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Why does it matter if I give monthly prevention to my dog? I don’t have fleas and ticks in my yard.
Wrong! Fleas and ticks are in your yard and they can easily hitch a ride on your shoes or clothes making their way into your house. Both fleas and ticks can be killed, by using monthly prevention on your pets. In this article, we are going to focus on ticks.
Ticks live by taking blood meals from their host. The problem is not when the tick attaches, it is when the tick takes a blood meal. When blood is mingled between a tick and your pet, diseases can be transmitted within that blood. Additionally, ticks not only transmit diseases to animals, but they can transmit many of the same diseases to humans too.
Does “4Dx'' sound familiar?
If your dog has visited Ball-Chatham Veterinary Services, we have recommended a minimum annual screening test called a 4dx test.
A 4dx specifically checks for:
adult female heartworm antigen
lyme antibodies
ehrlichia antibodies
anaplasmosis antibodies
This test does NOT separate a “new” versus “old” infection. It only tests for the presence (positive) or absence (negative) of a tick borne or mosquito transmitted disease. Illinois absolutely has this tick borne diseases. Take a look: Parasite Prevalence Maps | Pets & Parasites: The Pet Owner's Parasite Resource (petsandparasites.org)
What happens if my pet tests positive for a tick borne disease?
Depending on the positive test result, your veterinarian will likely recommend follow up blood testing. Sometimes blood left over from your pet’s initial blood draw can be used for further testing. Sometimes a new blood draw needs to be performed in order to complete further testing. Follow up tests may include a Complete Blood Count (CBC), Chemistry (Chem), Antibody level testing, Urinalysis or more. At Ball-Chatham Veterinary Services, our veterinarian, certified veterinary technician or veterinary assistant will discuss your pet’s results and determine the appropriate test for follow up.
What if my pet tests positive for heartworm disease?
Your veterinarian will lay out a specific plan for your pet based on their knowledge of your pet’s health history, examination findings and the guidelines set forth by the American Heartworm Society. To learn more about Heartworm disease, visit Home - American Heartworm Society.
How do we protect our pets and our family?
There are many effective flea and tick preventives available by prescription through your veterinarian to help effectively prevent the spread of zoonotic diseases. Knowing what kind of product to use, and how to use it, is critical to the health and safety of your pet. Please speak to your veterinarian to determine which product is best for your pet.
To learn more visit Companion Animal Parasite Council | Home (capcvet.org)
Additional Sources: AVMA, dhp.illinois.gov
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