Tick Borne Diseases (3)

Over the last few days, I've been discussing four major zoonotic diseases that can be spread from animal to man with the tick as a vector. I've already discussed ehrlichiosis and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. In this entry I want to discuss Tularemia, and I'll finish up next week with a discussion on Lyme disease.

Tularemia, also known as rabbit fever is a disease that while rare, is found throughout the northern hemisphere. The disease is transmitted typically from animal to animal by the Lone Star tick as well as the ticks that can spread Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Ticks become infected by feeding on an animal already infected with the disease causing organism (Francisella) and when these ticks become attached to a non-infected animal and feed, the disease is passed into that animal. Humans cannot get Tularemia directly from their pet. However, if the pet develops the disease a tick can feed on and then pass the disease from the pet to the human if the human gets a tick bite. Tularemia is also transmitted by fleas and dogs and cats can become infected by eating rabbits or rodents already infected.

Symptoms that can occur that may be indicative of Tularemia in dogs include: loss of appetite, listlessness and low grade fever. In cats symptoms may include: high fever and swollen lymph nodes. If Tularemia is suspected, the pet should be examined by a veterinarian. A blood test to measure antibody levels can be performed. The disease can also be diagnosed by culturing the bacterium from tissue from the animal. In humans a lesion at the site of the tick bite usually develops followed by enlarged lymph nodes. Humans can also get the disease from eating contaminated, undercooked rabbit and symptoms can include intestinal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Tularemia is treated with antibiotics. In pets, enrofloxacin (Baytril) or ciprofloxacin (Cipro) can be used. For humans, the antibiotics gentamicin and streptomycin are used.

Because this disease is spread to animals by ticks and fleas, the 1-800-PetMeds pharmacy staff recommends applying a monthly flea and tick preventative on your pet. These products should be used year round because fleas and ticks can survive indoors even in the winter.

For further information on tick borne disease visit the Tick FAQ's site on PetHealth101. You can also visit the fleas FAQ's site as well.

Tick Borne Diseases (2)

In my previous entry, I mentioned four major zoonotic diseases that can be spread from animal to man with the tick as the vector. These diseases are: ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Tularemia and Lyme disease. In this entry I want to discuss Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

Rocky Mountain spotted fever is transmitted to animals by the American dog tick and the Rocky Mountain spotted fever tick. These ticks are most prevalent in the east coast, midwest and plains regions. Ticks become infected by feeding on an animal already infected with the disease causing organism (Rickettsia) and when these ticks become attached to a non-infected pet and feed, the disease is passed into that animal. Humans cannot get Rocky Mountain spotted fever directly from their pet. However, if the pet develops the disease a tick can feed on and then pass the disease from the pet to the human if the human gets a tick bite.

Symptoms that can occur that may be indicative of Rocky Mountain spotted fever include: loss of appetite, fever, depression, pain in muscles and joints, swollen lymph nodes, and edema of the face and legs. Some animals will have vomiting and diarrhea. Some animals will have dizziness, seizures and depression. If Rocky Mountain spotted fever is suspected, the pet should be examined by a veterinarian. Blood tests can be used to measure antibody levels and are usually given twice, two weeks apart to measure any increase. In addition, a skin test to measure antigens can be performed as well. Symptoms that can occur in huymans include: rash, fever, chills, headache, muscle ache, nausea, abdominal pain and swollen lymph nodes.

Rocky Mountain spotted fever is treated using antibiotics such as tetracycline, doxycycline and enrofloxacin (Baytril).

Tick season usually extends from April to September and that is the period of time where the incidence of Rocky Mountain spotted fever is highest. For the health of your pet, the pharmacy staff at 1-800-PetMeds recommends applying a monthly flea and tick preventative. However, since ticks can survive indoors, even in the winter, it is also recommended that these products are used year round.

For further information on tick borne disease visit the Tick FAQ's site on PetHealth101.

Tick Borne Diseases

Visiting my brother in Kansas this weekend I noticed an article in the local section of The Kansas City Star regarding the rise of tick borne diseases in Missouri. While the article was meant to inform the local population, disease spread by ticks is an important subject for pet owners regardless of where they live, especially in the warm, summer months.


Zoonosis is a term for disease that can be spread from animals to humans and the tick borne illnesses I'm going to mention are zoonotic diseases. In the case of tick borne diseases, ticks are the vector by which these diseases can get transmitted from animals to humans. Four major diseases that can be transmitted by ticks include: ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Tularemia and Lyme disease. I'm going to discuss these diseases one at a time, beginning with ehrlichiosis.

Ehrlichiosis, now also sometimes referred to as anaplasmosis, is a disease transmitted by the Brown Dog tick and the Lone Star tick and can occur anywhere in the United States that these ticks are found. Ticks become infected by feeding on an animal already infected with Ehrlicia and when these infected ticks become attached to a non-infected pet and feed, Ehrlichia is passed into that animal. Humans cannot get ehrlichiosis directly from their pet . However, if the pet develops ehrlichiosis a tick can feed on and then pass, in some instances, the disease from the pet to the human if the human gets a tick bite.

