Dangerous Diseases that Come from Ticks

Is your pet constantly plagued by ticks? These pesky little bugs often nestle into a dog’s thick fur and can bite and breed near the dog’s skin. The ticks themselves are irritating, and will cause your pet to itch and suffer sores where he is bitten. Yet the dangers associated with ticks can reach even father in some circumstances. Ticks are found in almost every part of the country, and are especially prevalent in the spring and fall. As September comes to a close and October is approaching, it’s an optimal time for fleas to come out of hiding and attack your pet.

When a dog is bit by a tick, it can bring on Lyme Disease or Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. These diseases can even spread from your dog to you. Your dog can also catch canine ehrlichiosis, canine babesiosis, and canine hepatozsoonosis. These viruses can affect other animals and humans in a variety of ways. All tick-borne diseases are transmitted through the saliva of the tick when it bites into the animal’s skin. Some pets have a hypersensitive reaction to a tick bite and will suffer tick paralysis as a result. Wood ticks, lone star ticks, and Gulf Coast ticks often cause pets to suffer this devastating paralysis.

When your dog has been out wandering in tall grasses, near bushes, or any outdoor area, you should check him for ticks afterwards. Typically, ticks like to attach themselves to your dog around the ears, between the toes, or in the armpits. Ticks do not bite like a flea, but instead burrow their head into the dog’s skin and feed on the blood in your pet’s bloodstream. When the tick’s saliva enters the bloodstream, it can transmit any diseases that the tick is carrying.

Once ticks are on your dog, they will mate and the females will lay eggs. This normally happens within 15 and 20 hours. The longer your dog hosts ticks, the more ticks will multiply on your pet. If you want to avoid the dangerous illnesses that can come from ticks, you should always examine your dog after hiking, walking through brush, or going anywhere where ticks may be present. As well, you will want to remove any ticks that you find with a pair of tweezers.

You will need to pull the ticks out carefully so that you don’t twist the head off and leave it buried in your pet’s skin. If you are nervous about attempting this, then contact a local vet and have them complete the job for you. If the ticks are in a sensitive area, such as the ear canal, then you should always have a professional veterinarian do the job for you.