Vaccination against a tick bite in a dog: is an injection required and where will the dog be injected?

Should dogs be vaccinated against ticks?

Currently, common vaccinations are vaccination against tick-borne encephalitis and piroplasmosis.

Encephalitis is a serious inflammatory disease of the brain, the delayed treatment of which can be fatal. The spinal cord may also be affected.

Vaccination against a tick bite on a dog is not included in the list of mandatory vaccinations, however, if the owner wishes, it is possible to prevent unwanted consequences for the animal by making a vaccination.

But you should be aware that the vaccine cannot guarantee that the pet will not be bitten by ticks, it is even impossible to say for sure that the dog may not be infected.

But vaccination allows the pet's body to more easily transfer the disease and avoid disastrous consequences.

Piroplasmosis leads to an equally serious illness. During the course of the disease, "hemolytic anemia" is observed. If you are late with treatment, the dog will die after 4 days from the onset of the disease.

Despite the fact that piroplasmosis can be cured, the pet still has serious complications.:

anemia;
liver disease;
renal failure;
diseases of the cardiovascular system.

A specially developed vaccine helps prevent the development of the disease and complications that arise after piroplasmosis.

Places and rules for the injection

After the injection of the medicinal solution into the cat's body, the substance enters the body of the parasite through the bite. As a result, there is a complete paralysis of their nervous system and almost all organs, which leads to inevitable death.
Thus, if a pregnant female even manages to lay eggs, then her offspring will be unviable. And the larvae, which will be born before the moment the injection was introduced, will be active until the first meal.

Each drug presented in veterinary pharmacies for fleas has different components. However, the active ingredients are always the same. Injections from skin parasites may contain the following elements:

eprinomectin (a drug containing this element is injected intramuscularly or subcutaneously and repeated only as directed by a veterinarian);
lufenuron (the drug with lufenuron is more forgiving and is recommended for use with other drugs);
ivermectin (injection with this active substance is administered twice at intervals of at least a week).

In addition to the active ingredients, preparations often contain various vitamins. At the same time, not only the effectiveness of the drug in the fight against parasites increases, but also the benefits for the animal's body.

In general, the places and rules for the injection are quite standard. All of the above drugs can be administered intramuscularly and subcutaneously. But! As for intramuscular injection, there is a list of areas where the funds are best injected:

The area of the gluteus medius muscle. In this place, the movements of muscle tissue are very active, and therefore the distribution and assimilation of the active substance occurs as quickly as possible.

The area of the quadriceps and triceps muscles.

There are also nuances regarding subcutaneous administration. In these cases, injections are best done in the area of the scapula: in this case, the drug is also distributed faster, absorbed and absorbed by the body.

The injection site must be carefully cut and treated with an alcoholic tincture of iodine or 70% alcohol.

Features of the vaccine

Research has shown that tick vaccination for dogs saves the lives of 85-95 out of 100 pets.

The standard vaccination schedule includes 3 vaccinations... The first two are carried out with an interval of 5 months, starting from the cold season and ending no later than 2 weeks before the appearance of ticks. And the third vaccination is performed to maintain immunity.

There is also an emergency vaccination, in which the second tick from the tick is given to the dog 2 weeks after the first vaccination, and the third one a year after the second. This scheme is also recognized as effective.

You should know that one vaccination will do nothing. Only after the second vaccination, the dog begins to develop the animal's immunity to the tick-borne encephalitis virus.

The vaccine contains the killed tick-borne encephalitis virus, there is no live virus in vaccinations.

2 types of vaccines have been developed against piroplasmosis:

Nobivak Piro;
Pyrodog.

There are two types of antigens in vaccines: soluble parasitic and somatic antigens.

Positive aspects of vaccinations against piroplasmosis:

the dog relaxes smooth muscles, increases vascular permeability;
hemolysis occurs;
erythrocytes stick together;
immunity increases.

It is parasitic soluble antigens that help relieve severe symptoms of illness and facilitate recovery.

The manufacturer clarifies that the vaccine lasts for a year. It is very good.

After all, it was previously believed that it is possible to become infected with piroplasmosis only during the period of active activity of ticks, but recently cases of the disease have been recorded in the winter.

When do shots work?

When to use injections and when is it better to refrain from using them? It is recommended to use injections when the cat's fleas do not go away for a long time and all other drugs do not have the desired effect.

