Subcutaneous ticks in dogs are a real disaster not only for four-legged pets, but also for their owners. To provide timely assistance The home pupil needs to learn to identify the disease and know what to do in such cases. ABOUT appearance bloodsucker, symptoms, as well as methods of treating the disease (Demodicosis) and will be discussed in the material below.
What does a subcutaneous mite look like?
Experienced owners know what subcutaneous mites look like on dogs (its other name is “Demodex cains”), despite the fact that it is impossible to notice the arthropod with the naked eye. Externally, the bloodsucker resembles a tiny worm with small legs in the upper part of the body measuring from 0.3 to 0.5 mm. You can see it only under a microscope; a photo of a subcutaneous tick in dogs is presented below.
Symptoms of the appearance of subcutaneous mites
Veterinarians emphasize that Demodicosis is not an independent disease. We are talking about a concomitant illness that manifests itself when hormonal disorders, decreased immunity or weakening of the animal’s body. As a result of these factors, a tick that peacefully coexists with an animal can turn into a dangerous enemy for its own owner.
Only a veterinarian can quickly and accurately diagnose the disease. Symptoms of subcutaneous mites are often confused with bacterial and fungal diseases.
However, owners should worry if their pet has:
- increasing itching (in advanced cases, the dog may scratch the affected areas of the skin until it bleeds);
- foci of redness appear under the fur, which gradually turn into wounds, then become covered with crusts, pustules and deep cracks;
- small areas without hair appear on the stomach, hind legs, near the eyebrows and muzzle;
- the animal comes from an uncharacteristic and quite bad smell, localized at the sites of injury;
- the four-legged friend begins to react poorly to the owners’ commands and refuses to eat. In some cases, attacks of aggression and unreasonable irritability occur;
- anemia, general weakness and manifestation of concomitant pathologies.
Treatment begins when there is an accurate diagnosis. It is determined by a veterinarian based on the results of a skin scraping and a urine blood test. Under no circumstances should you act at random. If your dog exhibits the symptoms listed above, it is better to limit yourself to administering an anti-allergenic drug and seek help from a doctor.
How to treat a dog for subcutaneous ticks
Treatment of subcutaneous mites can last for 1-3 months. The duration depends on the stage and complexity of the disease. The pet’s condition must be monitored by a veterinarian, so without observation in the clinic in in this case not enough. Owners must understand that even after 1-2 years after remission, their pet cannot be considered 100% healthy. Any stress or weakened immune system can trigger a relapse.
Only a veterinarian can say exactly how to treat subcutaneous mites in each specific case. An individual program is selected for each dog, but the main emphasis is on strengthening the immune system and improving the general condition of the body. Local lesions are treated with acaricidal preparations:
- sulfur-zinc ointment;
- Akarabor;
- Amitan.
On average, 6 treatments are enough to get rid of bloodsuckers.
Advice! Sheltie, bobtail and collie breeds are contraindicated in any product containing ivermectin.
In case of generalized demodicosis (when the entire body of the animal is affected), the veterinarian develops an individual scheme to combat the disease. The dosage of drugs is adjusted taking into account the dog’s condition. In 90% of cases, treatment takes place in several stages.
To eliminate the risk of relapse, treatment is continued even after getting rid of the bloodsuckers.
Treatment at home
Every owner who has encountered Demodicosis must understand that treating a dog for subcutaneous mites at home and without prior approval from a veterinarian may be unsafe for the animal itself. We are talking about a complex fight, so procedures in the clinic and the four-legged pet’s permanent habitat must be carried out in parallel.
Symptoms and treatment should be checked and monitored by a veterinarian, since bloodsucker remedies are toxic and the slightest overdose can cause serious complications.
How to avoid appearing
Demodectic mange is not contagious to humans. It is also not dangerous for four-legged animals with strong immunity. The disease can manifest itself due to a general weakening of the dog’s body or a genetic predisposition (if one of the parents suffered from the disease). Take care of your pet and closely monitor its health!
Many dog breeders are faced with an unpleasant problem that appears in the warm season: ixodid ticks can attach themselves to the skin of their pets. These insects are small in size, but cause serious inconvenience. Ticks, which can transmit disease when bitten, are dangerous not only for pets, but also for people. Thus, an encephalitis tick can infect the human body with a virus that will lead to unpleasant consequences. Below you will learn what to do if your dog is bitten by a tick, what the consequences of the bite are and measures to help avoid the same situation in the future.
