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One of the biggest problems companion animal and livestock owners in Barbados encounter is tick infestation. These ectoparasites pose a danger to the animals they reside on, not only directly from blood loss but indirectly as vectors of deadly tick-borne diseases. These tick diseases are one of the leading causes of death among animals in Barbados.
The most common tick-borne diseases diagnosed in Barbados are Anaplasmosis, Ehrlichiosis, and Babesiosis, all of which are more commonly known as “tick fever”. These infections can actually occur concurrently with one another and affect both dogs, cats, and even livestock. Some of the most common symptoms of “tick fever” in our companion animals are lethargy, pale gums, inappetence, increased body temperature, and vomiting. The symptoms of tick fever in your livestock animals may present themselves a bit differently, with one of the most common being “red water” (red coloured urine) as wel