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FARADAY ANIMAL HOSPITAL
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29391 Hwy 28 South RR#3

Bancroft, ON K0L1C0 Canada

(613) 332-1334

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  • Beware of Ticks this Fall

Beware of Ticks this Fall

  • Created in Newsletter Library

Dog goes for autumn walk in the leaves

Beware of Ticks This Fall

Does your dog or cat enjoy exploring the fields and forests near your home? These areas are prime habitats for ticks, small parasites that survive by drinking a host's blood. Ticks spread a variety of diseases, including Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. During the fall, ticks become more active, which increases your pet's risk of illness.

How Ticks Make Pets Sick

Ticks may look like bugs, but they're actually arachnids, an animal class that includes spiders, daddy longlegs, and mites. You'll find ticks in shady, moist places, like tall grass, brush, shrubs, logs, wood piles, and stone fences. Your pet could pick up a tick simply by walking through a pile of wet leaves or taking an autumn walk with you through the woods.

Ticks attach themselves to a host's body with their mouths and begin to feed on that animal's blood. As the tick feeds, it may inject a virus, bacteria, or protozoa into its host's blood. A series of small hook-like structures in the tick's mouth can dig into your dog or cat's skin, making it possible for the tick to remain attached to your furry friend for hours.

Your pet doesn't automatically become sick the instant that a tick begins to feed. Disease transmission can take two to 90 hours, depending on the type of tick. Ticks aren't easy to see when they're not full of blood. In fact, they're no bigger than the head of a nail, according to the ASPCA. Once they're engorged with blood, they can grow to 1/4" or more in diameter.

Diseases Caused by Ticks in the U.S.

Your pet could develop one of these diseases if bitten by a tick:

  • Lyme Disease. Black-legged (deer) ticks transmit the bacteria that causes Lyme disease. Symptoms of Lyme disease include joint pain, swollen joints, fever, limping, lameness, enlarged lymph nodes, and loss of appetite. Pets that have Lyme disease may get tired easily or have less stamina than usual. If the disease isn't treated promptly, kidney failure, heart problems, or joint damage can occur.
  • Anaplasmosis. Black-legged and brown dog ticks can also spread anaplasmosis, a disease that has many of the same symptoms as Lyme disease. According to the American Kennel Club, some unlucky pets can have both anaplasmosis and Lyme disease at the same time.
  • Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. Rocky Mountain spotted fever has been reported in nearly every state, although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention note that the disease is most often found in Central, Eastern and Western states. If your pet has Rocky Mountain spotted fever, it may experience joint pain, fever, swollen lymph nodes, poor appetite, coughing, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, balance problems, and purple spots on the mouth or eyelids due to damaged blood vessels. In severe cases, organ failure can occur due to blood clots. The American Dog Tick, Brown Deer Tick and Rocky Mountain Wood Tick can transmit Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
  • Cytauxzoonosis. This tick-borne disease spread by the American dog tick and lone star tick affects cats, many of whom die from the illness. Symptoms include high fever, weakness, fatigue, dehydration, vomiting, diarrhea, jaundice, enlarged lymph nodes, abdominal pain, seizures, and coma.
  • Ehrlichiosis. Spread by the lone star, American dog, and brown dog ticks, ehrlichiosis can cause fever, trouble breathing, swollen lymph nodes, weight loss, swollen limbs, and bleeding disorders.
  • Babesiosis. Babesiosis attacks your pet's red blood cells, causing fever, anemia, swollen lymph nodes, weakness, jaundice, pale gums, fatigue, and dark brown, orange, or red urine. Your pet can develop babesiosis after being bitten by a black-legged tick.
  • Hepatozoonosis. A bite from either the lone star or gulf coast tick could cause hepatazoonosis. Loss of appetite, weight loss, fever, eye and nose discharge, muscle pain and weakness, and difficulty moving are common symptoms. Like other tick-borne illnesses, pets can die from hepatozoonosis without quick treatment.

How to Protect Your Pet from Ticks

Reduce your pet's risk of tick-borne diseases by:

  • Performing Tick Checks After a Trip Outdoors. If you find a tick, remove it by grasping the head and slowly pulling it out of your pet's skin with tweezers. Kill the tick by putting it in a container filled with rubbing alcohol. If you can't remove the tick or only removed part of it, call your veterinarian.
  • Watching Your Pet. Look for symptoms of tick-borne illness, which include redness around the tick bite, fever, and painful joints, for several weeks after the bite. (In some cases, symptoms may not appear for several months).
  • Calling Your Veterinarian. Your veterinarian can provide products that kill ticks before they can harm your pet.

Sources:

WebMD: FAQ: Tick-Borne Diseases, 6/13/2021

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

American Kennel Club: Anaplasmosis: Another Tick-Borne Disease

  • Pet Health
    • Chronic Conditions
    • Digestive and Oral Health
    • Diseases and Viruses
    • Pests and Parasites
    • Orthopedics
  • Today's Veterinarian
  • Choosing Your Pet
    • Finding Your Pet
    • Cats
    • Dogs
    • Exotics
      • Amphibians
      • Birds
      • Reptiles
        • Lizards
        • Turtles
    • Small Mammals
      • Ferrets
      • Rabbits
      • Domesticated Animals
        • Prairie Dogs
      • Pocket Pets
        • Chinchillas
        • Guinea Pigs
        • Hamsters
        • Hedgehogs
        • Rats
    • Livestock
      • Cows
      • Donkeys, Horses & Mules
      • Goats
      • Pigs
      • Poultry
      • Sheep
  • Living With Your Pet
    • Bringing Your Pet Home
    • Children and Pets
    • Providing Care
    • Travel
    • Saying Goodbye
  • Newsletter Library
    • Tips for Pet Owners
    • Behavior & Training
    • Fleas & Parasites
    • Keeping Pets Healthy
    • Cats
    • Recognizing Illness
    • Nutrition & Food
    • Pet Dangers
    • Seasonal Topics
    • Visiting the Vet
    • Equine
    • Newsletter Archive
      • Fun with Pets
      • Unbelievable Pets
  • Video Newsroom
    • Health Topics
    • Technology and Science
    • Other Interests
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  • Thanksgiving Hours

    Friday Oct 6th - Open 9am - 4pm Pick Ups Only

    Saturday Oct 7th - Closed

    Sunday Oct 8th - Closed

    Monday Oct 9th - Closed

    Tuesday Oct 10th - 9am - 4pm Pick Ups Only

    Wednesday Oct 11th - 9am - 4pm  Pick Ups Only

  • Reduced Hours For October

    Friday Oct 6th-   9am-4pm - Pick Up Only

    Friday Oct 27th - 8am-4pm




  • Saturday Hours

    Please note our office will only be open 1-2 Saturdays a month until further notice.

    List below of the ones we will be open.

    Sept 30th Open 9am-2pm

    Oct 14th Open 9am -2pm

    Oct 21st Open 9am-2pm

    Subject to change.

Regular Office Hours- Holiday Hours Above

Monday:

8:00 am-7:00 pm

Tuesday:

8:00 am-7:00 pm

Wednesday:

8:00 am-4:00 pm

Thursday:

8:00 am-7:00 pm

Friday:

8:00 am-7:00 pm

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

Closed

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Testimonial

  • "Had an emergency last winter and they were extremely helpful. They were so great we drove 2.5 hours for a follow up rather than go to our regular vet. Our Lucy is doing great and we are very thankful."
    Hana S. / Bancroft, ON

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