Washtenaw Veterinary Hospital

The number of ticks species that other veterinarians and physicians are seeing has increased as well. There are several kinds of ticks in Michigan that can transmit diseases to people and pets. While ticks will attach to you when the time is right for them, our closer-to-the-ground pets make fo an easier meal for ticks.

There are several scary diseases that are spread to people by many types of ticks. Some of these ticks transmit the same diseases to our pets.

• American Dog Tick: Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Tularemia
• Blacklegged/Deer Tick: Lyme Disease, Anaplasmosis, Ehrlichiosis
• Brown Dog Tick: Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
• Gulf Coast Tick: Rickettsiosis
• Ixodes Scapularis Ticks: Babesiosis, Lyme Disease
• Lone Star Tick: Erlichiosis, Heartland Virus, Tuaremia, STARI
• Rocky Mountain Wood Tick: Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
• Western Blacklegged Tick: Lyme Disease, Anaplasmosis

According to the Washtenaw County Health department, in our county the five ticks that are endemic are the American Dog Tick, Blacklegged Tick, Lone Start Tick, Woodchuck Tick and the Brown Dog Tick.

Because your pets can get many diseases from ticks, it is important to prevent tick infestations in the first place. Like a lot of pet products, there are many options available for tick prevention. No product will keep ticks from getting onto your pet, however the goal of prevention is to use a product that will kill these parasites as quickly as possible to reduce the chance of disease transmission. When coming in from outdoors, pets should be checked to make sure they are not carrying any freeloading arthropods. This may be done by running a brush or comb through the coat, focusing especially around the head and neck area, to dislodge any unwanted guests before to they burrow into the fur and attach to the skin. Be prepared with a tick removing tool if you find a tick that is already attacked. Sadly these days we need to remember that preventing and removing ticks is not an option, but something that is required to take care of your pets.

Let us help you pick the right tick prevention for your pet! There are many good choices available from our hospital's online store.

There are many reasons for pets to itch: parasites, allergy to flea bites, food allergy, secondary infection, the list goes on. The following are findings in the history and examination of the patient that might lead to a diagnosis of atopy. In fact, meeting five criteria from this list yields and 85% accuracy for the diagnosis of atopic dermatitis in dogs.

Young age of onset

• Seasonal itchiness due to atopy tends to begin early in a pet's life (usually between 1 to 3 years of age in 70% of dogs) Food allergy tends to begin either later (between 5 to 6 years in dogs) or earlier (less than 6 months of age) The age at which itching first manifests is not as reliable a sign in car as it is in dogs.

Mostly indoor lifestyle

• Many airborne allergens are concentrated indoors, however it is important to note that allergens may be suspended in the air for miles making them difficult to escape.

Good response to steroids

• In both dogs and cats, itchiness due to atopy responses rapidly to cortisone-type medications (prednisone, betamethasone, dexamethasone, ect.) Itching due to insect bite allergies also respond well to steroid therapy. Food allergies are most variable in response; steroids may help in some cases

Chronic or reoccurring yeast infections of the skin

• Yeast (Malassezia pachydermatis) resides on the surface of the skin normally. Allergies cause changes to the skin's microenvironment, and yeast can proliferate and create a malodorous, thickened, pigmented skin that may resemble elephant skin or tree bark. Environmental allergy is a strong predisposing factor in developing yeast dermatitis.

Front feet involved

• Chewing the top of the paws and licking between the toes is a classic feature of atopic dermatitis.

Ear flaps involved

• The non-haired, inside portion of the ear flap is commonly involved in atopic dermatitis. Inflammation may extend down the ear canal and lead to ear infections. The pinna may become greasy, red, thickened, malodorous or any combination of the above.

Lower back area not involved

• The lower back is the flea bite zone. There are few conditions other than flea bite allergy that cause itching in this area. If this area is involved, make sure flea control is achieved before further evaluating the akin.

Please make an appointment with us to examine and discuss treatment plans to make your pet more comfortable and avoid secondary infections. Bringing a complete diet history and historical itching information to your visit is very helpful. There are many new safe treatment options available for allergies!

Leptospirosis is a disease that can affect humans and animals, including your pets! All animals can potentially become infected with Leptospirosis. The bacteria that cause leptospirosis are spread through the urine of infected animals, which are contaminate water or soil and survive for weeks to months. Humans and animals can become infected through contaminated urine (or other bodily fluids except saliva), water or soil. The bacteria can enter the body through mucous membranes, especially if the skin is broken such as a cut or scratch. Drinking contaminated water can also cause infection. Infected wild and domestic animals may continue to excrete the bacteria into the environment for a few months up to several years. If you pet becomes infected, it mostly likely came into contact with the bacteria in the environment or was exposed to infected animals. Dogs may also pass the disease to each other, although this happens very rarely.

Signs and symptoms

The clinical signs of Leptospirosis vary and are nonspecific. Sometimes pets do not display any symptoms. Common clinical symptoms reported in dogs include:

• fever
• vomiting
• abdominal pain
• diarrhea
• inappetence
• severe weakness and depression
• severe muscle pain and stiffness
• inability to have puppies

Generally younger animals are more seriously affected than older animals. If you think you pet may have Leptospirosis, contact your veterinarian immediately. Your vet can perform tests to determine whether or not your pet has the disease. Leptospirosis is treatable with antibiotics. If an animals is treated early, it may recover more rapidly and any organ damage may be less severe. Other treatment methods, such as dialysis and hydration therapy, may be required.

Prevention in Pets

To help prevent Leptospirosis infection, keep rodent problems under control. The most important tool for prevention is to get your pet vaccinated against Leptospirosis. The vaccine does not provide protection against all strains of the leptospires, but it is still important to have your pet vaccinated!

Check out this article from PetMD for more information - Leptospirosis

Email: frontdesk@wvhcares.com
Website: www.washtenawveterinaryhospital.com
Location: 2729 Packard Road, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
Phone: (734) 971-5800
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