It’s that time of year when tick borne diseases are prevalent and everyone is talking about the dangers that exist to both humans and animals. Since these can be very serious, it’s worth reminding everyone to be diligent, use some method of protection (herbals work fairly well), and do your best to avoid exposure.
Quite a few people state they did not remove a tick from their dog/cat prior to the animal being diagnosed with a tick borne disease. Many ticks are so small they are barely visible. Also a tick may feed on an animal (or person) and leave its host without ever being detected.
Many ticks carry multiple disease causing pathogens and we currently do not have blood tests for all of them, so an animal may be infected and we are not aware there is a problem unless obvious symptoms develop. Standard blood testing that does exist is not 100% accurate.
Lyme disease and other tick borne diseases can cause a variety of symptoms, it affects each animal/person differently and it’s often misdiagnosed. Some animals have positive test results and show no obvious symptoms. Other animals have symptoms that have not been diagnosed as a specific disease. Some of the more common symptoms in animals include joint pain and stiffness, shifting leg lameness, general discomfort, and behavioral changes. Again, the symptoms are many and each animal is different. If your animal doesn’t fit within the “typical symptom scenario” for a tick borne disease it doesn’t mean they don’t have one.
The typical course of 30 days of antibiotics does not eradicate the disease. When treated early the symptoms for many infected animals subside, but the pathogens are still in the body and often cause problems at a later date. Late treatments generally do not respond as well to antibiotics and if left untreated it can lead to more severe problems including organ failure.
Lyme disease is the tick borne disease we hear the most about, especially in the North East. It is caused by the Borrelia bacteria and this bacteria has multiple strains. Each strain causes different symptoms and some strains are not sensitive to antibiotics. There are other diseases carried by ticks and some are sensitive to antibiotics and some are not. Viral and fungal infections which are often carried by these same ticks are not sensitive to antibiotics at all. So, if antibiotics are not providing relief, start considering if something else or in addition may be causing the issues. Sometimes you have to be very persistent with your veterinarian or you may need to get a second opinion. You know your animals better than anyone else, and they rely on us for their basic care so if they are not feeling well it’s worth pursuing further so they don’t suffer needlessly.
Research has shown that in addition to ticks, Lyme may be carried and transmitted by fleas, mosquitoes, and possibly mites. It has also been determined that this is not exclusively a vector-borne disease and it could be transmitted by blood, breast milk, the placenta, and possibly other means as well.
Lastly, there is more unknown than known when it comes to tick borne diseases and while research is ongoing, not all information is being provided to the public. If your animal is suffering from pain or when you know there is something that just isn’t right, don’t give up or settle with “I don’t know” from your veterinarian. Often time’s veterinarians are unable to determine a specific cause, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t pursue a means of relief for our animals. When medications are not working, there are other options. Herbs and homeopathy can be used to treat many diseases. When used properly, they are very safe and effective and may just be what makes the difference for your animal.