Ticks on a dog: what to do after a bite, how to get it out? Symptoms, signs and treatment of piroplasmosis

The dog was bitten by ticks

Spring, veterinarians warn, is the beginning of the season for the incidence of piroplasmosis, a deadly disease for dogs transmitted by ixodid ticks.

Currently, the disease is recorded throughout almost the entire territory of Russia, where its main carriers are ticks. The territory of Moscow and the Moscow region is also unsafe for piroplasmosis.

Pet owners should take care of prevention, be aware of the signs of disease and first aid measures in case of a tick bite.

Types of ticks

Ticks that parasitize dogs are divided into 2 groups:

1. External
2. Subcutaneous

Next we will take a closer look at each of these types.

External

In turn, external mites are divided into groups:

Ear mites

Mites in the ear

This mite causes ear scabies, a very common and contagious disease in animals. They are localized mainly on the inside of the ear, less often they migrate to the animal’s head. Ear mites live for two months, outside the animal’s body for up to two weeks.

Ixodid ticks

What does an ixodid tick look like?

Tick ​​fed on blood

They are forest ones. This is the most common species (we will talk about them in more detail) that lives in forests, parks, trees and bushes. Such ticks are dangerous because the animal does not feel the bite due to the secretion secreted by the tick. If the tick is infected, then transmission of the disease is inevitable.

Heyletiella

Cheyletiellosis in a dog

The causative agents are ticks of the species Cheyletiella yasguri, oval in shape and about 0.38 mm in size. They cause diseases such as: cheyletiosis (Cheyletiosis, Cheyletiellosis, Cheiletiosis) or “stray dandruff”. A person who comes into contact with an infected animal can also become infected, since these diseases are transmitted by contact. Localization of parasites occurs in the upper layer of the skin.

The main symptom is severe flaking of the skin, similar to dandruff. This disease occurs in all breeds of dogs and looks like moving pieces of skin.

Argasid mites

Argas mite

Such ticks attack in large groups and cause exhaustion in animals. They are similar to ixodid ticks, but live in drier and hotter places, as well as in enclosed spaces. The bites are very painful; infection occurs not only through the bite, but also through the secretions of these ticks. They are carriers of borreliosis and encephalitis. Without a host, argas mites can live up to 14 years.

Subcutaneous mites

Subcutaneous mites are further divided into several types:

Sarcoptoides

Sarcoptic mange

Itching mites of the genus Sarcoptes, which cause sarcoptic mange and feed on lymph and dead skin particles. They settle on the muzzle, head, tips of the ears and in the elbow bends. Infection occurs through contact or through care items.

Symptoms: itching, the dog is very itchy, small spots on the body, pus and ulcers may appear.

Demodectic

Dog with subcutaneous mites (Demodectic mange)

Or "hairy". The causative agent is the Demodex mite. They live in hair follicles throughout the dog's life. According to veterinarians, the presence of demodicosis is normal for domestic dogs.

Scabies (Notoedrosis)

Notoedrosis

The culprits are scabies mites of the genus Notoedris cati. They multiply inside the epidermis and cause a disease - notoedrosis, accompanied by skin inflammation and severe itching. At the beginning of the disease, they settle on the animal’s head, then spread to other parts of the body. Possible death if the disease is neglected.

Symptoms: blisters (papules) that become crusty, bald spots due to scratching.

Diseases caused by ixodid ticks

Let's take a closer look at the diseases that occur after an ixodid tick bite:

1. Hepatozoonosis. With this disease, leukocytes are damaged, fever begins, joint pain appears, the eyes become inflamed, and weakness is observed.
2. Ehrlichiosis. The disease develops in white blood cells and is accompanied by debilitating fever.
3. Borreliosis. Develops inside the womb and leads to the death of the offspring. Arthritis and neurological abnormalities are observed.
4. Piroplasmosis. The most common disease in dogs after a tick bite in the Russian Federation. We will talk about it in more detail.

Systemic tick-borne borreliosis (or Lyme disease)

Lyme disease was first identified in the American city of Lyme in 1975.

The causative agent of borreliosis is the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, which is a spirochete. The causative agent of the disease enters the cells of the body and remains dormant for 10 years. This explains the chronic nature of the disease. A patient with borreliosis is not contagious to others, since the infection is transmitted to humans only through a tick bite.

