Tick Borne Disease

Every year, when your pet comes in for a wellness visit, we will ask you about refilling flea and tick prevention. Flea and tick prevention comes in the form of oral chews/tablets, topical oils, and collars for both cats and dogs. While pets that live in heavily forested or rural environments are the most susceptible, any animal can get fleas or ticks – even your cat who never leaves the house! 

Aside from being gross, these bugs can carry potentially life-threatening diseases which is why it is important to be vigilant. If your pet is not on a preventative, check them regularly for ticks, fleas, or flea dirt. Pay close attention to their belly, underarms, and base of their tail. Remember, cats are diligent groomers, so you may not notice fleas until they have gotten established in the environment!

For Dogs, every year with the heartworm test, we will also test for some of the top most common tick borne diseases. This test, called a ‘Snap 4dx’, tests for the presence of adult heartworms, as well as antibodies that indicate exposure to anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis, and lyme disease.  

Ehrlichia:

The most common positive we see in Middle Tennessee is exposure to Ehrlichia, or Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. The dog version of this disease is carried by the brown dog tick. 

Anaplasma:

While we do still see cases here, Anaplasmosis is more common in the Midwest and Northeast. There are different types of Anaplasma, but they are all carried by the deer tick (also called the black-legged tick).

The signs and treatment for both Ehrlichia and Anaplasma infections are similar. Owners will first notice lethargy and joint pain (such as lameness or stiffness), and possibly fever, inappetence, or pale gums. Without treatment, we see bleeding/clotting disorders, such as low red blood cell counts and low platelet counts. Early treatment is done with an extended course of an antibiotic at home.

Lyme:

When asked about tick borne disease, the most commonly known infection is Lyme disease. Lyme disease is most usually diagnosed in the Northeast, and the handful of cases we see have mostly relocated from the Northeast or Midwest. Lyme is the only tick-borne disease with a widely used vaccine, but since it is uncommon in this area, we do not readily vaccinate against it. (If your pet frequently travels north, please let us know so we can help you get your pet vaccinated appropriately!)

While Lyme disease is not as common in dogs as it is in humans, it does make wellness testing important, as Lyme infected dogs may not show symptoms until they are seriously ill. The dogs who show early symptoms usually have joint pain and fever. Dogs with positive Lyme tests or early symptoms can be treated with oral antibiotics at home. Untreated infections can cause serious kidney damage and urinary issues. 

What happens when my dog’s Snap 4dx test is positive?

It’s important to note that the Snap 4dx test looks for antibodies, meaning your pet was exposed to the disease and created the antibody to fight it. Dogs with antibodies may not have active infections because they successfully fought off the disease! Conversely, if your pet was recently infected, they may not have created the antibodies yet that we are looking for. 

If your pet’s Snap 4dx test is positive for Anaplasma or Ehrlichia, we will recommend a Complete Blood Count (CBC) to check for any changes in their platelet or red blood cell counts. If your pet is also showing symptoms, we will move forward with antibiotic treatment.

If your pet’s Snap 4dx is positive for Lyme, we will move forward with a test called a C6 Antibody Test which tests for antibodies against very specific Lyme antigens. The Lyme vaccine will not create a false positive on the C6 Antibody test. If this test is positive, we will move forward with an oral antibiotic – even if your pet is not symptomatic.

Tick borne disease in cats:

Your cat can also get a tick borne disease called Cytauxzoonosis or Bobcat Fever. Cytaux is carried by the Lone Star Tick. The first signs you will notice are fatigue and fever.

Testing for this disease involves looking at a blood sample under the microscope. There is additional PCR testing, but due to the severity of the disease there is not always time to get results from an outside lab before starting treatment. Cytaux progresses rapidly and because cats are good at hiding their symptoms, most cats who have Cytaux pass away.

The best treatment is prevention. Keeping cats indoors reduces their exposure significantly. If you have an outdoor cat, use tick prevention monthly and opt for products that protect against the Lone Star Tick.

If you have any questions about what flea and tick treatment is the best option for your pet, please reach out to the clinic via text, email, or phone.

Contributed by Danica.

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