Types of ticks in dogs and symptoms of their bites
The risk of finding a tick on a dog increases with the onset of spring. When it gets warmer and the temperature rises above zero degrees, small insects begin to hunt. In summer, at the peak of the heat, ticks are less active, but even then the likelihood of a bite is considerable. Ixodid arthropods move slowly and do not jump from trees, as many mistakenly believe, but they have the ability to feel the warmth of a mammal ten meters away. After the tick senses food, it begins to crawl towards the animal. Having reached the target, it moves onto the dog's fur.
Some time after the tick has landed on the dog, it explores the area in search of thin skin: there it will be easier for it to obtain the necessary nutrients from the blood. As a rule, their “favorite” places are the neck, ears, and stomach, but they can also cling to the back and other places. In some cases, searching with a tick suitable conditions It takes several hours to feed, which gives the dog owner the opportunity to detect it in time. They are attached for a long time (see the image below), and the first watch will not be too difficult to remove.
Once the tick has firmly embedded itself into the dog’s skin, it no longer changes position. The feeding period is several days. Due to a special natural anesthetic that is injected into the blood at the site of the bite, the dog cannot feel the bite at first. foreign body and does not experience discomfort - itching and irritation appear only on the second or third day. If a tick has infected a dog with something, unpleasant symptoms occur earlier.
Ear mite
An ear mite is a common ixodid insect that gets into a dog's ears and bites him there. When it gets inside the ear, the dog begins to feel discomfort almost immediately. First symptom ear mite- This is a permanent itch that forces the pet to scratch the affected area, often injuring itself. Then a second one appears a clear sign: A brown, foul-smelling liquid that comes from the ear. Upon seeing this symptom, the owner should immediately contact a veterinarian who will prescribe anti-tick medications.
Subcutaneous mite
The subcutaneous mite infects the inner layer of the epidermis, sebaceous glands or hair follicles of the dog. When bitten, harm is caused not only to the skin, but also to internal organs. Signs of a tick bite: severe itching, causing the dog to constantly itch, baldness in the affected areas, and the appearance of small wounds and ulcers. Basically, subcutaneous mites infect puppies whose immunity is still weak, usually entering the body from the mother. It is difficult to treat the affected skin areas, so it is better to protect your pets in advance.
What to do if your dog is bitten by a tick and how to get it out
The easiest way to detect a tick is on the surface of the skin of smooth-haired dogs or after several days of a bite, when, having been saturated with blood, it becomes larger. Depending on the time spent on top layer epidermis, and also depending on the number of mites, the difficulty of eliminating it varies. When removing an insect, you need to act carefully, observing safety precautions so as not to accidentally injure the dog or contract an infection from a tick. Popular ways to rid a pet of a tick: manual removal, shampoo and changing linen.
Manual removal
Manual removal is the most effective way rid the dog of the insect, but this procedure requires care and certain precautions. Firstly, you cannot force an arthropod upward, as you risk tearing off its body, leaving the head attached to the dog. Squeezing the tick is also not recommended, otherwise there is a chance that harmful substances inside the insect will be injected into the pet’s blood. Before the procedure, be sure to wear gloves to avoid infection. How to remove a tick from a dog:
- Liquids. Lubricate the tick with oil or gasoline - after twenty to thirty minutes it will fall off on its own. The method does not always work. Some experts believe that the lack of oxygen provokes the release of harmful substances posing a threat to the life of the pet.
- Use tweezers. Grasp the tick firmly in the area just above the head, but do not squeeze too hard. Start twisting it, but do not pull it sideways or upward. The procedure may take from a few seconds to ten minutes.
- Thread. Tie the tick with a thread on both sides, similar to the previous method, begin to “unscrew” it carefully and slowly.
Special shampoo for dogs
It is not uncommon, especially in dogs living in private houses in the wild, a large number of mites on the skin immediately. Manual removal in this case will take a lot of time and effort, so you need to try to destroy them using a special shampoo. Ask your pet store for a drug that kills tick larvae and can help remove those that have already bitten your pet. Carry out the wool washing procedure once a day. If possible, remove the remaining ones manually.
Replacing bedding
If the dog was infected, the likelihood that tick larvae remained in the sleeping area is very high. When treating with shampoo, it is advisable to change bedding every day or at least shake them out and vacuum them. Washing old bedding daily and replacing it with new ones is much more effective than cleaning without water and detergent.
Possible consequences after a tick bite
Symptoms of the pathogen entering the blood:
- Temperature above 39 degrees.
- Lethargy, lack of appetite.
- Little activity.
- Colored urine, turning brown, beetroot, black, red.
- Diarrhea.
- Vomit.
- Jaundice.
