Updates On 11th Jan 2018

Tick Fever is one of the most common and most dangerous diseases that we see in dogs. Although most people have heard of tick fever, many dog owners are not sure exactly what it is, what the symptoms are or how to prevent it, some may even thoroughly ignorant.

Tick Fever is a disease spread by ticks. Ticks have eight legs and look similar to beetles. They usually live in grassy areas and feed by biting and drawing blood from animals.

Tick Fever itself is a protozoal organism (similar to bacteria) that lives inside the tick. When the tick attaches the dog and bites to feed, it injects the tick fever organism into the dog. Before feeding, ticks are small and flat, however after feeding they puff up and look a bit like a fat raisin. If you see some ticks on your dog that are all puffed up, they may have infected your dog with tick fever.

Unfortunately, there is no vaccine for Tick Fever, so the only way to stop your dog from getting the disease is to be diligent with your tick prevention.

Prevention

Here are some preventive stuff that you can get from either vet’s clinics or petshops.

1) Preventic Collar

This is a rubber collar that is worn in addition to your dog’s regular collar. It is adjustable in length and can fit any size dog. Any excess collar can be cut off and discarded. The collar should be taken off before your dog goes swimming or has a bath. A new collar should replace the old one every 2 months.

2) Spot-on prevention

a. Frontline Plus

This liquid is safe for use on both cats and dogs. To be effective against ticks it should be applied every 2 weeks.

b. Advantix

This liquid is toxic to cats and can only be used on dogs. To be effective against ticks it should be applied every 3 weeks.

The Disease

Tick Fever is the common name given to the protozoa Babesia. The protozoa destroy red blood cells in the body resulting in anaemia. If left untreated for too long, life-threatening anaemia may result and may require blood transfusions and a long hospital stay to recover.

The most common first symptom is a loss of appetite. However, it often comes on gradually and to the inexperienced owner it may take some time to notice that anything is wrong. Sometimes a dog will not eat breakfast, but will eat his dinner and will eat his treats. Then the next day, he might not eat any of his dog food, but is more than happy to eat your human food. If you normally have a dog who eats like a vacuum cleaner and he becomes fussy all of a sudden, then it is a good idea to have him checked by your vet.

As mentioned above, the other common symptoms are lethargy (tiredness) and dark coloured urine. Often dogs will be reluctant to go for their regular walks and won’t want to play as much as usual. They may also be reluctant to walk up stairs.

During the course of the disease, red blood cells are destroyed will be expelled in the urine which can result in very dark (rusty or red coloured) urine.

If you notice one or more of these signs it is best to get to your vet as soon as possible, ideally within 24 hours of noticing symptoms.

It is important to note that although the above symptoms may be a sign of Tick Fever, there are other diseases that can cause similar signs. It is important to get your vet’s advice and give your dog a thorough check-up, including blood tests, before a diagnosis is made.

Source: https://www.facebook.com/SarawakSPCA/photos/a.10155925831354..

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SPCA Sarawak

The Sarawak Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals believes that animals, as living creatures, have value beyond economic measurement, and are entitled to legal, moral and ethical consideration and protection. The Sarawak SPCA's mission is to act as an advocate on behalf of animals and as an enforcer of their rights; to provide for the well-being of the animals of the State of Sarawak who are abandoned, injured, subjected to unfair or cruel treatment, or otherwise in need; to cultivate in the people of our community an awareness of the animals whose world we share; to promote a bond of mutual assistance between people and animals; and to instill respect for and appreciation of all living things.

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