active ingredient:*Permethrin: CAS 52645-53-1……………..2.00%**Pyriproxyfen: CAS 95737-68-1 (Nylar**)….0.05%Other Ingredients………………………97.95%Total…………………………………100.00%
Frontline Top Spot Red for dogs and puppies provides flea and tick protection for at least one month. It is applied topically and each packet has 12 applications providing 12 months of protection. Effective Flea & Tick Control . . . No Prescription Required!Guaranteed US EPA approved. Over-The-Counter topical kills fleas & ticks in under 48 hours Protect against Lyme Disease! Easy to apply monthly preventive
ProtiCall kills and repels ticks for up to 4 weeks.Safe to use on puppies 4 weeks of age or older.Dual Control:Kills and repels fleas as well as ticks.Full coverage within 24 hours; 6 hours for dogs weighing less than 33 lbs. Easy to apply.ProtiCall for use on dogs and puppies.Kills and Repels:Deer Ticks: (Ixodes scapularis) Vector of lyme disease up to 4 weeks.Brown Dog Ticks: (Rhipicephalus sanguineus) up to 4 weeks.American Dog Ticks: (Dermacentor variabilis) for 2 to 3 weeks.It also kills and repels adult fleas up to 4 weeks.
