What should be done if a dog refuses to eat or drink after a tick bite? - briefly
Contact a veterinarian immediately for evaluation and possible treatment, while keeping the dog warm, offering small amounts of water or ice chips, and monitoring for fever, lethargy, or signs of infection at the bite site. Do not attempt home remedies; professional care is essential to prevent complications such as tick‑borne disease.
What should be done if a dog refuses to eat or drink after a tick bite? - in detail
If a dog stops eating or drinking after a tick attachment, begin with a visual inspection. Remove the tick with fine‑pointed tweezers, grasping as close to the skin as possible and pulling straight upward. Examine the bite site for swelling, redness, or a puncture wound that may be infected.
Assess the animal’s overall condition. Record temperature, heart rate, and respiratory rate. Look for additional signs such as lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, or joint pain, which can indicate tick‑borne disease (e.g., Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis).
Encourage fluid and food intake promptly. Offer fresh water, ice cubes, or low‑sodium broth. Provide a bland diet—boiled chicken and rice or a veterinary‑recommended recovery formula—in small, frequent meals. If the dog refuses, try hand‑feeding or a syringe (without a needle) to deliver a few milliliters of water or electrolyte solution every 15–30 minutes.
Contact a veterinarian without delay if any of the following occur: persistent refusal to eat or drink for more than 12 hours, marked abdominal pain, rapid breathing, pale gums, severe swelling at the bite site, or a known exposure to tick‑borne pathogens. The clinician may perform blood work, serology, or PCR testing, administer antibiotics, anti‑inflammatory medication, and supportive fluids intravenously or subcutaneously.
After veterinary intervention, follow prescribed medication schedules and monitor the bite area for healing. Maintain regular tick prevention—topical treatments, oral preventatives, or collars—and conduct routine body checks after outdoor activity to reduce future incidents.