By: Coastal Pet Products Staff
In addition to the annoying itching they cause, fleas and ticks can carry diseases that are dangerous for dogs. From tapeworm to Lyme disease, these illnesses are sometimes fatal if left untreated. Prevention is the first defense against the harmful effects that fleas and ticks can have on a dog.
Here are some of the diseases carried by fleas and ticks, as well as some tips for preventing parasites from getting into dogs.
Flea allergy dermatitis
Flea allergy dermatitis is the most common problem associated with flea bites. Although it can cause extreme itching, hair loss and skin damage, it is never fatal. An allergic reaction rather than a disease, flea allergy dermatitis is the most common skin disease affecting dogs in the United States.
Symptoms of flea allergy dermatitis include:
- Excessive scratching, biting or licking
- Small red bumps that look like pimples
- Hair loss in areas where biting may have occurred
- Rash or raw, irritated (and sometimes bleeding) skin
Flea allergy dermatitis is uncomfortable for dogs and can lead to skin infections. With proper treatment and continued preventive measures, most dogs recover easily.
Tapeworms
When a dog swallows a flea while chewing on an irritating bite, it can end up with a tapeworm. Tapeworms are parasites that attach to the intestinal wall. In adult dogs, they do little damage. But in puppies, they can be more dangerous, causing anemia and stunted growth.
Symptoms of tapeworm include:
- The scooter, in which your dog drags his butt across the ground to relieve irritation
- Move the tapeworm’s egg sacs, which look like grains of white rice or cucumber seeds, around your dog’s bottom.
- Vomiting with adult tapeworms in it
- Diarrhea (often accompanied by complete tapeworms or segments of worms)
- Weightloss
Dogs with tapeworms need deworming medications.
Anemia
Although anemia can pose a serious threat to a dog, the number of fleas required to cause it is significant. In most cases, your dog will need to be infested with fleas to risk anemia. Puppies, however, are at greater risk. Even a few fleas can drain too much blood from a small puppy.
Symptoms of anemia include:
- Lethargy
- white erasers
- Weakness
- Rapid breathing
Untreated anemia can lead to death, especially in young dogs. If you notice any of these symptoms, seek medical attention as the puppy may need immediate intervention.
Lyme disease
Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne disease in dogs. In 2021, one in 20 dogs tested positive of the disease, which can lead to neurological problems, joint and kidney problems and, in extreme cases, death.
Symptoms of Lyme disease include:
- Loss of appetite
- Fever
- Fatigue or listlessness
- Swollen joints, stiffness and/or lameness
- Swollen lymph nodes
Dogs diagnosed with Lyme disease need antibiotics. Depending on how advanced the disease is, dogs may also need other therapeutic treatments.
Anaplasmosis
Less common than Lyme disease, anaplasmosis nevertheless presents a significant risk. According to the Pet Parasite Council, one in 50 dogs tested positive for the disease in 2021.
Anaplasmosis can cause several symptoms, but many dogs will only be sick for a short time. Others may never show symptoms. However, if left untreated, the disease can lead to breathing problems, organ failure and death.
Symptoms of anaplasmosis include:
- Fever
- Loss of appetite
- Signs of joint pain
- Lethargy
- Vomiting
- Cough or difficult breathing
Antibiotics are the only treatment for anaplasmosis. Most dogs show improvement within a few days.
Ehrlichiosis
About as common as anaplasmosis, chronic ehrlichiosis can cause anemia, eye and neurological problems, and joint problems. In the worst cases, ehrlichiosis can cause a dog’s bone marrow to fail, which is usually fatal. Owners of German Shepherds and Dobermans should be particularly vigilant. In these breeds, the disease tends to be more severe.
Symptoms of ehrlichiosis include:
- Fever
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Difficulty breathing
- Weightloss
- Sudden bleeding
- Anemia
- Lameness
- Blindness
Some dogs recover from ehrlichiosis on their own. Others will need an antibiotic.
Rocky Mountain spotted fever (tick fever)
Like other tick-borne illnesses, Rocky Mountain spotted fever can be fatal if left untreated. About 10% of dogs with the disease die, while 30% have severe central nervous system symptoms. Delayed treatment may result in permanent organ damage.
Symptoms of Rocky Mountain spotted fever include:
- Fever
- Loss of appetite
- Joint inflammation
- Vomiting and/or diarrhea
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Cough and/or difficulty breathing
- Signs of abdominal pain
- Swelling of the face or limbs
- Balance disorders (in severe cases)
- Purplish-red spots inside the eyelids and mouth (in severe cases)
- Altered mental status (in severe cases)
- Extreme spinal tenderness (in severe cases)
If you live in an area where Rocky Mountain spotted fever is common (mainly in the southeastern United States) and you know a dog has been bitten, call a veterinarian immediately. Any delay in antibiotic treatment can lead to symptoms and serious illness. Dogs diagnosed and treated early usually recover quickly.
Protecting dogs from fleas and ticks
A good attack is the best defense against fleas, ticks and dogs. Yes, use a flea comb while grooming. Yes, check for ticks after a walk outside. But preventative measures are the only surefire way to stop these parasites from biting and potentially infecting dogs with a life-threatening disease.
The best protection comes from flea and tick preventative products. Available in several forms, preventative products work by killing live fleas and ticks, while preventing them from reproducing. Each prevention works differently. Veterinarians can recommend the right choice in different scenarios.
Preventive measures should not only be used in spring and summer. Fleas, in particular, are a year-round problem. Taking a break when temperatures drop gives them the opportunity to reinfest pets.
Generally speaking, flea collars can be used in conjunction with preventative products. (Except Seresto flea collars; talk to a veterinarian before combining them with any other treatment.) They are especially helpful when you go somewhere where fleas and ticks are abundant (such as a walk in the woods). Choose a collar that repels and kills, as this prevents it from biting the dog in the first place.
You can also use a product like SecureAway Flea Collar Protectors to hold the flea collar in place.