Borreliosis (Lyme disease) is less common in Russia; the presence of microorganisms that cause it can be confirmed only by laboratory blood testing. Depending on which system of the dog is affected, borreliosis of the joints, heart, and neuroborreliosis are distinguished; their symptoms differ. This disease can be dangerous for humans, so if there are signs of damage to one of the pet’s body systems, it is worth doing a test for Lyme disease.
How to treat piroplasmosis in an animal
The simplest way Protecting your dog from ticks means inspecting the coat and skin after each walk. The peculiarity of insects is that for the first few hours they may not bite the animal, looking for a convenient place, so the chance of getting rid of it without loss is high. To detect a tick, run your hand against the dog's fur, carefully examine it, and feel it. If it has already “sucked in”, you will feel a small, convex ball to the touch. Examine the scalp, neck, ears, and abdomen especially carefully.
Anti-tick drops and sprays
There is no way to constantly examine the dog if the owner goes with it to nature or to the country. To prevent bites, veterinarians have created special preparations that repel arthropods and prevent the risk of infection from a bite. A few days before departure, it is recommended to treat the dog’s neck with Advantix drops - the product lasts for about a month, so it does not require frequent application.
Folk remedies
Experience shows that there are no effective folk remedies against ticks, because insects sense blood well, although there is a method that slightly reduces the risk of a bite. To do this, you need to wash the mammal with tar soap, and then rinse it with a decoction of wormwood. Another way to avoid bites is to sew a light summer jumpsuit and wear it for walks in parks, where there is tall grass and there is a high risk of catching a tick. In addition, your pet should not be allowed to interact with yard dogs.
Video: how to get a tick at home
In order to remove the tick accurately and not harm the dog, you should have a good understanding of the removal technique. The video below shows manual removal. The dog breeder does not recommend using oils, vodka or other liquids to block his access to oxygen. Dog owner using improvised means to remove the insect, notes that you should not pull or put pressure on the tick, otherwise it will stick even stronger. After removing the arthropod, the wound is treated with disinfectant iodine, and the ixodid tick is destroyed.
Photo: what a tick looks like on a dog
In order to immediately identify a tick and understand whether your dog needs help, you need to know what it looks like. This is an insect with eight legs, a small head and a scute. It has brown, black, reddish shades. On a dog it speeds up and becomes more agile. If a tick has already bitten a pet, then it becomes easier to determine - it feels like a small yellow, gray or pinkish pea to the touch. See the photos to easily understand what a tick looks like and spot it on your dog in time:
Tick on a dog
What does danger look like?
The ixodid species has a wide distribution area; it can be found not only in the forest, but also in a city park or garden plot. Arthropods go through 4 stages life development: egg, larva, nymph, adult. The last two species pose a danger to pets.
Favorite feeding places on the body of animals:
- groin area;
- armpits;
- stomach.
What are the dangers of a tick bite?
Borreliosis
The infectious disease caused by spirochetes is of a natural focal nature. Infection in dogs is caused by a tick bite. Borreliosis is carried by adult ticks and nymphs. Natural foci of the disease occur in the temperate climate zone. Most often, the disease is asymptomatic, clinical manifestations observed in 20% of infected animals. The organisms that cause the disease multiply secretly, provoking chronic disease. It is expressed in lameness, the appearance of arthritis, changes in joints, organs and tissues. Laboratory diagnostics will help identify pathology.
Bartonellosis
The causative agent of the disease enters the bloodstream when attacked by Rhipicephalus sanguineus. At risk are dogs in rural areas, hunting breeds and stray individuals. Bartonellosis affects blood cells, its manifestations depend on the animal's immunity. The causative agent of the disease causes inflammation, which results in endocarditis and myocarditis, arrhythmia, and pulmonary edema. For treatment, special therapeutic regimens using antibiotics are being developed.
Piroplasmosis
Attention. The disease manifests itself in dogs of any breed and age, but in animals older than 4 years it occurs in a milder form.
The incubation period is 2-14 days. If your dog is bitten by a tick, you need to watch for symptoms of the disease:
- elevated temperature (40-41 0);
- dyspnea;
- lethargy;
- refusal of food;
- strong thirst;
- change in urine color to dark brown;
- yellowish tint of the eyes and mucous membranes.
Piroplasmosis is diagnosed through a blood test. A comprehensive treatment is prescribed to reduce intoxication of the body. To combat Babesia, a special drug is introduced - Veriben. Maintenance therapy with glucose and vitamins is prescribed.
