Wednesday, July 29, 2009
ticks: beware
Brief info about tick paralysis for the owners who love their pets
Tick paralysis is an acute and serious disease which occurs in dogs after the tick bite of the ticks related to Dermacenter, Ambyloma or Ixodes species. A salivary neurotoxin secreted by these ticks is responsible for the resulting paralytic symptoms in the affected animals. The symptoms are seen approximately one week after the tick attachment.
The signs may begin as the sudden weakness and incordination of hind limbs that may extend to forelimbs and other body parts too. The voice of the dog may also be changed because of the laryngeal paresis. As the disease progresses chewing, swallowing, breathing becomes difficult. It is very important to provide the veterinary aid to suffering animals in such situation to avoid further complications. The paralysis of respiratory muscles may lead to death of the animal in few hours.
The quick tentative diagnosis may be done by the treating veterinarian on the basis of clinical symptoms and presence of ticks and recpvery of the animal after removal of ticks is almost confirmative of the diagnosis. Treatment involves removal of ticks, supportive and symptomatic therapy and mechanical ventilation if required.
It is important to keep the animals free of ticks to avoid such kind of problems
Tick paralysis is an acute and serious disease which occurs in dogs after the tick bite of the ticks related to Dermacenter, Ambyloma or Ixodes species. A salivary neurotoxin secreted by these ticks is responsible for the resulting paralytic symptoms in the affected animals. The symptoms are seen approximately one week after the tick attachment.
The signs may begin as the sudden weakness and incordination of hind limbs that may extend to forelimbs and other body parts too. The voice of the dog may also be changed because of the laryngeal paresis. As the disease progresses chewing, swallowing, breathing becomes difficult. It is very important to provide the veterinary aid to suffering animals in such situation to avoid further complications. The paralysis of respiratory muscles may lead to death of the animal in few hours.
The quick tentative diagnosis may be done by the treating veterinarian on the basis of clinical symptoms and presence of ticks and recpvery of the animal after removal of ticks is almost confirmative of the diagnosis. Treatment involves removal of ticks, supportive and symptomatic therapy and mechanical ventilation if required.
It is important to keep the animals free of ticks to avoid such kind of problems
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