What should be injected into a dog bitten by a tick? - briefly
Administer a single sub‑cutaneous dose of doxycycline (≈10 mg/kg) to cover possible Lyme disease transmission. If a licensed Lyme vaccine is available, it can be given according to the veterinarian’s protocol.
What should be injected into a dog bitten by a tick? - in detail
Following a tick attachment, the primary injectable intervention targets the prevention of tick‑borne bacterial infections. The recommended agent is a single intramuscular dose of doxycycline (5 mg/kg) administered within 72 hours of removal, provided the tick was attached for at least 24 hours and the region is endemic for Lyme disease. Doxycycline penetrates intracellular pathogens and reduces the risk of developing Lyme borreliosis, anaplasmosis, and ehrlichiosis.
If doxycycline is contraindicated (e.g., severe liver disease, known hypersensitivity), an alternative injectable antibiotic such as amoxicillin‑clavulanate (20 mg/kg) may be considered, though oral administration is more common. In areas with high prevalence of Rocky Mountain spotted fever, a single dose of injectable chloramphenicol (25 mg/kg) can be used, but only under veterinary supervision due to potential toxicity.
Vaccination against specific tick‑borne diseases offers additional protection. Injectable Lyme disease vaccines (e.g., recombinant OspA formulations) are administered as a two‑dose series, followed by annual boosters. For regions where canine babesiosis is prevalent, a subcutaneous vaccine may be incorporated into the preventive protocol.
Supportive injections may be indicated based on clinical assessment:
- Anti‑inflammatory corticosteroid (e.g., dexamethasone 0.1 mg/kg IM) for severe local swelling.
- Analgesic (e.g., buprenorphine 0.01 mg/kg IM) to alleviate pain.
- Fluid therapy (balanced crystalloid solution, 10 ml/kg IV) if systemic signs of dehydration or shock develop.
All injectable treatments must be prescribed after a thorough examination, with dosage calculated on the dog’s weight and adjusted for age, renal and hepatic function. Prompt administration, accurate record‑keeping, and follow‑up testing for seroconversion are essential components of effective tick‑bite management.