Symptoms to look for that could possibly indicate ehrlichiosis in a dog include: Anemia, fever, depession, lethargy, loss of appetite, shortness of breath, joint pain amd bruising. If ehrlichiosis is suspected you should have your pet examined by a veterinrian who can run tests to determine the presence of the Ehrlichia organism itself or the presence of antibodies to Ehrlichia. Symptoms in humans may include: fever, chills, headache, muscle ache, nausea, loss of appetite, weight loss, abdominal pain, cough, and diarrhea

Ehrlichiosis is treated most often with the antibiotics tetracycline or doxycycline.

For the health of your pet, the 1-800-PetMeds pharmacy staff recommends applying a monthly flea and tick preventative. It is also recommended that you use these products year round because ticks can survive indoors even in the winter.

For further information on tick borne disease visit the Tick FAQs site on PetHealth101.

My Pet Was Sprayed by a Skunk

One of my pharmacists, Harvi, received a phone call from a pet owner in Oregon. It appears that her dog, Rusty, was sprayed by a skunk and none of the methods she tried to rid the pet of skunk smell worked.

Harvi did some research and found a formula that she believed would work.

It did!!

Every day the pharmacists on staff at 1-800-PetMeds answer questions our clients have. Some questions are routine, others, such as Harvi's are more complex. I am proud of the efforts of each and every one of my pharmacists.

Here's the formula Harvi found that proved effective in removing skunk odor from the pet:

Into 1 quart of 3% Hydrogen Peroxide (the first aid strength, NOT the hair product) add and mix in:
1/4 cup baking soda
1 teaspoon hand detergent (dish soap)

Apply the solution to the pets fur and leave on for 5 minutes (do not get in pet's eyes, ears or mouth). Rinse thoroughly with plain water. It may be necessary to repeat this treatment one time.

It is possible for this solution to temporarily discolor black fur.

Flea and Tick Prevention (continued)

Last time I wrote why using flea and tick prevention, especially at this time of year, is important.

I would urge those of you who read my blog, to check out some very informative articles regarding flea and tick product on the www.PetHealth101.com website.

Articles pertaining to treating the pet that should be read include how to apply flea and tick products and what to do when medications fail.

Because it is so important to also treat the house and grounds when a flea infestation does occur, articles that pertain to flea and tick control for the indoors and flea and tick control for the outdoors are also available.

Flea and Tick Prevention

Many veterinarians have begun to recommend that flea and tick prevention products be used every month year round. There are two major reasons for this: Firstly, flea larva and ticks can survive indoors even when the weather is cold outside. Secondly, by getting used to using the preventative, pet owners increase compliance and more easily remember that the product needs to be used every month.

Why is using a flea and tick product so important? The short answer is it keeps the pet healthy. Fleas can cause flea allergy dermatitis, hot spots, skin infections, and tapeworm. Ticks can cause Lyme disease, Ehrlichia, and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.

There are many types of flea and tick products. The choice of which product to use can be difficult but we can help overcome this difficulty if you use the comparison chart available on the 1-800-PetMeds website. Our customer care and pharmacy department staff is available to answer your questions as well.

If you live in an area where ticks are prevalent, you should use a flea and tick preventative such as K9-Advantix or Frontline Plus as opposed to a strictly flea preventative such as Advantage or Frontline Top Spot. You may also want to consider trimming your pets fur or maybe even giving the pet a "puppy cut". These products are over the counter (OTC) and DO NOT require a prescription.

For the health of your pet and to keep your home flea and tick free, I highly recommend you use a flea and tick preventative on your pet.

Car safety

I was driving home the other day and came behind a car in which the driver had her window open, her dog on her lap and the dog's head was sticking out the window feeling the breeze and smelling the smells that dogs do.

I wanted to say something to this lady but really never had the opportunity, and then, with the way some people are on the road these days, I probably would have come out the bad guy.

What were my concerns? Here they are:
1. I was concerned as to how a driver could safely operate a vehicle with an animal sitting on the owner/drivers lap?
2. I was concerned that if the car were involved in an accident, aside from potential injury to the driver, the poor dog would almost be guaranteed being injured because the pet was not secured.
3. I was concerned that because this was a fidgety toy poodle the dog could easily have squirmed out of the drivers hands and out of the window.
4. I was concerned that if this had happened, that the driver would have taken her car directly to the scene of an accident in trying to grab her dog as it was squirming out of the window.

I know we all love our pets and want to hold them and hug them. But we need to respect the fact that when we exercise the privilege of driving we need to be considerate of the other drivers on the road as well. For our safety and that of our pets I would suggest:
1. When we drive, lets not keep pets on our laps. As much as we love them, they are a distraction.
2. When we drive, let's use a harness to keep the pet safely in his/her own seat.

Have a safe summer.