FYI, Fatal Tick Bite in Dogs

bigdeano · Feb 5, 2016

I had Lyme disease for 20 years. Stupid doctors wouldn't do anything for me even when I told them I had the bullseye rash. Lyme tests aren't always accurate, but that's all they looked at. I finally found an alternative treatment that worked. I think I got it from a flea bite from a dog I rescued that someone had dumped out by the road. I didn't see any tick.

dmccarty · Feb 5, 2016

We have a variety of tick pullers but this is the one that works best most of the time.

Amazon.com : Pro-tick Remedy with 5x Magnifier, Key Chain, Tick Id Card and Tick Tutorial : Tick Removal Device : Pet Supplies

The twister pullers help in hard to reach spots.

You do not want to squeeze or cause the tick to puke since that means they are injecting more toxin, if the tick has any, into the body.

I have been using Permethrin for years and it works. I have seen hundreds of chiggers marching up my treated pant legs but they would slow down and either fall off or stop moving. They be dead. I also use DEET sprayed on the clothes.

Years ago I read of a baiting and treating station for deer. Pretty sure it was on TBN. The station would bait deer to feed. The station had what looked like paint rollers that would apply Permethrin to the deer. This deer treatment drastically reduced tick populations in the area after a couple of years.

Later,
Dan

teejk · Feb 5, 2016

Lived in NY (for too long)...Westchester Co where no hunting is allowed hence not unusual to see several deer 10 ft from the front door. Our cocker spaniel (RIP) started having problems climbing...Lyme test came back negative but somehow we stumbled across "anaplasmosis"...when we moved back to Wis he started showing the same symptoms...was never heard of around here until I asked the vet to check...a friend was about ready to have her King Charles undergo expensive surgery (after $$$ spent). When she described the symptoms I told her to ask her vet. It is a tick-borne disease that is moving west. All tick-borne diseases seem to have a common trait...your dog can go down-hill ok but can't climb.

BoylermanCT · Feb 5, 2016

How's Raiden doing?

Ed of all trades · Feb 6, 2016

BoylermanCT said:
How's Raiden doing?

Yes I would like to know as well. Ed

NoTrespassing · Feb 6, 2016

Our dog Halo had Lyme and recovered very quickly. She was on antibiotics for awhile. We use permethrin on our yard regularly but had lapsed prior to Halo contracting Lyme disease. Thankfully our vet is very sharp and experienced and diagnosed Halo almost immediately upon seeing her without additional tests. We also had a dog contract heartworm on this property years ago.

Permethrin knocks down all kinds of bugs. I usually spray the yard before we have outdoor parties and the mosquitos and flies are almost nonexistent for about a week. We don't have cats btw. When I used to have horses I used permethrin directly on them in a weak solution.

Kevin

EddieWalker · Feb 6, 2016

NoTrespassing said:
Our dog Halo had Lyme and recovered very quickly. She was on antibiotics for awhile. We use permethrin on our yard regularly but had lapsed prior to Halo contracting Lyme disease. Thankfully our vet is very sharp and experienced and diagnosed Halo almost immediately upon seeing her without additional tests. We also had a dog contract heartworm on this property years ago.

Permethrin knocks down all kinds of bugs. I usually spray the yard before we have outdoor parties and the mosquitos and flies are almost nonexistent for about a week. We don't have cats btw. When I used to have horses I used permethrin directly on them in a weak solution.

Kevin

What did you dilute it down to on the horses? Flies can get really bad and so far, we're not winning this battle.

MinnesotaEric · Feb 6, 2016

EddieWalker said:
We had a big scare this morning. One of our dogs,. Raiden, was lame this morning in his back legs. We noticed that he had trouble getting up on our wood floor yesterday, but thought it was more funny that his feet kept slipping and never thought that there might be a problem. That was a HUGE MISTAKE that could have led to his death!!!!

Tick Paralysis in Dogs | petMD

We took Raiden in to the vet and he did a full exam, including an x ray of his spine and hips. The x ray showed that everything was good. The vet feels it's tick paralysis caused by the saliva in some ticks. The paralysis acts quickly over a couple of days and starts with his balance and legs. Then it works into his internal organs, and they dog dies. From what we are learning, it happens in days!!!!

The Vet gave him huge amounts of steroids and antibiotics this morning. Now, several hours later, he seems to be responding and is now able to sit up and even stand a little. He is still very shaky and he went back down right after getting up, but we are encouraged that the medicine is working.

This shook me up and I wanted to share with everyone in case you ever notice your dog losing his balance and/or quickly goes lame. There is very little time to act once this happens!!!!

My two dogs get frontline year round as ticks become active right above freezing.

And heart worm year round as well.

EddieWalker · Feb 6, 2016

BoylermanCT said:
How's Raiden doing?

This morning he was really bad. I have to pick him up and carry him outside to go potty. The evening after he first went on his meds, he was able to sit up and even walk a few steps. The second day, he was even better. This morning, he couldn't get up, roll over or even lift his head up. He just laid there on his side. Karen and I both that that he was near the end. Tick Paralyses affects the nervous system. It is a neuro toxin. It destroys something to do with how nerves control muscles. It usually starts at the back legs, then the front legs, then the internal organs. Usually the lungs stop working first of the internal organs.

There is no blood test for this since it's all in the nervous system. Texas A&M can do the tests, and we'll go there if the meds do not work.

We went to the vet right away and when we got there, Raiden was showing more life. He was raising his head and looking around. The vet checked his temperature, lungs and did a full exam with good results. The other vet working there came in and did a blood test just to make sure there wasn't anything else going on. The blood test was only for disease. It came back negative. No diseases.

The vet said that he thinks Raiden over did it during the night and just plain wore himself out. Now that he's had some time to rest, he has a little strength back. We got home a little bit ago and he seems even better. He's stood up twice and even walked a little bit.

This is just so sad for us to see him like this. He is 12 months old and a very big part of our family.

We are posting everything that is happening on Facebook. Mostly our friends are giving us positive support. Some have been through this and are offering advice and suggestions on treatment, what it is, and how to fight ticks.

Here is a link to the first picture I posted about this.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?...973890989634.117345.1313824209&type=3&theater

And a few more pictures from yesterday and today.

Doing better with the meds, but still not able to stand up

Me and Raiden playing a little bit