If you don’t remove a tick from a dog, the tick will feed on the animal and can potentially spread various illnesses or diseases. While some ticks are not known to transmit any particular diseases to pets, it’s important to be aware that they can still cause limitations in a pet’s quality of life. A tick bite can become irritated, fall off prematurely and sometimes lead to secondary skin infections. If left there for an extended period of time, it could even cause anemia if enough blood is taken.
The most common disease transmitted by ticks is Lyme Disease which is caused by the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi and is primarily found in the east coast of the United States. Symptoms include fatigue, swollen joints, fever shifting leg lameness, swollen lymph nodes and night time restlessness. In very rare cases it can also cause kidney failure in dogs and may require expensive care depending on the severity of the issue.
Ticks can also carry other diseases like ehrlichiosis which also causes fever, swelling and lameness; Rocky Mountains spotted fever which is again accompanied by fever and swelling but in advanced stages it could progress to neurologic problems; Anaplasmosis; or Babesiosis which may need medical treatment if severe symptoms are seen in your dog.
Therefore, it’s important to regularly check your dog seresto collar ingredients for ticks and remove them as soon as possible if found. It’s best to consult with a vet about preventative measures that can be taken for regular care of both your pet and its environment when using products like flea & tick control treatments or repellents that contain natural oils safe for animals.
Be Aware of the Risks of Tick Bite Infections
One of the potential risks you should be aware of when it comes to failing to remove ticks from your dog is that they can cause a variety of different infections. These infections can range from mild skin irritations to more serious bacterial illnesses like Lyme Disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.
Tick bites can become irritated, inflamed, or infected and left untreated can lead to very serious complications. Additionally, incidences of tick-borne diseases in pets have been rising every year as tick populations increase due to global climate change.
It’s important for pet owners to regularly check their dogs for ticks after spending time outdoors and immediately remove any that are found. If you find any but don’t know how to remove them properly, it’s best to bring your pet to the vet or a qualified veterinary technician so they can safely take care of the problem.
Symptoms that May Culminate in Anemia
In addition to transmitting disease, if you don’t remove a tick from a dog, the animal may develop symptoms that may culminate in anemia. Symptoms of anemia include fatigue, increased heart rate, pale gums, difficulty breathing and lethargy. An infected dog may become listless and have little appetite, leading to weight loss.
The main symptom resulting from infestation is reduced red blood cells due to the tick’s saliva provoking an allergic reaction in the dog’s body. Without treatment, the condition can deteriorate quickly and cause death. If left untreated for too long without removing the tick soon enough – death can occur in as little as three days. In more advanced cases of anemia caused by numerous ongoing tick bites without removal of the ticks will also take its toll on your fur baby’s immune system making it more susceptible to secondary disease such as ehrlichiosis.
Develop Serious Symptoms of Lyme Disease
If you don’t remove a tick from your dog, they can develop serious symptoms of Lyme disease. The most common symptom is lameness that lasts three to five days, although dogs can develop a fever, lethargy, loss of appetite and joint inflammation as well. As the bacteria spread through the dog’s body, it may eventually cause damage to their organs and nervous system if left untreated.
Lyme disease is caused by Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria which are transmitted by ticks. After the tick embeds itself into your pet’s skin and feeds on its blood, it will inject saliva containing its toxins into your dog’s bloodstream which will trigger an immune response from your pet’s body. This response can cause long-term health problems if not treated in time. So if you see a tick on your pet, make sure to remove it as soon as possible!
Potential to Develop Other Severe Diseases
When a tick is not removed from a dog, they can develop serious and even life-threatening diseases such as Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Lyme Disease, and Ehrlichiosis. In some cases, dogs can also develop seizures and paralysis if their immune systems are weakened by the diseases.
Ticks feed off the blood of their host animals and then leave behind saliva containing bacteria and viruses that can be transferred to their host animals. When this happens in an animal like a dog, it can cause a variety of other severe diseases which may require extensive medical treatment or hospitalization in order to be cured. Without treatment, these dogs often suffer long-term consequences or health deficits and may even pass away due to complications caused by the diseases they’ve acquired.
Therefore, it’s extremely important to remove any ticks found on your dog as quickly as possible to avoid the risks associated with various tick-borne diseases. If you’re unable to do so adequately then it’s highly advisable that you seek veterinary help immediately so that the risk of your dog developing further issues can be minimized.
Conclusion
It essential to check your pet regularly for ticks and taking immediate action if you find one. If the tick remains in place, it can cause serious illnesses and even death to your pet. Treatment should always be done as soon as possible.