Ehrlichiosis
The incubation period of the disease is 1-3 weeks, and it often accompanies piroplasmosis. Microscopic organisms of Ehrlichia cause hyperplasia (enlargement) of the liver, spleen, and lymph nodes. Symptoms of the acute stage:
- lack of appetite;
- vomiting and diarrhea;
- nasal discharge;
- cough.
The latent stage lasts up to 3 months, causing a decrease in platelets in the blood. It is characterized by weight loss and subcutaneous hemorrhages. The disease is difficult to diagnose.
Hepatozoonosis
When attacked by a tick, four-legged pets may experience a neurotoxic reaction. It occurs under the influence of toxic substances that cause allergies. “Tick paralysis” immobilizes the hind limbs and goes away within 2 days without treatment. It may manifest as voice dysfunction or swallowing reflex. A red spot, swelling or rash appears on the dog's body at the site of the bite. To reduce exposure to toxins, the animal is prescribed an antihistamine.
Removing ticks correctly
After removing the tick, it is better to place it in a glass container and send it to the laboratory for analysis. The bite site must be treated with an antiseptic - iodine, alcohol solution, hydrogen peroxide
How to protect your dog from ticks
Vaccination
It is quite difficult to fight ticks; they quickly adapt to the means used. No drug provides a 100% guarantee against arthropods. To protect pet, complex processing should be performed. It is recommended to apply drops to the withers and wear a special collar.
Attention. Apply protective agent must be done strictly according to the instructions. For puppies and lactating bitches, only herbal-based preparations are allowed.
Preventive measures
To protect your pet, you need to follow simple rules:
The most caring and responsible dog owners will not be able to prevent a tick bite during a walk. The main thing is to respond competently to the incident and do everything to avoid tragic consequences.
With the onset of the warm season, the number of diseases caused by tick bites in dogs increases sharply. With the onset of spring, dog owners begin to worry about how to protect their pet from this problem by any means. A tick bite in itself is not so terrible for a dog; dangerous pathogens are contained in the tick’s saliva, which can cause a number of dangerous and sometimes fatal diseases for a dog.
Dogs walking through tall grass or dense bushes are especially at risk, where they are especially likely to pick up a tick. Therefore, when returning from a walk, it is necessary to carefully examine the dog’s fur. The tick that has just attached itself to the dog's skin is the size of a pinhead. Over time, after he drinks blood, he grows to the size of a bean and is impossible not to notice.
General information about ticks
Some ticks that attack dogs drink blood, others gnaw at skin, and others feed on skin secretions and lymph.
- Ixodidae (Ixodidae) are the largest ticks, which in a hungry state reach 2-3 mm in length, and after sucking blood - up to 1-1.5 cm.
- Scabies (internal, ear).
- Subcutaneous (demodectic).
Mouth organs (piercing, gnawing, cutting, sucking). In all ticks they are formed by the first two pairs of limbs, chelicerae and pedipalgi; in ixodid ticks they consist of a pair of cutting chelicerae and a hypostome (an outgrowth of the lower edge of the mouth opening, covered with spines), tracheal or cutaneous respiration. Eyes are usually absent, less often there are 1-2 pairs. The stomach is sac-like, in blood-sucking ticks with blind outgrowths that fill with blood during blood sucking. The excretory organs are represented by a pair of Malpighian vessels. Blood-sucking ticks have well-developed salivary glands, the secretion of which prevents blood clotting. All ticks are dioecious. The difference between females and males is well expressed, fertilization is internal. Most ticks are oviparous. The six-legged larva is the most characteristic feature of ticks.
The life of a tick can be roughly divided into four stages: egg, larva, nymph and adult. The total lifespan of a tick is about two months. After the tick drinks blood, it falls off and the larva begins to molt. Subsequently, the larva moves to the next stage of development, becoming a nymph; the nymph molts, turning into an adult tick, which is capable of leaving behind offspring. Ticks reproduce thanks to the female's ability to lay eggs.
Considering that ticks that attack a dog multiply quickly and create optimal conditions for the development of bacteria and viruses, the owner should not delay treating the dog for ticks.
The process of a tick attacking a dog.
Hungry ticks find their prey thanks to the presence of special thermal sensors. A dog passing by a bush or grass on which a tick is sitting becomes an object of attack; the tick makes a jump and, clinging to the hair, remains on the dog.
Having latched onto a dog, the tick begins to look for the place on the dog’s body that is least covered with hair (skin around the ears, neck, legs, abdominal area, etc.). Further digging into the skin with its tentacles, the tick pierces the skin and begins the process of sucking blood. It becomes almost impossible to tear it away from the dog at this time, and only after the tick has completely drunk blood does it fall off the dog’s skin.