We offer you to familiarize yourself with Brucellosis from ticks in humans

The shots are the most powerful when compared to shampoos, drops, and other medications. In addition, injections work in case of infection not only with ectoparasites, but also with helminths, which once again confirms their high efficiency.

In fact, they do not use injectables in all cases. It all depends solely on the specific form of the disease:

Scaly type. The simplest form is accompanied by the formation of scales on the surface of the skin.

Pustular type. In this case, multiple pustules filled with liquid pus form on the skin of a sick pet.

Generalized type. The most severe form of the disease, accompanied by an equal degree of damage to both the skin and many internal organs.

Preparatory activities

You should know that only a healthy pet needs to be vaccinated against ticks for dogs. If you notice any deviations in the pet's condition, for example, watery eyes, then first you need to cure the animal and only then the dog should be vaccinated against a tick.

Be careful!

In order to avoid the development of undesirable allergic manifestations, it is forbidden to bathe the pet after vaccination.

Precautions before vaccination:

3 days before the planned vaccination and within 3 days after vaccination, the dog should be given antihistamines.
You should not get more than one vaccination per month.
After vaccination, it is necessary to monitor the condition of the pet: measure the temperature, examine the skin and mucous membranes.
At this time, the pet needs rest, optimal sparing nutrition is recommended.
You can vaccinate an animal from the age of 5 months. After the first vaccination, revaccination is required a month later.At this time, primary immunity is created. The performed vaccination protects the pet from infection with tick-borne encephalitis for up to six months.

Attention!
It is important to know that vaccination cannot guarantee 100% protection, the effectiveness of vaccinations varies in the region of 85-90%.

Sprays

This method of protection is great for small breeds of dogs, since it is necessary to spray the animal's coat along the entire length, and with a large dog this procedure will be very time-consuming and energy-consuming. It is important to ensure that your pet does not lick itself. It is also necessary that the dog does not bathe after treatment, otherwise the spray will quickly end. It is better to spray the animal outdoors so as not to inhale the unpleasant odor.

Period of increased vulnerability

After a tick bite, the first signs of the disease can be seen on day 10. Many people think that the sooner a bloodsucker is detected and removed from a dog, the less dangerous it is. However, it is not.

For a pet to get sick with tick-borne encephalitis or piroplasmosis, just a tick bite is enough and no matter how long the parasite will be on the animal's body - one minute or several days.

The severity of the disease depends on the pet's immunity... Some animals die as early as 3 days after the bite, some are fighting the disease for a very long time.

However, you should not rely on Mother Nature, because there is one chance in a thousand for self-recovery. Therefore, at the first bite, you must contact your veterinarian.

You can diagnose piroplasmosis yourself, without a veterinarian. You just need to place a drop of pet's blood on the glass and smear it. If after a few minutes it crawls over the glass and looks like a net, the dog is sick.

You cannot leave the course of the disease to chance. I need a doctor. Before his arrival, the pet can be given an antipyretic agent, drugs for vomiting and diarrhea. It is impossible to start treatment with folk remedies. Your veterinarian will give your dog tick bite injections.

To prevent a dog bite with a tick, it is important to follow preventive measures..

When taking the dog for a walk, it is advisable to avoid places of increased danger: tall grass, it is also undesirable to walk in a birch grove, shaded areas and places with high humidity.
Low air temperature does not mean that you cannot meet a tick. At this time, they can become active in areas warmed by the sun.
After walking, you need to observe the pet daily, because the incubation period of the disease does not appear immediately. In case of visible deviations in the condition of the animal, you should immediately consult a doctor.
It is important to use protective equipment correctly. It must be remembered that the collar will be effective if it fits snugly against the skin of the animal. The use of sprays and drops does not give a 100% guarantee, because the bloodsucker dies only after it is saturated with the pet's blood with the drug. But he still has time to infect the dog.
The most effective remedy is pills. Ticks die immediately after they bite through the pet's skin.

When using medications, it is important to correctly correlate the dosage with the age of the animal.

If a tick has bitten

Immediately after finding a blood-sucking insect, it must be removed. It is undesirable to use a fat cream or sunflower oil for these purposes.

Below are several ways to remove a sucked arthropod.

