⽜蜱熱

甚麼是⽜蜱熱？

⽜蜱熱是由細⼩的⾎液寄⽣蟲（巴⾙蟲或埃 希⽒體層）引起的。⽜蜱可經狗與狗接觸傳播。當受感染的⽜蜱叮咬狗狗時，它將寄⽣蟲注 ⼊狗狗的⾎液中。然後，狗狗的免疫系統有機問會出問題，開始破壞⾎細胞，導致紅⾎球細胞和⾎⼩板數量下降，令狗狗軟弱無⼒、⻝慾下降、發燒和排出橙⾊的尿（這是 由⾎細胞分解⽽引致的）。

 

診斷

獸醫會建議您的寵物進⾏⾎液檢查。如果⾎液報告顯⽰低紅⾎球和/或⾎⼩板，同時狗狗出現⽜蜱熱的症狀，獸醫亦可能會建議狗狗進⾏⽜蜱熱⾎液檢驗。

患上⽜蜱熱的症狀包括：

l   ⽛⾁蒼⽩

l   橙⾊/棕⾊的尿液或糞便

l   ⻝慾不佳

l   軟弱無⼒

l   發燒

 

⽜蜱熱是不會由有狗狗傳播給⼈的，但⽜蜱亦可以令⼈類⽣病，所以預防⽜蜱是⼗分重要。

 

治療⽅法

獸醫會與您討論不同的治癒⽅法，幫助您選出最適合您和狗狗的治療⽅法。 觀察狗狗對治療的反應是⾮常重要的⼀部分。如果不及時醫治，⽜蜱熱可以致命。儘管治療後，狗狗也可能出現復發的現象。在嚴重的情況下，獸醫會建議狗狗進⾏輸⾎和住院治療。

其他注意事項包括：

l   確保您的寵物有⾜夠的休息。

l   如要外出如廁，請主⼈確保如廁後，盡快帶寵物回家休息。

l   由於寵物的⽌⾎能⼒受到影響，主⼈應避免寵 受傷。 考慮給予補充劑或煮熟的紅⾁，從⽽吸收所需的鐵質。

 

預防措施

⽜蜱的預防是⾮常重要。

獸醫能與您討論不同的預防⽅法。

預防⽅法包括為寵物帶上Seresto頸帶，防⽌⽜ 蜱跳上寵物⾝上，三個⽉⼀次的⼝服藥物 Bravecto，或每⽉⼀次外⽤滴頸的Frontline。

即使狗狗不會經常外出，我們亦會建議主⼈為狗狗做預防⽜蜱的措施。

沒有預防措施能百份百預防⽜蜱，因此主⼈應定期檢查狗狗⾝上有沒有⽜蜱和觀察狗狗是否有患病的跡象。

 

Tick Fever

 

What is tick fever?

Tick fever is caused by a tiny parasite (either Babesia or Ehrlichia) which is spread from dog to dog by ticks. When an infected tick bites it injects the parasite into the blood stream. The dog's immune system then recognizes there is something wrong and will start to destroy blood cells leading to low red blood cell and platelet counts. This causes lethargy, reduced appetite, fever and orange coloured urine & faeces (due to the breakdown of blood cells).

 

 

Diagnosis

The vet may recommend a blood test. Presence of low red blood cells and/or platelets and a combination of the clinical signs may lead the vet to recommend a tick fever test to be run at the external lab.

Signs include:

- pale gums

- orange/brown urine or faeces

- poor appetite

- lethargy

 - fever Canine tick fever cannot be passed to humans but ticks can carry other diseases that can affect humans

 

Prevention

There are a few treatment options available. The vet will discuss these with you to help you decide which is best for you and your dog.

Monitoring response to treatment is essential.

Tick fever can be fatal if left untreated. Recurrence and relapse is also possible despite treatment. In severe cases, a blood transfusion and hospitalization may be recommended.

Additional tips to help recovery include:

- allowing your pet to rest and only taking very short walks to the toilet and back

- avoiding injury as the ability to stop bleeding may be affected

- consider iron supplementation either via multivitamins or feeding cooked red meat

 

Treatment

Tick prevention is really important to avoid tick fever. There are several methods available and your vet will discuss these with you.

Generally, prevention comprises of a Seresto collar to repel the tick from coming near your dog and secondly, a product to kill the tick once it bites such as Bravecto chewable 3- monthly tablets or Frontline monthly spot-on.

This is recommended for all dogs going outside even if it’s only infrequently. No preventative measure is 100% and so owners should monitor their dogs regularly for ticks and also for signs of the disease.