There are many diseases out there that we, as
, are aware of. We like to keep our pooches safe from all forms of harm by bringing them to our favorite veterinarian for vaccinations and booster shots. What many of us neglect to do is properly dealing with ticks. The little critters are a common sight for all owners, and they don't worry much about it. But what we don't know is that some ticks can carry parasites that can lead to some major health problems that can be at some times lethal. Ever see a brown tick? Those are the ones that you should pay close attention to.
They carry the rickettsial parasite, which upon entry infects the blood stream. From there it will destroy red blood cells, affect the bone marrow production line, and then have negative affects on its immune system. Then it would do damage to the lymphatic system, central nervous system, and respiratory system. Damage to these systems would of course lead to the rise of other disease which could also do lots of damage and lessen the odds of your dog's survival. So much from such a tiny, seemingly harmless tick. Your pet won't be showing any symptoms for at least 7 days or so.
When it does, it usually starts with a fever. There will be a sudden increase in its temperature, so take note of that as the possible stepping stone. After awhile it may start bleeding. It is possible to detect traces of blood in its stools by looking closely at it - disgusting but true. There will be an inflammation of arteries and veins, both of which could be very hard to notice, especially for the
. Lymph nodes would increase in size as well, and again could go on unnoticed. Your pet would also have discharge from its eyes and nose, and may sneeze from time to time.
The legs of your pet would then swell. If left untreated, more problems would develop, such as a sudden loss of appetite. Not wanting to eat should be expected, and then followed by weight loss. The parasite would destroy more red blood cells, which would make its skin look pale, as well as its gums. Bleeding would get worse and it would have a harder time breathing. As time passes it would have a difficulty in walking, eventually leading to lameness. Then your pet would be showing neurological problems, and eventually die. These symptoms are very similar to the other diseases that a pet may have, so making an assumption based on these alone wouldn't be accurate.
The only way to be sure it is Canine Ehrlichiosis would be to admit it to a vet and undergo screening, which includes blood testing. Treatment involves the use of antibiotics, and may last several months. There is no vaccine for this disease yet, so the best way to prevent it from infecting your pooch is to deal with the ticks. Not just the brown tick but all ticks. Use tick killing soap and shampoo plus powder. All must be formulated with the
. Preventing it won't be much of a burden, and pays off quite well.
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