N.S. vet clinics noticing rise in one tick-borne disease

Earlier this winter, Cassidy Wentzell noticed her seven-year-old dog, Theodora, had developed a severe limp. When the veterinarian suggested testing for tick-borne illnesses, Wentzell thought the possibility was remote.

“She’s up to date on her monthly preventatives and her vaccinations, I figured there’s no chance that she has it,” Wentzell said.

“To my surprise, the anaplasmosis did come back positive. The vet informs me that it was very common and that they’re seeing the highest cases ever right now.” 

According to experts in the province, Theodora is one of many animals to test positive for the bacteria that causes the disease.

“Last year from January to December, we had roughly about 128 positive cases of anaplasma,” said Holly Wilkie, a veterinary technician with the Elmsdale Vet Hospital. 

“And this year from January until now, we’re already at 97.”

Wilkie says it is more than likely that this year’s number of anaplasma cases will surpass last year’s. It has already has surpassed the number of Lyme disease cases they have diagnosed, currently at 56.  

Anaplasmosis is a bacterial infection spread by the bite of blacklegged ticks (deer ticks) and brown dog ticks. It can affect both humans and pets.

Animals with anaplasmosis can have symptoms similar to Lyme disease — also caused by tick bites — including fever, lethargy and a lack of appetite.

Animals can be treated with antibiotics, but without treatment, the infection can be fatal. 

The Antigonish Veterinary Clinic is seeing a similar spike in cases.

“We have had 43 positive cases so far this year compared to 50 last year,” Dr. Dawn Daling said in a statement to CBC.

Daling says two main factors are responsible for the increase.

“I would like to think owners are more aware and so are taking pets in sooner, rather than waiting to see if they get better,” Daling said.

But, she said, another reason is the high number of ticks this year.

“I think the climate change is also altering the environment enough that we are seeing higher numbers of ticks than we did previously,” Daling said.

“The snow cover we had over the previous winter also protected the ticks so I think we had higher numbers overwintering. The cold, damp spring is also a tick’s dream.”

While it may be a tick’s dream, it’s a pet owner’s nightmare.

“It’s awful. I’ve never seen anything like this,” said Chantelle Winstanley of Tatamagouche, describing the volume of ticks she has encountered this year.

Winstanley says her 10-year-old dog, Hilde, was showing joint pain far worse than her usual hip dysplasia, and had started vomiting earlier this year.

“The vet called me and she said she did test positive for Lyme and anaplasmosis,” Winstanley said.

Although Theodora received antibiotics and much needed bed rest, she is still not fully recovered.

“The anaplasmosis did do a bit of damage to her nerves, especially in her legs and in her hip,” Wentzell said.

For Winstanley, the uptick in ticks is making her question her move to Nova Scotia from Ontario.

“This has really made me not want to be outside. And the whole point of me moving here was quality of life,” Winstanley said.

“I don’t trust anywhere to go anymore. I was cutting the lawn just yesterday and pulled five ticks off of me within 15 minutes.”

MORE TOP STORIES