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Ticks-
Ticks, like fleas, prefer to live on your pet–especially dogs. They can cause itchy lesions but more significantly, ticks can carry very serious diseases such as Ehrlichia and Lyme disease. The Ehrlichia organism infects the blood cells and can cause anemia and a low platelet count. This disease is fatal if not treated. Lyme disease is seen mostly in the northeast United States. Ticks start out as tiny specks, hardly noticeable. As they suck the animal's blood, their bodies become engorged. Once the females lay their eggs, the adults fall off the animal and die, and the young continue to feed. Just as with fleas, your veterinarian has a variety of products that can be used topically to prevent a tick infestation. (At the shelter, we use Frontline for tick control, too.) It is important to treat the environment as well. Like fleas, ticks can live in your yard and house, so both areas need to be treated.
Canine Health (continued)
Hot Spots-
Hot spots occur when a dog is bitten by a flea or tick, or by some other irritant that causes the dog to chew at the area. Usually, the hot spot is on the outside of the thigh, but dogs can get hot spots anywhere on their bodies. When the dog chews, he irritates the area and it itches even more; thus the cycle continues. The key to successfully treating the hot spot is to remove the cause, such as a flea or tick problem, and to break the itch cycle. Often, dogs need Elizabethan collars (or "lamp shade collars") to stop them from scratching. Your vet will tell you if antibiotics by mouth or special shampoos are needed as well. These are some of the more typical skin problems that can affect your pet. |
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