Dog fell, stumbling, twitching after tick. Is it tick-borne disease?

There are several tick-borne diseases that could cause lethargy. These include lyme disease, rocky mountain spotted fever, ehrlichiciosis and anaplasmosis. If your dog is lethargic, a visit to your vet is recommended. They can perform a good physical exam and may recommend bloodwork including testing for these tick-borne diseases. It is possible the lethargy could be related to the tick, but there are also many other possible causes for lethargy. An exam and bloodwork will help us narrow down the possible causes.

Hello there! I am very concerned about Sammy. A dog of this age collapsing could indicate an age-related issue like arthritis, but it could also indicate something more sinister, like cancer. I strongly recommend that you check the color of Sammy's gums to be sure that they are pink and moist. A pale color to the gums could mean that Sammy is bleeding somewhere internally, and could have caused the collapse and heavy breathing. This would warrant an immediate trip to an emergency veterinary hospital. If he's nice and pink, it can probably wait until tomorrow, seeing as Sammy is acting normal and eating/drinking well. One incidence of vomiting is usually not something to worry about, but it could be an additional symptom of something else going on. Ticks can transmit diseases that cause these symptoms (such as lyme or rocky mountain spotted fever), so these should be assessed by your vet when you visit. I strongly suggest making an appointment tomorrow if possible. I would expect that they will take some blood, and potentially perform an x-ray (along with a complete physical exam). Good luck, and I hope that Sammy gets well soon!

This is a medical emergency and Smooch has to see a vet now. He could be suffering neurological effects from the tick or he could have injured himself, and he has to have veterinary treatment now especially since his symptoms are worse. Please take him into an ER vet clinic; if there isn't one in your area, there will be a vet on call for emergencies. The information to reach that vet is found on a clinic's answering machine or website.

Ticks can cause illness, but it is also possible that something else is wrong and the tick has nothing to do with it. I would encourage you to have her evaluated by your veterinarian soon. They may recommend an x-ray and / or blood work to help diagnose the problem. With intact females I am always concerned about a uterine infection called pyometra as well. It can cause lots of vague symptoms. I would recommend taking a fresh poop sample with you when you go to the veterinarian as well. Best of luck and I hope she improves soon. Thank you for using Pet Coach.

Poor Tussie! It definitely sounds like something is wrong. She may have a tick-borne disease of some kind (even if she tested negative for Lyme disease, there are many other possibilities), a systemic illness like liver or kidney disease, or a neurologic disorder of some kind. It sounds like she's been to the vet somewhat recently for heartworm and Lyme disease testing, but I would recommend taking her back for a recheck since it sounds like she still isn't doing well. She needs a complete neurologic exam if she is still acting drunk and having balance issues, as well as a thorough otoscopic exam (possibly under sedation, if needed) since middle/inner ear infections can also cause the symptoms you describe. Blood work and additional testing for tick-borne illnesses may also be helpful if nothing else is found.

I would take Cyfer into the vet immediately, as it sounds like he is suffering from a tick borne illness. He needs medical attention right away, and the vet can use blood tests to diagnose if he's suffering from a tick borne illness and treat him accordingly.

It is good that you are aware that ticks can transmit diseases! RMSF as you said and Lyme disease are just two of them. Her behavior may or may not be related to the tick, but since some of these diseases can be lethal, I would recommend taking her (and the tick if you have it) to the vet. The right antibiotic can help most tick borne diseases significantly! I hope this helps!