|
What are they?
-
Arachnids which are in the same group as Spiders
(Spiders are not insects).
-
Body shape is round containing 4 pairs of legs.
-
Engorged ticks are large and contain a colored
pale green membrane filled with fluid
(blood) around the body. At this stage of
engorgement, ticks can easily give off disease such as
1.
Babesiosis
a.
Babesia is a parasite that is transmitted by a
tick and attacks the red blood cells of mammals (i.e. Dogs as well as Humans)
b.
Feeding time for Babesiosis to transmit is 48-72
hours
c.
Babesiosis invades and kills red blood cells
causing your pet to become anemic.
d.
IMPORTANT: Babesia parasites infects red blood
cells and causes platelets in the blood to
dramatically decrease.
2.
Erlichiosis
a.
Erlichia is a bacterium that infects white blood
cells
b.
Feeding time for transmission is 24-36 hours.
c.
Low platelet numbers, high level of globulin in
the blood and mild anemia
3. Anaplasmosis
|
