[Ticks and Sarcoptic Mange] Symptoms and Treatment of Ticks that Harm Dogs

Does your dog suffer from excessive itching or constantly shake its head from side to side?

If so, your dog may be suffering from mites. This article will introduce you to the mites that infest dogs.

Types and Characteristics of Ticks Infesting Dogs

We will introduce four common types of ticks that infest dogs.

① Deer Ticks

Ticks are eight-legged arthropods. Unlike the ticks commonly found in homes, these are covered with a hard outer shell, and blood-sucking ticks are approximately 3-4 mm in size.

However, when ticks suck blood, they can expand to the size of a 500 yen coin, which can sometimes be mistaken for a wart.

Ticks' source of nutrition is animal blood.

For this reason, ticks attach themselves to animal skin and their young grow, while adult ticks continue to suck blood in order to reproduce. During this blood-sucking process, they become a vector for various pathogens, including viruses and bacteria.

Ticks are said to be active during the hot months of May through September, but they are generally active throughout the rest of the year except January and February, so be careful.

Also, ticks may be active year-round in warm places like inside a home.

They primarily live in grassy areas, so they can follow people on walks or while moving around and bring them home.

② Scabies Mites

Scabies mites are commonly known as scabies mites.

To be precise, the infestation of scabies mites leads to scabies (a condition that causes severe itching).

Scabies mites are quite small, measuring only about 0.4mm, making them extremely difficult to spot with the naked eye. Ixodes mites are 4mm in size, about one-tenth the size of an Ixodes mites.

When scabies mites infest a dog's skin, they penetrate the stratum corneum and penetrate deep into the skin.

Because they are so small and penetrate so deeply into the skin, it is extremely difficult to determine whether or not they are present.

They then lay eggs and multiply within the tissue.

The feces and secretions produced by the scabies mites inside the skin cause intense itching. This results in rashes, scratch marks, and hair loss at the site of infection.

Scratching can also lead to bacterial infection.

When these mites infest the ear, they are called ear mites.
They feed on and break down earwax and secretions, so earwax can turn black if infected with ear mites.

Symptoms are the same as with ear mites, causing intense itching. Frequent scratching around the ear or frequent head shaking could indicate ear mites.

Also, when a dog shakes its head, the eggs and larvae of the scabies mite can fly off and infect other dogs or even humans temporarily.

③ Demodex mites

Demex mites are even smaller than scabies mites, measuring only 0.2 to 0.3 mm.

These mites are difficult to see with the naked eye, and even healthy dogs can have them on their skin. However, if Demodex mites multiply for some reason, symptoms such as increased dandruff and hair loss will appear.

Especially Dangerous!? Ticks, which also parasitize humans

As explained above, ticks feed on animal blood.

For this reason, they reproduce by parasitizing animals and sucking their blood. However, this blood-sucking process can lead to various infectious diseases.

Some of these diseases can infect humans, and some can cause serious, life-threatening illnesses.

Here are some of the diseases that can be transmitted by ticks.

Canine Babesiosis

The Babesia parasite parasite infects dogs' red blood cells, causing anemia and various other symptoms. If treatment is delayed, this devastating disease can be fatal.

The pathogen, Babesia parasite, resides within ticks! It infects dogs through the tick's blood meal.

There have been cases of human infection in the past, causing fever, headache, and muscle pain.

The same is true for dogs. Infection can cause fever and brown urine. In severe cases, anemia and jaundice can occur.

Currently, there is no cure, and the most practical prevention is to prevent ticks from biting your blood.

・Japanese Spotted Fever

Japanese spotted fever is a tick-borne infectious disease transmitted by the bite of a tick carrying the pathogen, rickettsiae.

Infection can cause high fever, rash, and headache. The fever can rise to 39-40°C or higher, accompanied by headache and chills. In the worst cases, it can be fatal, making it a very dangerous infection.

More than 200 cases are reported annually, and warnings are issued in various regions from spring to the end of summer when ticks become active.

There is no specific cure or clear treatment, so early detection and appropriate antibiotic administration are essential.

To avoid tick bites, practice preventative measures regularly!

① Check for tick bites after walking in the grass.

Ticks attach to areas of your dog's skin where it's relatively thin, such as around the neck, eyes, and paws. Always check your dog's skin when it enters overgrown grass.

If you find a tick, never try to remove it by picking it off!

If any pieces of the tick's mouth or body remain, they can cause inflammation and suppuration. Take your dog to your veterinarian immediately!

② Preventive Medications

Ticks are active for a long period of time, from spring to autumn. Prevention is necessary almost year-round. Even if your pet is kept indoors, ticks can be transmitted through people or objects that come and go, so regular use of preventive medication is necessary.

There are several types of preventive medications, including "spot type" applied around the neck, "tablet type," and "chewable type."

We recommend an "all-in-one" product that not only protects against fleas and ticks, but also heartworms. Some products are even available in a delicious "jerky" style.

For pets who don't like the taste of medicine, we recommend a "spot-on" type.

③ Creating a tick-free environment

In addition to medication, creating a tick-free environment is also an effective preventative measure. It's effective to regularly brush and shampoo your dog to keep it clean, regularly check for ticks and fleas, and regularly boil and disinfect anything your dog touches.

What did you think? Ticks are a dangerous infectious disease that can affect both dogs and humans. It's a very scary story, but ticks can be effectively prevented with medication and environmental care!

Please remember to take regular measures to prevent ticks!