Tick-Borne Diseases 

Because ticks feed on the body fluids of the animals they infest, they also take in diseases and spread them from one animal to the next. With the spread of different kinds of ticks in recent years, more tick-borne diseases have also spread. 

Lyme disease—Lyme disease is caused by a bacterium and is characterized by a variety of symptoms, including: 

Recurring lameness 
Joint inflammation 
Stiff joints or difficulty moving 
Fever 
Lack of appetite 

Anaplasmosis—Anaplasmosis affects the blood cells of the pet and has nonspecific symptoms that can include: 

Loss of appetite 
Lameness 
Stiffness 
Lethargy 
Vomiting/diarrhea 
Neck pain 

Ehrlichiosis—The bacteria that causes Ehrlichiosis infects the body’s white blood cells, destroying them in the process. There are different stages to Ehrlichiosis. Some of the common symptoms include: 

Weakness 
Lethargy 
Loss of appetite 
Difficulty breathing 
Depression 

Rocky Mountain spotted fever—Purebred dogs and German shepherds are more susceptible to Rocky Mountain spotted fever but any dog can contract the disease. Common symptoms include: 

Fever 
Depression 
Lethargy 
Weight loss 
Blood in the urine 
Skin spots 
Loss of coordination 
Difficulty clotting blood 
Irregular heart beat 

Flea-Borne Conditions 

Flea allergy dermatitis—Pets can have an allergic reaction to flea saliva causing itchy red bumps and extreme discomfort. 
Bartonella—The bacteria, Bartonella, is transmitted through the bite of a flea, tick, louse, or other vector insect and causes bartonellosis in pets and cat scratch fever in humans. Common symptoms in pets include: 

Fever 
Lameness 
Vomiting 
Diarrhea 
Coughing 
Seizures 
Arthritis 
Lameness 

Tapeworms—Pets who ingest fleas often end up with tapeworms, as the fleas eat tapeworm eggs. Regular fecal exams at your pet’s wellness checkups will help detect tapeworm infestation. 

Preventives 

There are a number of flea preventive products available and care must be taken to ensure that the product you choose is effective without being toxic to your pet. Contact your Vet Hospital to evaluate your pet’s species, breed, age, size, and any health conditions to advise you on the most appropriate flea and tick preventive product to use.