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Tick Paralysis story

Tick Fever…. Something to know if you have dogs

This past Saturday a.m., my 5 year old Tibbie “Tami” was paralyzed in her rear legs when she woke up. They just were collapsed under her. I rushed her to the vet & he was able to get deep pain response from both back feet,
though 1 leg just dangled & showed no reflexes.

She was knuckling over on both rear feet & could not place them flat on the floor. She was alert & without signs of pain. Vet examined her & could find no injuries or sensitive areas & thought it was a back injury & she was put on dexamethezone 2 x daily & crate rest.

There was no improvement Saturday or Sunday and she had peed in her crate & was soaked.  I gave her a quick bath & put fans on her to dry her. Sunday nite she had a little response in her rear legs, but could not walk.

Monday morning she stood & took 2 steps before her rear legs collapsed. She made steady improvement  & by Monday night walked about 10 feet in the yard, peed, walked a couple more feet & had a BM.
I thought she was on the mend. Tuesday morning her rear was as bad as it had been on Saturday.

She started showing weakness on her front legs & between Noon & 2:00 pm her front legs became paralyzed & she started having heart arythmias.
She began drooling on the ride to the vet office.The vet did back and neck  Xrays = everything was normal.
He drew blood & while we were waiting for the results he told me he didn’t know what was wrong.

By this time it was 5:00 pm.
The bloodwork showed a high white count, pointing to infection. Vet was petting her & feeling her all over & couldn’t understand why she was not in pain anywhere.

He found an engorged tick under her ear – its color was identical to her coat. Then the AH-HA moment – tick paralysis!

In his over 30 years practicing, he had only seen 2 cases. His other vet who was working with him has been a vet for
about 10 years & had never seen a case.

He removed the tick, put her on Amoxicillin 2 x daily & said she should be sitting up by evening & recover.

The tick can have a neurotoxin that is released while feeding that causes this.  It can lead to respiratory failure & even death! … different sources say in the U.S. that death rates are 5% or 10-12%.

By around 8:00 pm Tami was improving in the front legs & could lay upright on her front. She steadily improved overnight & could walk wobbly by Wednesday morning. The vet predicts a full recovery.

I don’t think she would have made it through the night without that tick being removed.

Permission to crosspost. I will be sending this to all the Groups I
am on as I can’t remember this ever being mentioned.

Marianne Minks
Zen Tao Tibetan Spaniels

Thanks to Marianne Minks, some editing for style.

Recall of Specialized Dry Pet Foods Due to Possible Health Risk

P&G Expands Voluntary Limited Recall of Specialized Dry Pet Foods Due to Possible Health Risk

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — CINCINNATI, July 30, 2010 – The Procter & Gamble Company (P&G) (NYSE:PG) is voluntarily expanding its recall to include veterinary and some specialized dry pet food as a precautionary measure because it has the potential to be contaminated with salmonella. No salmonella-related illnesses have been reported.

The following dry pet food products are included: Continue reading Recall of Specialized Dry Pet Foods Due to Possible Health Risk

Canine Influenza Vaccine Found Effective Against Secondary Infections

Recent research by Ron Schultz, professor and chair of the Department of Pathobiological Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine, has shown the newly approved Canine Influenza Virus (CIV) vaccine to be effective not only in reducing length, severity and spread of the virus, but also in protecting against secondary infections.
Continue reading Canine Influenza Vaccine Found Effective Against Secondary Infections

Merrick Pet Care Recalls Beef Filet Squares

Merrick Pet Care Recalls Beef Filet Squares 10oz Bag (Item #60016 Lot # 10084TL7 Best By March 24, 2012) Because Of Possible Salmonella Health Risk

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – July 2, 2010 – Merrick Pet Care, Inc. of Amarillo, Texas is recalling 86 cases of its 10oz “Beef Filet Squares for Dogs” pet treats (ITEM # 60016 LOT # 10084TL7 BEST BY MARCH 24, 2012) because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. Continue reading Merrick Pet Care Recalls Beef Filet Squares

Inherited Diseases in Dogs : Cambridge University

This web site contains a guide to diseases/conditions of pure bred dogs which are likely to be transmitted wholly or partly through a genetic mechanism.

* Search the Inherited Diseases in Dogs Database

The site is not designed as a diagnostic system, and I cannot offer individual veterinary advice. If you suspect that your dog is suffering from one of these conditions, contact your veterinarian. The information in the site is correct to the best of my knowledge and belief, but it is necessarily incomplete, and I can give no warranty of accuracy, express or implied. I would be grateful for any corrections, and in particular for information on conditions or references omitted. Please email me with information.

The Inherited Diseases in Dogs Database is compiled by David Sargan. Publications referring to this site should cite Sargan, D.R. IDID: inherited diseases in dogs: web-based information for canine inherited disease genetics. Mamm Genome. 2004 Jun;15(6):503-6.

Independent Inquiry into Dog Breeding (U.K.)

Press release – Independent Inquiry into Dog Breeding

After a ten month long inquiry, Professor Sir Patrick Bateson FRS called for a non-statutory Advisory Council on Dog Breeding, changes in the law including a requirement for all puppies to be micro-chipped prior to sale, and an up-graded Accredited Breeder Scheme. Continue reading Independent Inquiry into Dog Breeding (U.K.)