Diseases carried
by ticks
Ticks may transmit many diseases to humans or animals.
Not all ticks are dangerous but they often carry pathogens (in their salivary glands or their digestive tracts).
Diseases transmitted by tick bites can cause serious illness and even death if not detected and treated immediately.
Early diagnosis is very important, if symptoms such as red spots, fever or tiredness occur; consult your doctor or your veterinarian surgeon as soon as possible.
Diseases transmitted by ticks :
To dogs and cats
Dogs : the main tick-borne disease that affects dogs is babesiosis; ehrlichiosis and Lyme disease are less common.
The symptoms of babesiosis are: prostration, fever, dark urine (coffee-coloured). Without treatment, fast progression to death (2 to 3 days) can occur.
For the treatment of babesiosis, consult your veterinarian surgeon as soon as possible.
Cats : the only tick-born disease that affects cats is haemobartonellosis but it is not very common.
To horses
When removing a tick on your horse, you may notice that a slight allergic inflammation remains ; It normally disappears without any consequence within a few days.
The main tick-borne disease that affects horses is babesiosis.
The symptoms of babesiosis are: prostration, fever, dark urine (coffee-coloured). Without treatment, fast progression to death (2 to 3 days) can occur.
For the treatment of babesiosis, consult your veterinarian surgeon as soon as possible.
To humans
Tick-borne disease that affects humans are: Lyme disease, tick-borne encephalitis, rickettsiosis, anaplasmosis, tick-fever...
The main symptoms of these tick-born diseases are: fever, joint pains, tiredness, flu-like symptoms, paralysis, headaches ...
Treatment: consult your doctor as soon as possible.
Important : please note
The symptoms of babesiosis are : prostration, fever, dark urine...
The main symptoms of Lyme disease are : fever, rash (may last long or spread out), joint pains, tiredness, paralysis, headaches...
If symptoms occur, consult your doctor or your veterinarian surgeon as soon as possible.
Links to websites relating to ticks ans tick-borne diseases
Should you seek additional information about ticks and tick-borne diseases, always remember your best advisor is your veterinarian surgeon or your doctor.