Using cotton thread. The parasite must be surrounded with a thread, as close as possible to its proboscis, twisted and made movements with the hand with the thread in a circle counterclockwise. During movements, you need to pull the thread up slightly. Do not jerk sharply.
Special devices. The use of special store tools is carried out strictly in accordance with the instructions.
Tweezers.Capture the parasite closer to the proboscis and try to remove the bloodsucker in a circular motion.

After removing the tick, it is recommended to treat the bite site with iodine.

Flea prevention

It is necessary to regularly carry out the prevention of infection with ectoparasites not only for street cats, but also for domestic cats. For this:

do not allow contact with infected animals;
regularly handle and wash your pet's personal items (bedding, collars, etc.);
after the street, be sure to wash your hands with soap and shake out your clothes and shoes to prevent fleas from entering the street;
Do a damp cleaning with flea repellent every month.

Contraindications for vaccination

Tick vaccinations are not available for all dogs. Can't be vaccinated:

pregnant and lactating bitches;
if you have been vaccinated against encephalitis, in no case should the pet be given any other vaccinations, and vaccines should not be mixed;
after encephalitis, an injection from ticks with the drug is carried out no earlier than 2 months after recovery, you need to be prepared for the fact that vaccination will not be so effective if the vaccine was given to a healthy dog.

With the arrival of spring, the owners walk their pets for a long time. Since there is a high probability of contracting encephalitis, it is recommended to examine the animal for a tick bite after each walk.

If the "arthropod guest" has stuck to the animal's body, it is recommended to immediately remove it, treat the wound and show the pet to the veterinarian. Infection occurs immediately after the bite, so it is important not to waste time and seek help in time.

Collars

One of the most popular ways to protect yourself from ticks. Collars are impregnated with special substances that impregnate the dog's coat and skin, repelling pests. Collars can be of very high quality and effective, or they can be absolute dummies, from which there will be no benefit, so it is worth reading reviews before purchasing. If you bought this particular protective product, then do not forget that it needs to be adjusted in size, otherwise the dog may chew on it, which will lead to poisoning. Often collars protect only the head, chest and neck of the pet, while the rest of the body remains open to tick bites, so many experts recommend using them in combination with other means - drops or sprays. It is better to change the collar before its expiration date, especially if your dog is often in the water.

disadvantages

Of course, there are also disadvantages that you should know about in advance:

The prolonged action has a time frame, in other words, if the action of the active substances lasts for a month, then the animal is at risk of infection. It is necessary to control the reception.
It is forbidden to give other medicines, since the reaction due to incompatibility is very difficult to foresee and can lead to serious consequences.
Often, preparations are produced only for medium and large breeds, in this case it is very difficult to correctly calculate the dosage for small breeds.

Risk group

Purebred dogs tolerate piroplasmosis harder than mongrels. In the latter, it often becomes chronic. The incubation period depends on the health and age of the dog. The younger she is, the earlier the disease manifests itself and the more severe it passes. This is due to the fact that the immunity of a young animal is weaker.

With the establishment of dry and hot weather, the toxicity of tick saliva increases. Most often, neurotoxic reactions affect small breed dogs, but German shepherds are also at risk. Hunting dog breeds are especially susceptible to piroplasmosis.They belong to the risk group due to their lifestyle, since they are more often than others in an environment where the probability of finding a tick is higher: they prowl through tall grass, where ticks are waiting for their prey.

The advantages of this form of release

So, the unconditional advantages of this form of release in relation to sprays, shampoos, collars, drops include:

For the dog, it resembles chewing candy, which greatly simplifies the task for the owners, does not require long procedures.
The chewy treat has the necessary single dosage, no calculations and repeated manipulations are required.
Active substances have a detrimental effect on parasites, but are absolutely safe for the animal itself.
Convenient and practical packaging.
It should be noted that in this case, the likelihood of allergic reactions is reduced to a minimum.
A single dose allows you to protect your pet for one month, which provides good prevention.

Remember that maximum effectiveness includes taking it regularly throughout the season.

Chronic course.

In a chronic course, all of the listed symptoms are blurred. And it is not always possible to immediately establish the cause of the disease. After recovering from babesiosis, 80% of dogs are carriers of babesia (depot in the spleen), there are no clinical signs. Persistent immunity against babesia is not developed, so the animal can get sick again and again. There are cases when, for example, a dog suffered from babesiosis for two years in a row and received treatment, in the third year the disease was laboratory confirmed again, but the owners refused treatment, the dog, fortunately, recovered. But this is more the exception than the rule.