Symptoms of a tick bite in a dog.
A tick bite in itself does not pose a serious threat to a dog’s body. The danger comes from diseases that are transmitted by a tick bite to a dog. Here are some common symptoms a dog may experience after a tick bite:
- Lethargy, low activity, the dog lies down more.
- Change in urine color (urine becomes dark, sometimes acquires a brown, brown or red tint).
- The visible mucous membranes and sclera of the eyes have an icteric tint.
- Body temperature rises to 40°C and above.
- Shortness of breath appears, the dog has difficulty breathing.
Diseases caused in dogs by tick bites.
Lyme disease(tick-borne borreliosis) is an acute infectious disease caused by bacteria – Borrelia garinii and Borrelia afzelii.
Infection of a dog occurs almost exclusively through tick bites, which in dogs, unlike in humans, are not accompanied by local erythema. Depending on the region, up to 25% of ticks are carriers of borreliosis. The reservoir of pathogens consists of wild animals (ungulates, rodents). In dogs, contact infection through urine is possible. The incubation period is 1-2 months.
Symptoms A few weeks or even months after a tick bite, a dog develops anorexia, fever, lameness, swelling and tenderness in one or more joints, muscles or spine, lymphadenopathy and proteinuria as a result of developing glomerolonephritis. When examining blood in a veterinary laboratory, we note leukocytosis. In punctate from the affected joint there is an increased number of neutrophils. Some sick dogs have symptoms of acute dermatitis, polyneuritis with hyperesthesia in the back or paresis.
Diagnosis Borreliosis is diagnosed based on the detection of the pathogen in the blood, sometimes in urine or cerebrospinal fluid, and also serologically in a veterinary laboratory.
Differential diagnosis. The disease must be differentiated from polyneuritis and arthritis.
Treatment. Ampicillin, 20 mg/kg 3 times a day orally, tetracycline, 20 mg/kg 3 times a day orally, in persistent cases penicillin G, 22,000 IU/kg 3 times a day intravenously for 10 days. When joints are affected, aspirin or phenylbutazole is used for pain relief.
Ehrlichiosis. (canine tropical pancytopenia, canine rickettsiosis). The disease is widespread in tropical and subtropical areas, but this disease should not be written off either.
Infection with ehrlichiosis occurs through the saliva of a tick and, in rare cases, through a blood transfusion or through infected needles. The incubation period is 8-20 days. Especially to this disease German Shepherds are predisposed.
Ehrlichia penetrate blood monocytes and enter the reticuloendothelial system with them, causing lymphoreticular hyperplasia in the liver, spleen and lymph nodes. Infected monocytes subsequently spread ehrlichia to the lungs, kidneys and meninges, where the pathogen attaches to the endothelial cells of blood vessels, leading to vasculitis and bleeding. Depending on the resistance of the dog's body and the virulence of ehrlichia, spontaneous recovery occurs or chronic bone marrow suppression and pancytopenia develop.
Symptoms In sick dogs, acute, subclinical and chronic phases of the disease are distinguished. In the acute or often unnoticed phase, which lasts 2-4 weeks, veterinary specialists record temperature surges up to 41°C, anorexia, dyspnea, swelling of the lymph nodes, purulent conjunctivitis and rhinitis, splenomegaly and, in some cases, irritation of the meninges with hyperesthesia, convulsive seizures, contraction muscles, polyarthritis, cranial nerve or posterior torso palsy. When the acute phase transitions to the subclinical phase, we note thrombocytopenia, anemia and leukopenia. Subsequently, after 6-17 weeks (even without treatment), the dog recovers or develops a chronic form of the disease as a result of the inability of the body itself to destroy ehrlichia. In the chronic form of the disease, anemia with thrombocytopenia and spontaneous hemorrhages in the mucous membranes comes to the fore in the dog, internal organs, serous cavities, in abdominal cavity or swelling and secondary infections.
results laboratory research . In the acute phase, we note thrombocytopenia, anemia, leukocytosis and monocytosis. In the chronic phase there is pancytopenia and bone marrow depletion. In addition, there is mono- and polyclonal hyperglobulinemia and biochemical changes in the blood that correspond to the organic lesions present in the dog.
Diagnosis. Serological detection by indirect immunofluorescence.
Differential diagnosis. The disease is differentiated from hemobartonellosis, autoimmune cytopenia, lymphosarcoma, leukemia, panmyelophthiosis and hemolysis caused by medications or poisons.
Forecast. Unfavorable in progressive cases, favorable with timely treatment. In the chronic form, recovery can take 3 months.