Symptoms of borreliosis

The disease begins 1-2 weeks after infection. In its development, the disease goes through 3 stages. Moreover, stages 1-2 are considered early, and stage 3 is chronic.

Stage 1 of borreliosis lasts about a month. Signs of a tick bite resemble acute respiratory infections. A person's temperature rises, general malaise, body aches, muscle pain and weakness appear.

The main symptom of stage 1 is the appearance of a round red spot (erythema) with a diameter of 15-20 cm near the bite. Over time, the spot may increase in size.

Stage 2 of the disease lasts for 6 months. Skin lesions in the form of ring-shaped elements and urticaria are characteristic.

The infection spreads throughout the body along with the blood and lymph flow, leading to damage to the nervous system, joints or heart.

With inflammation of the cardiovascular system, severe arrhythmias, pericarditis and myocarditis (dizziness, palpitations, chest pain and shortness of breath) are observed. There may also be a decrease in sensitivity.

Stage 3 of borreliosis . The disease becomes chronic. The consequences of borreliosis are heart disease, serious inflammation of the joints in combination with extensive damage to the nervous system.

If a disease such as borreliosis is left untreated, it can lead to disability and even death.

With correct diagnosis of borreliosis and adequate antibiotic treatment, there is a chance of recovery.

1 Help with a tick bite

2 Help with a tick bite

3 Help with a tick bite

What is piroplasmosis (babesiosis)?

The causative agents of piroplasmosis are single-celled piroplasma parasites (Piroplasma canis or Babesia canis), which enter the body through a tick bite. The parasite is transmitted by ixodid ticks of the genera Dermacentor and Rhipicephalus. In the international classification, the disease is called babesiosis.

Pyroplasmas are found in the salivary glands of the tick and when bitten, along with saliva, enter the blood of dogs. In this case, the destruction of red blood cells occurs, a large volume of hemoglobin is released, this leads to the fact that the internal organs of the animal cannot cope with such a load.

The consequences of all this are the release of toxic substances (decomposition products), as a result of which organs such as the spleen, liver, and kidneys suffer. The most serious consequence is hypoxia of the animal’s brain (oxygen starvation).

Mite of the genus Dermacentor

Tick ​​of the genus Rhipicephalus

Although babesiosis has been well studied and highly effective treatments are available, it is often fatal, usually because the animal is brought to the veterinarian too late.

The longer piroplasmosis lasts, the more severe the consequences for the body.

The disease has a pronounced seasonal peak character: the warm season (spring-summer). Peaks of incidence occur in May-June and August-September. However, the disease can occur from April to the end of October.

Typically, ticks attack dogs while walking in areas overgrown with bushes or tall grass.

Newly attached, it is no larger than the head of a pin; Once pumped with blood, it can reach the size of a large bean.

Where do ticks come from on dogs?

Consequences

Ticks become active during the first spring warmings. In the south of Russia this is the end of February, in the middle zone and in the north - April-May. In the heat, the parasites lose activity, but with the first autumn rains they resume.

Ixodid tick

How dangerous is a tick bite for a dog?

Eggs require animal protein to mature. Ixodid ticks have adapted to obtain it from the blood of mammals. The parasites attach themselves to the animal’s skin and secrete painkillers so that the dog does not notice the presence of guests. To prevent blood clotting, the parasite secretes anticoagulants.

How long does a tick live on a dog? The parasite needs time to choose a secluded place, attach to the skin, make a puncture and suck on. Most often, the tick is attached to the folds of the skin or ears. The female is saturated with blood for 6 days and increases in size a hundred times. In total, the parasite can live on a pet for up to 10 days.

If a dog has a lot of ticks attached to it, anemia develops. The pet weakens, becomes defenseless against the permanent inhabitants of the skin - coccus bacteria, and develops dermatitis and abscesses. The main danger to animals and humans are sexually mature individuals, mainly females, who carry pathogens.

Ixodid ticks prefer secluded places

It is dangerous for the parasite to get inside. If a dog accidentally swallows a tick, it will dissolve and pathogens will enter the bloodstream.

