Tick Paralysis In Dogs
Simply put, tick paralysis is a paralysis in animals caused by a tick, especially
certain female tick breeds, which secrete a toxin which affects the nervous system of mammals.
What happens, is that a tick bite can produce a flaccid paralysis, which leaves your dog with no
muscular tone, feeling weak. Some mammers are not affected by tick bites, such as cats, as they seem to be immune to
it, and likewise, not all breeds of dogs are effected, and even some animals only experience some side effects in
their hind limbs. In some other
pets, the condition can become
extremely critical where the condition can ascend up the body and affect the front limbs and even the muscles
required for breathing.
Thus, it is extremely critical that you are able to
spot and recognize the issue immediately so that your pet's problem can be cured and the tick(s) removed.
Read on to find out how you effectively get rid of
the affects of a tick bite….
Symptoms and Signs
Usually the signs will start 5-7 days after the tick has actually bit your dog, but it will usually take
a few tick bites simultaneously in order for paralysis to actually begin occurring. Another issue with ticks, is
that they can easily hide underneath your dogs fur, and are not easily detected, which is why you should always
look for the symptoms, such as weakness and poor coordination in their hind legs.
Dogs can also exhibit difficulty when swallowing, breathing, and chewing, but there will be
no signs of a fever or regular illness symptoms aside from these.
Death can occur within hours from respiratory failure,
because the muscles in the chest become paralyzed, which is why you must always check for these signs when you
notice that your dog seems less mobile.
Diagnosing the issue
A diagnosis for your dog is most often given if your dog has a rapidly worsening
condition, or if he/she is actually experiencing the common symptoms, most notably, paralysis. It
also can depend on the seasons of the year, but rapid recovery occurs the instance that the ticks are removed.
Since the diagnosis relies a lot on the early signs of paralysis, you should also regularly check your dog
for ticks, especially if you notice his/her behavior change, or if you are often outdoors in regions where there
are ticks.
Treating the issue
Since the ticks can be removed, all you have to do is find them. This may be difficult if your dog often has a lot of fur,
which means you may have to literally shave your dog to find the tick(s), before they cause serious damage to your
dog.
Upon removal of
any and all ticks, your dog may require future care from a veterinarian or may require some supportive care, such
as artificial respiration.
There is also an antitoxin available to be given to your dog, and it can be procured quickly.
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