Ticks can be life-threatening for your pet.
Vets warn that spring is the beginning of the onset of piroplasmosis, which can be fatal for your dog. Dog owners should be aware of this disease, its symptoms and what to do if they are bitten by a tick.
Although the disease has been fairly well studied and there are effective treatments available, piroplasmosis often results in the death of the puppy because dog owners delay too long and do not take their pet to the vet in time.
The disease is most often contracted during the warm season, from spring to autumn. The peak months are May to June and August to September. A dog can catch ticks during walks, especially in bushy areas or tall grass.
When you return from a walk, look carefully at your dog’s coat and comb it as thoroughly as possible. If you notice a tick burrowing into your pet’s skin, do not do not attempt to remove it. As only the body breaks off, the head remains, which can cause inflammation.
To extract the tick, you need to put oil, alcohol or petrol on it. After a few minutes, the mite will either fall off on its own or you will need to pull it out with tweezers. Afterwards, the dog’s wound should be treated with a 5% iodine solution.
Not every dog will contract piroplasmosis if it has been bitten by a tick. Unfortunately, it does not say whether or not it is infectious. So, your main task is to take care of your pet’s health and take his temperature several times a day.
The incubation period of piroplasmosis is 6-10 days. At the first sign of symptoms, contact your veterinarian immediately, who will diagnose the exact condition and prescribe treatment. Symptoms to look out for:
Temperature rises to 40 – 42C. The normal temperature of a dog is 37.5 – 39C, and up to 39.5 in small dog breeds.
The dog becomes lethargic and loses its appetite.
Non-specific symptoms common to many diseases:
If the dog’s urine has blood in it, the dog may have a history of illness.the whites of the eyes and yellowing of the eyes, take your pet to the vet immediately!
To diagnose piroplasmosis, the vet will examine the dog and carry out the necessary laboratory tests (urinalysis, blood biochemical and general tests). Treatment is carried out in two stages:
1. The first step is the destruction of the pathogen. 1. the use of organic dyes (azidine, berenil, viribene). However, these preparations are not prophylactic and can only be used after the disease has been detected under veterinary supervision!
2. Elimination of poisoning and maintenance of general body condition. This will require a number of medications: vitamins, saline solutions, heart medication, etc. The amount of medication and the duration of treatment depends on the dog’s condition. In any case, the recovery period lasts at least one month and the dog is monitored.
Prophylaxis of Piroplasmosis
To prevent ticks from taking up residence in your dog’s fur, acaricides are used prophylactically. These include collars, sprays and drops. these should be used on the dog’s coat and skin. they are not absorbed into the bloodstream.
However, these products do not provide a 100% guarantee against ticks. The effectiveness of such products depends on the time elapsed after application. Protective measures should be applied in advance: 2-3 days before a walk in the countryside.
Before buying protective products from your vet or pet shops, check the expiry date, the packaging for damage and the instructions in English. It is essential to read the instructions! It is important to remember:
Contact allergic reactions are possible when using anti-parasitic tick products.
When using an aerosol, not only the dog’s body, but also the paws, head, armpits, groin and ear areas should be well prepared.
If your dog has long hair, you will need to use 2 bottles of aerosol.
If your dog is a frequent bather or if you bathe him/her, then the number of drops will also need to be doubled.
Owners very often go to the vet to get their dog vaccinated a dog against piroplasmosis.
So far, such vaccines are only used abroad. Therefore, to avoid this disease, you should monitor your dog as closely as possible. And at the first sign of piroplasmosis, take your dog to the vet immediately. Timely help will save the life of your four-legged favourite.