What diseases can ticks transmit to dogs?

The following infectious diseases pose the greatest danger:

1. Piroplasmosis (babesiosis). Caused by protozoan microorganisms that settle inside red blood cells.
2. Bartonellosis is caused by motile bacteria that parasitize red blood cells.
3. Borreliosis or Lyme disease is caused by spirochetes.
4. Ehrlichiosis is caused by protozoan microorganisms.

Ixodid ticks are dangerous not only for dogs. In the steppe regions, through the bites of arthropods, people become infected with Crimean fever, and residents of the taiga become infected with tick-borne encephalitis.

Can a dog die?

If you find a tick on your dog, don't panic. Not every parasite is infected. In addition, the arthropod needs time for protozoan microbes or pathogenic bacteria to move from the intestines to the salivary glands.

However, if you missed the moment of tick attachment and find it already sucking blood, consult a doctor.

If the arthropod is infected with Babesia, the dog may die.

When infected with other pathogens, recovery is possible, but death cannot be ruled out after a long illness.

The tick sucked blood

What to do if your dog is bitten by a tick?

If you find that a tick has bitten your dog, you need to provide him with help. The main thing is not to panic! You can remove a tick without any problems at home. Carefully remove the tick, place it in a glass jar and take it to the clinic.

How to properly remove a tick?

Advice from veterinarians at the Univet clinic:

Be sure to carefully inspect your dog after each walk for ticks, and comb the fur thoroughly. If you notice a tick attached to a dog, under no circumstances try to pull it out immediately , as this only removes the body, while the head remains and causes inflammation.

To remove, you can use special products, or drop some oil, alcohol, or gasoline. After a few minutes, it will either fall off on its own or loosen its grip, and then it can be pulled out (preferably using a special tool or tweezers).

You can also pull out the insect using a thread, wrapping it around the parasite's proboscis and pulling the ends of the thread to the sides, twisting it upward. This procedure must be carried out slowly and carefully.

After removing the tick, it is advisable to wash the pet and treat the wound with a 5% iodine solution.

Not every dog ​​will become infected if bitten by a dog tick. But, unfortunately, the tick does not indicate whether they can infect or not.

This means that now your main task is to carefully monitor your pet’s health and measure its temperature several times a day. The incubation period lasts 6 - 10 days.

Also, if you pulled out a tick at home, then it should be taken for laboratory examination to find out whether the parasite was a carrier of piroplasmosis.

The course of the disease is most often acute, but it can be chronic, as well as hyperacute, when animals die in a matter of days. Therefore, when the first symptoms are detected, you should immediately contact a veterinarian to confirm the diagnosis and begin treatment.

Tick ​​removal process

Symptoms of piroplasmosis

Symptoms and signs of piroplasmosis are:

1. Temperature rises to 40 - 42°C. Normally it should be 37.5 - 39°C, for small breeds up to 39.5.
2. Yellowing of the whites of the eyes or visible mucous membranes
3. Urine becomes reddish (blood)
4. Possible infection is also indicated by apathy, weakness and refusal to feed.
5. Breathing and heart rate increase

These are nonspecific symptoms after tick bites, common to many diseases.

If your dog has these symptoms, you must immediately show it to a veterinarian!

Symptoms and signs

Babesia
1. The incubation period for piroplasmosis is from 1 to 3 weeks. Babesia settle in red blood cells and feed on their contents. When they have eaten everything, they move to the next cage.

The following forms of the disease are distinguished:

1. Lightning fast, the animal dies suddenly without clinical symptoms.
2. Manifest, characterized by the following signs: after a tick bite, the dog experiences convulsions;
3. refusal to eat;
4. yellowness of mucous membranes;
5. temperature 42°C;
6. tachycardia;
7. dark brown urine;
8. paralysis of the hind limbs.

2. Bartonellosis is characterized by a chronic course. Months after the bite, the following symptoms develop:

• vomiting, diarrhea;
• conjunctivitis;
• myocarditis;
• pathologies of the mucous membranes - rhinitis, stomatitis; gingivitis.

3. Borreliosis develops 3-4 weeks after the bite. The disease is characterized by the following symptoms:

• lameness, joint pain;
• fever;
• tachycardia;
• paresis of limbs;
• convulsions;
• a characteristic symptom is ring-shaped redness after a bite or erythema migrans, which disappears and appears on another part of the body.

