Parasitic diseases

Ticks and mosquitoes

What are some of   the diseases carried by ticks and mosquitoes ?

• Lyme disease is transmitted by the deer tick or black-legged tick and can be found in every U.S. state and Canadian province. Dogs are 50% more likely than people to contract Lyme disease. Click here for additional information.

• Canine anaplasmosis is a disease that is caused by the organisms Anaplasma phagocytophilum, which is transmitted by the deer tick and black-legged tick, and Anaplasma platys, transmitted by the
brown dog tick. Click here for additional information.
• Canine ehrlichiosis is caused by the bacteria Ehrlichia canis which is transmitted by the brown dog tick and
Ehrlichia ewingii which is transmitted by the lone star tick. Click here for additional information.
• Heartworm disease is transmitted by mosquitoes. Despite high awareness with pet owners, infection rates haven’t changed in 10 years. Click here for additional information.

Deer tick

How could my dog become infected?
•Ticks and mosquitoes often carry parasites and bacteria that cause disease. They can be transmitted to your pet if an infected tick or mosquito bites them.
• Your dog can be exposed to infection in almost any outdoor location where ticks and mosquitoes can be found, and risk varies from region to region.
• Your pet may not show any immediate signs of infection, making diagnosis difficult. Testing is the only way to know for sure if your dog has been exposed.

What can I do to help?
• Use a tick preventative on your dog. Watch them closely for changes in behavior or appetite and call your
veterinarian with any concerns.
• Call your veterinarian immediately if you recognize any of the following signs:
lameness, swollen or painful joints, lack of energy, loss of appetite/weight loss, vomiting, diarrhea.
• Check your dog for ticks daily. If you find a tick, go to dogsandticks.com for proper removal procedures. Call your veterinarian for assistance and to schedule a follow-up visit.
• Bring your dog in for a vector-borne disease screening at least once a year. If infected, regular testing can provide early detection, which can improve your dog’s prognosis.

IMPORTANT: NO PREVENTION IS 100% EFFECTIVE. TEST YOUR DOG EVERY YEAR

 

Here, at Neumeister Animal Hospital, we encourage our clients to bring in stool samples from their pets on a yearly basis, so that we can check it for parasites (or parasite eggs) under a microscope. This way we can treat the pets early on, even before they get ill.

Most commonly we will find roundworm- or tapeworm eggs, but there are many other parasites as well.

Coccidia

Coccidia are one-celled organisms that live in the intestinal tracts of dogs and cats.

They most commonly cause disease in puppies and kittens or adult animals who are stressed in other ways.

Coccidia can cause severe, bloody diarrhea which results in dehydration and even death.Any infected animal is contagious to others of the same species.
The coccidia species of dogs and cats do not infect humans. Treatment includes
drugs that inhibit the reproduction capabilities. It usually takes drug treatments of one to three weeks.

 

Whipworm

Whipworms can cause mucoid and bloody stool or diarrhea. The diarrhea is often accompanied by urgency and straining. Dogs with a heavy infestation may lose weight, fail to thrive, and develop anemia.

The frustrating aspect of whipworm infections is the high rate of re-infection because the eggs are very resistant and can live in soil for years, even resisting freezing. After initial treatment we advise to use a heartworm preventative that contains a whipworm medication.

Whipworms are not infectious to people.

 

Sources:
http://www.idexx.com/pubwebresources/pdf/en_us/smallanimal/education/client-education/vectorborne-faq.pdf.pdf
http://www.idexx.com/pubwebresources/pdf/en_us/smallanimal/education/client-education/tick-lifecycle.pdf