Labradoodle & Goldendoodle Forum
Tick Bite!!!
Help, please!
On Sunday, I took Emma to walk with a friend and her three Vizlas to a wooded area where there are known to be deer ticks (yuck). Afterwards, I did remove three or four tiny ticks off her and then when I got home, we put her out on our deck and brushed her and she seemed clean. HOWEVER, today in the car, I was petting her head and I felt something and sure enough, pulled a large(!) tick off her forehead. I am so worried now that a tiny tick has been on her since Sunday sucking her blood, and that's why it was so much bigger. I called the vet and was told to clean the area with hydrogen peroxide (which I did). She has an appointment with the vet on Monday but I was wondering if I should ask for her to be on a prophylactic course of antibiotics? According to the vet tech, if she were to have Lyme Disease (I'm feeling soo very guilty and want to cry right now), it wouldn't necessarily show up for several weeks?? Should I wait until Monday when I'm at the vet's to discuss it with her, or should I call tomorrow and ask for her to be put on antibiotics just in case? Sorry for rambling, but I'm just so upset right now. What would you all do?
On Sunday, I took Emma to walk with a friend and her three Vizlas to a wooded area where there are known to be deer ticks (yuck). Afterwards, I did remove three or four tiny ticks off her and then when I got home, we put her out on our deck and brushed her and she seemed clean. HOWEVER, today in the car, I was petting her head and I felt something and sure enough, pulled a large(!) tick off her forehead. I am so worried now that a tiny tick has been on her since Sunday sucking her blood, and that's why it was so much bigger. I called the vet and was told to clean the area with hydrogen peroxide (which I did). She has an appointment with the vet on Monday but I was wondering if I should ask for her to be on a prophylactic course of antibiotics? According to the vet tech, if she were to have Lyme Disease (I'm feeling soo very guilty and want to cry right now), it wouldn't necessarily show up for several weeks?? Should I wait until Monday when I'm at the vet's to discuss it with her, or should I call tomorrow and ask for her to be put on antibiotics just in case? Sorry for rambling, but I'm just so upset right now. What would you all do?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Leslie, Dexter & Kirby on
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When Dexter was a puppy, he had something similar happen. We removed the tick and brought it to the vet to be tested. It tested fine, but they did put him on prophylatic antiobitics. The vet told us that this could help in case the tick was infected w/lymes (and didn't show up on their tests). I don't like to medicate for nothing, but the chance of lymes or any infection is enough for me to want antibiotics. Personally - I would ask for antibiotics, but let's see what others say.
Just FYI - there is a lymes vaccine - it's controversial (not everyone agrees it's good to give dogs), but we live in a wooded area and our doodles got the vaccine. Also, is your doodle on protection (frontline, advantix)? If not, I would ask about getting on some flea/tick protection. Hope all goes well...
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Permalink Reply by Oliver on
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this is a rather extremely controversial topic (even in the human medical world), but as someone who has suffered from lyme disease and now does research on vector-borne diseases, I would ask for prophylactic antibiotics just in case.
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Permalink Reply by Adrianne Matzkin on
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Ten days ago I found 3 ticks on Samanthas cheeck, neck and ear. I think I know where she got them and have avoided that area since. We had used Revolution 3 weeks before (obviously not the best choice). I pulled them out, cleaned the sites. Samantha did have the lymes vaccination. We have had too many of our cients treated for lymes and I know how awful that disease process can be which is why I agreed to it. Lymes is prevelent in NJ.
Yesterday we started an outdoor class. We were warned to check for ticks on our puppies and ourselves which I did - several times. I was sitting here at the computer just prior to seeing this discussion and viola - a tick is crawling in front of my keyboard. At least I think it was a tick (it is in a ziplock now). I am headed to the vet tomrrow with my ziplock to check it out. I am not a happy Doodle Mom at this moment.
Becuase Samantha is Chocolate, it is very difficult to see her skin except her belly. Anyone have any suggestions?
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Permalink Reply by diane silver on
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I appreciate all your suggestions. I just left a message for the vet telling her what happened and asking if it would be reasonable to put Emma on a course of antibiotics. Now I'll wait until I hear from her and hope that she concurs that it would be a good idea. I'll let you all know what happens . . .
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Spoke to my vet this morning who told me not to panic. She said that even if the tick carried Lyme, Emma wouldn't exhibit any symptoms for several weeks or even months, in which case a course of antibiotics now wouldn't help. So, she suggested that we vaccinate her on Monday which would probably increase her antibodies if she does contract Lyme, and to watch her carefully for any symptoms. If she does show any symptoms down the road, we would then treat her accordingly (hopefully not, of course). The vet said that many dogs are bitten by Lyme-carrying ticks and don't all necessarily contract the disease. So, I feel somewhat better and will just keep my fingers crossed that she remains healthy.
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