Malaysia Veterinary Forum (Archive)

Kavi · Joined: 21 Apr 2008 Posts: 1 Location: Perak

Hi, im new to this site. Im not a vet but my family is a crazy animal lover. Few days ago we lost our 4 years old chow chow. He was diagnosed with parasites in the blood caused by ticks. He was admitted and was told he was given [u][i]Diminazene Aceturate[/i][/u] thorugh IV drip.Each time I call in to check on him the stupid doctor told me he is doing just fine. The second day after I admitted him, the doctor called me to give me the bad news. She told us that he had an heart attack. My question is, all my dogs were given medical checkup almost every month. We had given them heartworm injection, done deworming and even once they were given 'Frontliner Anti-Tick' medicaton. I am confused after all precaution taken, how is it possible for my dog to be infected by ticks? How can a dog with a healthy heart suddenly die because of heart attack? [b]Can anybody please help me clear this confusion? I need to get a good explanation because my whole family is suffering as if we had just lost a baby in our family. Pleaseee.
thank you. [/b]

Dr HanMRCVS · Joined: 07 Jun 2006 Posts: 560 Location: Johor Bahru

actually if there is so many doubts in your mind regarding this matter, you and your vet can request a post mortem to be done by jabatan haiwan, where samples may be taken and a report compiled and given to you.

tick fever is indeed a tricky disease to treat and even in the face of an agressive therapy, peracute cases will still slip away from us no matter what we do. you can check out : 'Babesiosis' out in the internet and usually Babesiosis tend to come hand in hand with 'Ehrlichiosis', and if coupled by an peracute bout of parasitaemia and associated circulatory collapse, coma and sudden death.

Dr Nat · Joined: 07 Dec 2005 Posts: 1834 Location: Klang Valley

Even with all the precautions, no dog is ever free of ticks completely. For tick fever, all it takes is just ONE infected tick.

Its like mosquitoes, no matter what precaution you take - ridsect, mosquito net, mosquito repellent - you still get bitten by them every now and then!

For tick fever, the peracute cases are the trickiest. The symptoms come so suddenly, and yet with aggressive treatment, some of them slip away.

So sorry to hear about your chow - hope this case doesn't diminish your confidence in vet. I think you need to sit down with your vet to discuss more into detail what happened with your dog.