So I whined about Frontline Plus last week, it just got more expensive

[robin416]

I just came home from the vets. I brought home with me another 184 Doxy 200mg capsules. That's correct the last two dogs are now being treated for Erlickiosis. The vet likes me so he came out and schmoozed while I was paying the next mortgage on his house. I asked if there was a possibility it could be passed from one dog to another since we never found any ticks on three of the four dogs. He was skeptical and then almost in unison we both said "what about people?" People can get other forms of tick diseases is there some reason why we would be immune? Or should we find out if there is a test?

I asked if the little gizmo they use to test for heartworm and the other blood borne illnesses would test human blood. As I walked out of the door the discussion was on that the doc would donate blood to give it a whirl.

 

[eggchel]

If I were you, I'd be shopping for a nice big flock of Guineas to eat the ticks. Or even muscovy.

Hope you dont catch anything.

chel

 

[robin416]

I've got Guineas. LOL That's why its such a surprise that the dogs are sick. One of the things I noticed last summer was that I was not seeing any ticks, except those that managed to get on me. We would find one occassionally attached to the one dog but I don't remember finding any on the other three. That's why I was wondering if it could be shared just by eating or drinking from each others bowls.

 

[w8tn4fresheggs]

May I ask what the symptoms of Erlickiosis were in your dogs.
Thanks, Steph

 

[robin416]

It was a fluke that it was even found. My old dog was coughing so I took her in to check for CHF and heart worm. She's already got issues with arthritis and on prednisone so her being stiff is not unusual. When the vet told me what the heart worm check showed and then told me that stiffness is one of the signs of infection bells went off.

I had been watching one of our other dogs that was not 18 months old but having a tough time standing. Brought him in, had him tested. Sure enough it was positive. Then I started watching the other two even more closely. On one it was the way he walked up the steps, the other one was just mean to everybody. These two are also less than 18 months old.

Keepher, the old dog, is much brighter. The second dog is standing a little easier after two weeks. It hasn't been long enough yet for me to see a change in the other two boys.