Treatment. Antibiotics are used for treatment: tetracycline 3 times a day, 22 mg/kg, for 14 days; doxycycline 10 mg/kg (maximum 25 mg/kg) for 7-10 days. As additional treatment, blood transfusions, the use of B vitamins and short-term treatment with prednisolone (2-7 days, 0.5 mg/kg) are used.
The causative agent is the mite Otodectes cynosis, which has a flat oval body and a length of 0.3-0.7 mm. The first three pairs of limbs are well developed, the fourth pair is rudimentary in females. Suckers are located on the first and second pairs of limbs, and in males - on all four. Has a gnawing proboscis.
Biology. Mites live on the surface of the skin, feeding on the outer layer of the epidermis, exfoliated epidermal cells, scales and crusts of the skin. Development occurs with the participation of a male and female through the larval stages (egg, larva, protonymph, teleonymph, adult mites).
Infection occurs through contact with a dog with ear scabies and through grooming items. Humans can also carry ticks. Otodectosis most often affects young dogs aged 1.5 to 6 months, as well as long-eared dogs. Otodectosis is most often recorded in spring and autumn. The main source of otodectosis are ownerless and stray dogs. Infection of hunting dogs is possible from infected hares, foxes and other wild animals. The mite is stable in the external environment and at home. The disease in a dog can be severe and result in the death of the animal.
Pathogenesis. During movement and feeding, the tick with its sharp limbs and body irritates the nerve endings of the skin of the inner surface of the auricle and the external auditory canal. Tissue fluid is released from the affected areas of the skin, which dries out and forms scabs and crusts. When a secondary infection penetrates into the affected areas of the skin, an inflammatory reaction develops, sometimes the eardrum is perforated and the inflammatory process spreads to the middle and inner ear. In the case when the inflammatory process spreads to the meninges and the dog develops meningitis and the animal quickly dies.
Clinical picture. As a result of itching, the sick dog constantly worries, shakes its head, scratches the affected ear with the claws of the front and pelvic limbs, and rubs the affected ear against surrounding objects. With severe infestation, the dog constantly moves and practically does not sleep. Upon examination, abrasions, scratches, wounds, pustules and areas of baldness are visible on the head and ears. Otodectosis in dogs is often accompanied by weakening of hearing, up to its complete loss. From the affected ear there may be discharge of various types, most often serous, which later gives way to purulent. When examining the ear canal, the veterinarian finds brown or black crusts of dried exudate, which sometimes clog the entire ear canal. There is damage to the skin around the ear, on the inner and outer surfaces of the auricle. In severe cases of otodectosis, the dog experiences an increase in body temperature 1-2°C above normal.
In the malignant course of otodectosis in a dog, a perforation of the eardrum occurs, inflammation of the middle and inner ear and often the meninges in the form of meningitis. When a dog has meningitis, owners note a sharp increase in body temperature, refusal of food, severe depression occurs, seizures and nervous phenomena appear. A sick dog tilts its head towards the diseased ear (bowheadedness), makes manege movements, and the disease often ends in death.
Diagnosis Otodectosis is diagnosed based on the characteristic clinical picture illnesses and positive results examination of scrapings of the inner surface of the auricle and the contents of the ear canal for the presence of mites.
Treatment of the ears of sick dogs with aerosol and acaricidal foams is carried out without first removing crusts from the affected skin. For this purpose, acrodex, actol, amitrosine, psoroctol, perol and other drugs are used.
For severe swelling and inflammation of the ear, circular novocaine blockades using various antibiotics are used. The treatment regimen in the form of blockades should be carried out by a veterinary specialist at the clinic, who takes into account the sensitivity of the antibiotic to the microflora and its side effects.
For inflammation of the middle or inner ear, symptomatic treatment using antimicrobial, antihistamine and analgesic agents.
Prevention. To prevent infection, contact of pets with stray cats and dogs is prohibited. Regularly conducts a clinical examination of the dog in his veterinary clinic for timely detection of otodectosis.
Ticks in dogs can cause a disease called sarcoptic mange. You can find out about this disease in our article -.
Another common disease in dogs caused by ticks may be demodicosis.
How to remove a tick from a dog's body
In order to remove a tick from a dog’s body, you must first apply a drop of water to the bite site. vegetable oil, gasoline, alcohol and leave them on the skin for several minutes. After these procedures, the tick will fall off on its own or loosen its grip and we will remove it using tweezers. It is best to grab the tick with tweezers in the head area and begin to twist it so that the tick’s head does not remain in the dog’s body.