4. Ehrlichiosis is characterized by inflammation of blood vessels - vasculitis. Clinical signs are as follows:

• apathy;
• hyperthermia - 41° C;
• purulent rhinitis and conjunctivitis;
• hemorrhages on mucous membranes and non-pigmented skin;
• thrombocytopenia.

Watch the video:

Diagnostics

The diagnosis is piroplasmosis, made on the basis of clinical signs, anamnesis (detection of attached pests on the dog’s skin), and epizootological data. The results of microscopy of blood smears are decisive. But, since the parasite is not present in erythrocytes at all stages of the disease, the absence of piroplasms in the smear does not exclude piroplasmosis.

In such cases, when making a diagnosis, they rely on the course of the animal’s illness, medical history and the results of other laboratory tests (urinalysis, biochemistry, general blood test).

Prices for anti-tick medications

Russia

• Sulfur-tar ointment (AVZ), 15 g., from 55 to 60 rubles;
• Dectomax, 50 ml, from 7500 to 7750 rubles;
• Deltsid, 5 ampoules of 2 ml, from 146 to 170 rubles;
• Bravecto, 250 mg, from 1410 to 1480 rubles;
• Vio (Beaphar), 3 pipettes of 1 ml, from 730 to 750 rubles;
• Advocate (Bayer), 3 pipettes of 2.5 ml, from 1390 to 1450 rubles;
• Tropiclean “Maximum Protection”, 592 ml, from 1000 to 1050 rubles;
• Stronghold, from 1200 to 1280 rubles;
• Foresto (Bayer), collar, from 1700 to 1800 rubles;
• Anti-mite, ultrasonic keychain, from 1400 to 1600 rubles;
• Mr.Bruno, 200 ml, from 350 to 400 rub.

Ukraine

• Dectomax, 50 ml, from 590 to 800 UAH;
• Deltsid, 5 ampoules of 2 ml, from 65 to 70 UAH;
• Bravecto, 250 mg, from 590 to 750 UAH;
• Advocate (Bayer), 3 pipettes of 2.5 ml, from 340 to 360 UAH;
• Stronghold, 3 pipettes of 0.25 ml, from 520 to 540 UAH;
• Foresto (Bayer), collar, from 600 to 800 UAH;
• Bars (AVZ), 4 pipettes, from 100 to 110 UAH;
• Rolf Club, 1 pipette 0.5 ml, from 80 to 85 UAH;
• Inspector. 1 ampoule, from 280 to 290 UAH.

Treatment

Treatment for bites is carried out in two directions:

Destruction of the causative agent of piroplasmosis

To destroy the causative agent of the disease, drugs from the group of organic dyes, diamidine derivatives, are used: Berenil, Azidine, Veriben, Batrizin . The active ingredient of these drugs is diminazene aceturate.

Imidocarb derivatives are also used: Piro-Stop, Forticarb, Imidosan.

The drugs are administered intramuscularly; a common property of the active substances is their high toxicity not only to the pathogen, but also to the patient. Since these drugs do not have a preventive effect, they are used only after a diagnosis has been established, under the supervision of a veterinarian!

Removing intoxication and maintaining the general condition of the animal’s body

To relieve intoxication and maintain the body, a large number of medications are used:

• Saline solutions (Ringer's solution, Sodium chloride, Glucose 5%)
• Vitamin complexes (Gamavit, Vitam, Ribotan, Butastim, Azoxyvet, Catozal, Vetozal)
• Heart medications (Sulphocamphocaine, Riboxin, Cordiamin, Camphor, Lauritin S)
• Inflammation-reducing agents (Dexamethasone, Prednisolone)
• Maintaining liver function (Essentiale forte, Legalon, Silibor, Karsil, Coverta

The volume and duration of treatment depends on the patient's condition. In any case, the recovery period lasts at least one month and requires follow-up tests.

Folk remedies for ticks

Folk remedies have no proven effectiveness; they are used for mild forms of the disease and in the initial stages to alleviate the pet’s condition.

