Veterinarian warns against tick fever
Dr Johan Naude warns pet owners of the dangers of tick fever and how you can prevent it.
Randfontein Animal Hospital shared some much-needed information regarding tick fever.
Veterinarian Dr Johan Naude explained, “Tick fever is a serious illness that affects animals, specifically dogs in South Africa. It is caused by parasites that are transferred by ticks. This illness is life-threatening if not treated in time.”
Naude noted the symptoms include lethargy or weakness, loss of appetite, high fever, dark or red-brown urine and weight loss. In serious cases, a dog can suffer from anaemia as well as bleeding or neurological signs.
Vet treatment is essential for treating tick fever. Naude noted the vet will inspect the animal and possibly take blood tests to confirm the animal has tick fever. His continued treatment includes medication, supportive care and depending on the seriousness of the illness, blood transfusions.
He explained tick fever can be prevented through tick control. This includes using tick killers approved by a vet, it can either be collars, spot-on treatments or dip products. It is also important to comb your animal and remove any ticks immediately.
He added ticks can simply be pulled off and don’t need to be burned or cut off. Also, keep your grass short and use tick remedies to keep your garden are living space tick-free. Further, he advised pet owners to pay attention to early signs of tick fever and immediately visit a vet when noticing something out of the ordinary.
“Do not wait until your animal is yellow or pale,” he concluded.