Removal with thread. We tie the tick with a thread on both sides and, as in the previous case, begin to carefully and slowly unscrew it from the skin.
After removing the tick, in order to prevent the spread of infection, the wound must be treated with a 5% iodine solution.
Removing ticks using special shampoo. To do this, you will need to buy a drug at the pet store that kills tick larvae and weakens the effect of the tick itself. Any remaining ticks after washing will need to be removed manually.
However, the dog owner should in no way think that after removing the tick from the dog’s body, the danger of contracting one or another infectious disease has completely disappeared. Infectious diseases, depending on the type of infection, the dog may develop after several days or months.
If a dog is bitten by a tick on the street, the consequences can be negative and sometimes, alas, even fatal. She is at risk of contracting piroplasmosis, an infection caused for canines by protozoa of the genus Piroplasma canis. You can also find another name for the disease - babesiosis.
Infection with piroplasmosis in dogs leads to high mortality, which is why it is so important not to miss characteristic symptoms in order to start treatment on time and not lose your four-legged friend.
What symptoms are characteristic of piroplasmosis in a dog?
Owners of barking pets who encounter a tick attack for the first time do not really understand what symptoms to expect when a tick bites a dog and what to do in the future. After all, many signs of piroplasmosis are similar to other canine diseases - distemper, enteritis, leptospirosis, which are not associated with a tick bite and require completely different treatment.
A particular problem is caused by the frequent fact that a dog was bitten by a tick, but was not found on the body, and the owner may not realize for a long time that the deterioration in the condition of his four-legged friend is associated with the tick.
Each dog's infection manifests itself purely individually. The presence of piroplasms in the blood is more difficult to tolerate:
- puppies;
- young dogs;
- chronically ill dogs;
- purebred dogs.
Therefore, an idea of the picture of the disease and what symptoms clearly indicate it will help to begin emergency treatment in time.
- The most early signs, helping to alert the owner is a decrease in the dog’s activity. The dog loses its usual playfulness, does not show joy, becomes apathetic, does not ask to go for a walk, and stops carelessly jumping and running.
- The following initial symptoms to suspect piroplasmosis are loss of appetite and refusal not only of food, but also of previously loved and desired delicacies. Nutrition becomes problematic - the dog literally cannot be fed. It is the fact that the dog turns away from the treat that is the SOS signal in the first days of infection!
- Afterwards, on days 3 - 5, more warning signs from the digestive side - vomiting, often with mucus, because the dog remained hungry all this time, and sometimes diarrhea with a characteristic bright yellow or greenish color of liquid masses. Symptoms of diarrhea are not always observed; the stool may look normal, but the color changes to the indicated one.
- At the same time, you can already notice that the dog is trying to move less, as if this brings him suffering. Her steps are constrained, she prefers to constantly lie away from her master’s eyes and not leave a secluded place. Such symptoms already indicate the progression of the disease.
- But the main symptoms of piroplasmosis are associated with a change in the color of urine - it noticeably darkens, becoming similar to beer or coffee, and may change to a dark brown color. Such symptoms unmistakably indicate piroplasms in the blood that destroy red blood cells, and the need to urgently begin treatment, otherwise irreversible processes may soon kill the dog.
- In healthy adult dogs, the picture may be completely asymptomatic, when the dog dies suddenly for the owners, without showing any special signs of illness beforehand. But an attentive owner, even with the usual behavior of his dog, will notice a change in the suspicious color of the urine, and will guess that this is due to the consequences of a tick bite on his dog.
Important! As soon as the urine changed color, the count of the pet’s life, if treatment is not started urgently, went to the clock! On the fifth day after the onset of the disease, the dog dies! Already at this stage, resuscitation measures will have to be taken.
How does a dog become infected with piroplasmosis?
Tick on a dog's body
Piroplasmas have two types of hosts during their cyclic development. The first, as intermediate ones, are dogs, foxes, wolves, jackals and other canids, and the second, as final ones, are ixodid ticks, in the body of which piroplasms reproduce and further transform.
Female carriers of the infection transmit it to the laid eggs, from where already infected larvae emerge. Therefore, both at the larval stage and in the future, such a tick, biting healthy dog, will infect her with infection.
Peak outbreaks of the disease in dogs coincide with the period of tick-borne activity, which, unlike the threat to humans, is more extended over time. Because larvae and nymphs practically do not bite humans, but a dog is a completely accessible victim for them. Just then the threatening symptoms of a tick bite appear in the dog.