1. Garlic. Garlic cloves are crushed and poured with almond oil (1:2). After this, they are placed in a dark place for 3-4 days. The resulting tincture is applied to the affected areas.
2. Sulfuric ointment. Helps with scabies.
3. Black sulfur. Used as part of kefir tincture (1:3).
4. Lavender oil. Apply to the skin. When the oil is absorbed, rub the affected areas with chalk powder.
5. Vanillin. Vanillin is infused in water or vodka, and the dog’s fur is treated with this solution before going outside.

You should not abuse any of these products - they act very aggressively on the dog’s skin: they cause burning, dry it out, provoke allergic reactions and other negative consequences.

As a preventive measure against ixodid tick bites, the following are used in folk medicine:

• Essential oils. The pet's fur is rubbed with oils: lavender or tea tree.
• Tar soap. Use it while bathing - it is an excellent therapeutic and prophylactic remedy.
• Sagebrush. Spray your dog with a water tincture of wormwood.

You can prepare a remedy for ticks at home from an aqueous solution of tar soap, myrrh, tea and rose tree, juniper and grapefruit oils. Fill a bottle with a spray bottle with the resulting mixture and spray your pet before a walk in the country or in the park.

Prevention. drugs and protective equipment

Drops on the withers

Prevention of piroplasmosis consists in preventing an attack on the animal; for this, they are treated with acaricidal drugs, which are available in the form of:

These products are distributed over the skin and hair without being absorbed into the blood. Upon contact with treated hair and skin, it dies. These products, unfortunately, do not provide 100% protection against parasites; the effectiveness of these drugs depends on how much time has passed since their application. Protective equipment must be used in advance (2-3 days before going out into nature or going on vacation).

When purchasing protective equipment in veterinary pharmacies or pet stores, be sure to pay attention to the expiration date, integrity of the packaging, and instructions in Russian. Be sure to read the instructions!

It must be remembered that:

• When using anti-mite drugs, contact allergies are possible.
• When using the spray, it is necessary to treat not only the animal’s body, but also the paws and head, and especially carefully the groin area, armpits and behind the ears.
• If the dog has long hair, then the spray consumption increases up to 2 times.
• If your dog bathes frequently (or you wash it), then the frequency of anti-tick treatments needs to be increased.
• The packing of drops at the withers must strictly correspond to the weight of your pet.

Very often, owners turn to the veterinary clinic with a request to get vaccinated against piroplasmosis. Currently, in order to form an immune response in dogs to the causative agent of babesiosis, the Pirodog Vaccine is used.

Vaccine Pirodog

Folk remedies for ticks

How else can you protect your dog from ticks?

Below are traditional methods for fighting ticks for animals:

1. Vanilla tincture. Mix 100 ml of vodka with 7 g of vanilla and leave for 7 days. Apply to the withers, belly and llamas immediately before a walk.
2. Fragrant (scented) collar. 15-20 essential oil, which is effective against ticks, is applied to the animal’s collar. Used exclusively for walking.
3. "Perfume" with the aroma of wormwood. In this recipe you can use dry wormwood (20 g) or fresh (50 g). Mix the wormwood with 400 ml of water and boil. Cool and pour into a spray bottle. We use such perfumes when necessary. When walking for a long time, apply perfume every 2-3 hours.

IMPORTANT! Monitor the animal's reaction to a particular essential oil.

Even though you take precautions, keep a close eye on your dog and check it regularly. If signs of illness occur, contact your veterinarian.

Remember, self-medication can cause irreparable harm to the health and life of your pet!

If you find similar symptoms in your dog, do not experiment! It is necessary to urgently contact a veterinary clinic; if for some reason this is not possible, use the service of calling a veterinarian at home.

Have you ever encountered ticks? Leave your questions for the veterinarian in the comments.

Prevention memo

Prevention of tick attacks on dogs and the diseases they carry is as follows:

1. Destruction of the parasite in the natural environment. You cannot eliminate ticks in forests and parks at your discretion, but you have the right to carry out decontamination in your personal garden or summer cottage. The drug Medilis-Ziper ensures the destruction of parasites and protection against the appearance of new ones for 1-1.5 months. 12 ml of concentrate is consumed per hundred square meters. The cost of 0.5 liters of pesticide is 1200 rubles. In addition to the above, the following acaricidal agents are in demand: Argus Garden;
2. Dobrokhim FOS;
3. Dr. Klaus;
4. Ram.

