Ezzie Posted December 10, 2018 Report Share Posted December 10, 2018 Just had our very sick puppy to Ladron for a diagnosis. He said he has seen about 6 cases so far of infections from a new strain of tick (to this area of Mexico). He thinks they are coming down from the US on imported horses. The propagation is likely due to the abnormally wet season we have had this year. Just an FYI to watch out for it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wookie Posted December 10, 2018 Report Share Posted December 10, 2018 Ezzie, what are the symptoms? Is this anything like heartworms that dogs get from ticks? We have been advised not to give the heartworm medication here but maybe we should? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nothernewbie Posted December 10, 2018 Report Share Posted December 10, 2018 27 minutes ago, Wookie said: Ezzie, what are the symptoms? Is this anything like heartworms that dogs get from ticks? We have been advised not to give the heartworm medication here but maybe we should? Dogs don't get heartworm from ticks but rather from infected mosquitos. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wookie Posted December 11, 2018 Report Share Posted December 11, 2018 You are right, nothernewbie! Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Natasha Posted December 11, 2018 Report Share Posted December 11, 2018 Heartworm meds can only be given if your dog is tested and is negative before you initiate treatment. But many DO give heartworm meds...... so curious about why you think not, unless of course your dog is not tested. (Heartworm also probably arrived via infected dogs from the north, but it has been several years since it first started to show up.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ezzie Posted December 12, 2018 Author Report Share Posted December 12, 2018 Symptoms included sharp yelps due to pain when trying to jump up on the couch, lack of interest in eating or drinking, sleeping a lot, short breaths (almost a shallow pant) and generally no vitality (normally very active - some Husky content). Ladron reported an enlarged spleen and liver which could be fatal if ruptured. Initial blood tests show elevated levels of immune deficiency. Advised to try and prevent the dog from jumping up/down and prescribed medicine to try and reduce infection. More comprehensive blood test results should be back by Friday to identify which species of tick this was due to. Good news is that after 2 days on the meds she is doing much better and is eating and drinking now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WideSky Posted December 12, 2018 Report Share Posted December 12, 2018 Just an FYI, we have not had an 'abnormally wet season' nor has it been as prolonged as in the past, at least lakeside. Just cuz the lake is high does not = higher rainfall lakeside, surrounding areas perhaps but not here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johanson Posted December 12, 2018 Report Share Posted December 12, 2018 Like WideSky said, the rainfall has been pretty average this year. If interested you can see exactly how much rain we have had in Ajijic, by going to www.ajijicweather.com So far this year this weather station recorded 32.23 inches and last year we had 30.29 inches. However, in 2016 we had more rain than usual, just over 40 inches. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wookie Posted December 12, 2018 Report Share Posted December 12, 2018 Natasha, I have not given our dogs heartworm medication because I was advised by one of the highly recommended Vets that it was not necessary as heartworm was not a problem here. If that has changed, he has not informed me of such. I will be asking his advice. I do know they have to be tested first, otherwise they can become very sick and possibly die. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Natasha Posted December 13, 2018 Report Share Posted December 13, 2018 20 hours ago, Wookie said: Natasha, I have not given our dogs heartworm medication because I was advised by one of the highly recommended Vets that it was not necessary as heartworm was not a problem here. If that has changed, he has not informed me of such. I will be asking his advice. I do know they have to be tested first, otherwise they can become very sick and possibly die. Well, Wookie, you may well be right. My info goes back to 2005 - 2010 period, when many people were using "Revolution" which deals with parasites and heartworm because in those days there were "some" dogs showing up with heartworm, where it had been thought not to be here before. (Interesting aside --- ONE heartworm is enough to kill a cat!) Similar to Feline Leukemia --- virtually unknown here prior to a bad outbreak in 2004, and "up and down" levels ever since. Personally know it was still around in San Antonio 3 years ago and no reason to think it has suddenly disappeared. Yet Guad rescue people have NEVER had FeLV be a problem --- not in 2004, and not to this day. They do random tests in one group I know, and almost never find a positive! So pretty good evidence it arrived via "immigrant" cats from north. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHILLIN Posted December 13, 2018 Report Share Posted December 13, 2018 I just read the other day about a new type of tick, spreading rapidly across the U.S.A. https://www.livescience.com/63269-longhorned-tick-united-states.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.