Registration of cases of piroplasmosis occurs throughout the entire period of above-zero temperatures - from the very beginning of spring to the end of autumn, without stopping even in the middle of summer, when the larvae and nymphs begin to hunt. But widespread outbreaks traditionally occur in the middle - end of spring and at the end of summer - mid-autumn.
Therefore, it is better for a pet, even if it is treated with an anti-tick agent, after each walk through thickets of grass and bushes to do a thorough examination, palpating particularly vulnerable places on the body that are preferred by bloodsuckers:
- head and ear area;
- neck and chest;
- front and hind legs, groin area.
Unfortunately, not a single one, not even the most good remedy will not completely protect the dog from a tick attack, which is why dog owners should not let down their vigilance during the dangerous season - if treatment is not started in a timely manner, the death of the pet is inevitable.
Therefore, just the mere fact of the presence of an attached bloodsucker on a pet should alert the responsible owner; ignorance and frivolity in such cases often leads to the loss of a four-legged friend.
What to do if a tick is found on your dog
After an examination reveals a tick protruding from the dog’s body, it is better to remove it as soon as possible. The sooner the fact of a tick bite in a dog is detected, the easier the symptoms and treatment will be, and the more favorable the outcome. 
The duration of an infectious tick bite on a dog is of great importance, since the entry of piroplasms into the victim’s body is not interrupted during the feeding period of the bloodsucker. Accordingly, the earlier this process is stopped, the fewer infectious agents will enter the dog’s blood, and the easier and more successful the treatment will be.
When feeling the dog, you need to carefully walk through the folds, front dewlap and neck, look into the ears, and don’t forget about the groin.
Important! Possible signs Infections from a tick bite appear in a dog only when it is attacked by a tick infected with piroplasma. Not all of the listed symptoms will necessarily appear in a bitten dog, even if infected. Therefore, it is so important to carefully monitor your pet for a week, and in case of the slightest deterioration, immediately contact a veterinarian to begin treatment.
What to do if a tick is not found on the dog, but there are symptoms of piroplasmosis
Very often there is a picture when no tick was found on a dog, and the dog suddenly falls ill, and the symptoms resemble piroplasmosis.
How is piroplasmosis treated?
Treatment for an infected dog after a tick bite is based on laboratory data. Blood under a microscope clearly shows the presence of piroplasms. The therapy is aimed in combination at destroying pathogens and cleansing the dog’s body of intoxication caused by the activity of the infection.
- Treatment is prescribed exclusively by a veterinarian; self-medication is unacceptable and entails negative consequences for the dog.
- You can often find people's councils How to treat a dog after a tick bite. Exotic recipes are offered, including the infusion of vodka.
- This is absolutely not worth doing! Not only will such folk therapy not help the dog, but a precious chance to really cure the pet will be missed!
Important! The sooner you treat your pet, the more opportunities the dog has to survive and recover without consequences!
Treatment and nutrition of a sick and recovering dog
The bite of an infectious tick in a dog causes symptoms that require treatment and special nutrition, that is, a complex for caring for a sick animal.
After a dog has been bitten by a tick and is diagnosed with piroplasmosis, it is put on a diet and adheres to this regimen until complete recovery.
- The diet includes a light diet without heavy animal fats - chicken fillet, beef tenderloin, oatmeal.
- Food must be freshly prepared, water must be clean, and you can drink rosehip decoction without sugar.
- To avoid having to prepare food for the dog every time, the veterinarian can recommend ready-made commercial food that is suitable for this period.
- The gentle regime also applies to walks - training, hunting, competitions and exhibitions are postponed until the veterinarian gives permission.
- Load on the body recovering dog should be minimal - leisurely steps, short walks short distances, restrictions on outdoor games.
The duration of treatment and recovery for the dog depends on the severity of the infection, and can take 1 - 2 months or longer. To control dogs that have seriously suffered from the disease, you will have to donate blood again and show your pet to a doctor.
Prevention of tick bites in dogs
To prevent the very possibility of a tick bite in a dog, it is necessary to regularly treat it with anti-tick agents - drops in the withers area, sprays, or wear an acaricidal collar.
Hunting breeds, which are at greater risk than others of becoming a victim of a tick attack, can be treated comprehensively to increase the guarantee of protection:
- drops plus collar;
- drops plus spray;
- collar plus spray.
You can vaccinate your pet against piroplasmosis for the season with the Nobivak Piro or Pirodog vaccines. But they do not guarantee one hundred percent protection due to the weak degree of acquired immunity, but they successfully neutralize the risk of death.
Important! The main thing is that if a bloodsucker is found on your pet, immediately remove it and carefully monitor your friend in the coming days to see if signs of an incipient disease appear.