If you have any questions, I will answer in the comments.

Next: Large dog breeds with photos and names

Read also

Subcutaneous mites in dogs: treating demodicosis

What disease can lead to serious consequences for a dog’s body or even death? The most common and dangerous disease is demodicosis.

Ear mites in dogs: Symptoms and treatment of otodectosis

Otodectosis or ear scabies is a chronic invasive disease caused by microscopic itch mites.

Dog castration: 5 reasons for and against

Castration is one of the most responsible ways to care for a dog. With the help of the procedure you will reduce aggression and anxiety associated with testosterone

What diseases are most common in dogs? Symptoms and signs

A dog cannot complain; it is necessary to determine that it is sick by the appearance and behavior of the pet

Fleas on a dog. How to withdraw?

Fleas can cause a lot of discomfort and suffering to your animals, but they must be removed very carefully

Preventive actions

To protect your pet from tick infestation, you must adhere to the following rules:

1. Do not allow sick animals to come into contact with healthy ones.
2. Avoid walking your dog in areas where there are stray animals.
3. Try to keep your pet away from other dogs when visiting the veterinarian.
4. Use special collars, repellers and other means of protection against ticks.
5. As prescribed by your veterinarian, carry out preventive treatment against parasites.
6. Disinfect and boil care items for sick animals.
7. Never use other people's collars, combs or muzzles.
8. Strengthen your dog's immunity with balanced nutrition and vitamin supplementation.

Prevention against ixodid ticks consists of treating the animal with anti-tick compounds before a walk, wearing special collars and ultrasonic repellers, as well as a thorough examination of the animal returning from the street. Visual inspection is the most important component of prevention. It doesn’t matter at all how long a tick can sit on a dog, the important thing is that infection with dangerous diseases occurs within 30-60 minutes of sucking on this little bloodsucker. The sooner you remove the tick, the greater your pet's chance of survival.

Precautions when examining infected animals

When examining your pet at home, follow these simple rules:

• always use disposable gloves;
• before and after the examination, do not forget to treat your hands with a disinfectant solution;
• If you find external ticks, do not squeeze them with your fingers or foreign objects;
• Always cover the inspection area with a clean cloth or oilcloth and then discard it.

A pet that is sick and tormented by parasites is usually in a depressed state. Try to calm him down and reward him with a treat for good behavior. If the dog is excited and does not obey, do not raise your voice or create a nervous environment. Care and affection will strengthen trust and love for the owner.

Try to be patient with the animal's behavior and calm it down as much as possible.

System

Systemic drugs are absorbed into the blood and act from the inside, while directly or indirectly almost all body systems are involved. The action begins immediately after the active substance is absorbed into the blood from the stomach and intestines. They act quickly and comprehensively on all types of ectoparasites and some types of helminths, depending on the active ingredient in the composition. Generally non-toxic to animals and well tolerated by all age groups.

Let's consider the advantage of the mechanism of action of systemic drugs using the example of a new generation drug - Simparika chewable tablets. The active substance, entering the body, is absorbed and penetrates the bloodstream, distributed throughout the skin and mucous membranes. Kills arthropods without being released onto the surface of skin and fur. Thus, contact with the animal becomes not dangerous for humans and other domestic animals. The drug can be used on pregnant and lactating dogs and puppies from 8 weeks.

►Attention:

There are systemic medications that are not suitable for use in pregnant or lactating dogs. There will be a warning about this in the instructions. If there is no direct indication, consultation with a veterinary specialist will help.

Pills

They provide long-term protection, are easy to use, and many are approved for pregnant and lactating dogs (Simparica), as well as small puppies from the age of two months.

New generation drugs in tablets are active against various types of external parasites - these are systemic drugs that have an insecto-acaricidal effect, that is, they are directed against ticks and fleas. The convenient dosage form in the form of chewable tablets dissolves and is absorbed in the digestive tract and enters the blood. The active ingredients begin to work against parasites after 2-3 hours. The effect lasts for several weeks, depending on the active substance. Simparika is active for 5 weeks.