Anyone who owns a very active, energetic dog that loves to run freely knows what it feels like when their behaviour changes dramatically.
No more running or playing, just complete lethargy.
Something tiny behind his ear
This is what happens to Ollie, a Rough Collie, when he returns from an outing with his owners. He is completely exhausted, unable to eat or relieve himself, so his family takes him to the vet in Portland, USA. But no matter how many tests are carried out, the vet cannot find the cause.
The only solution seems to be to put the dog to sleep. That's when a tiny detail changes the fate of Ollie and his family. As the dog is being prepared for euthanasia in the emergency department, the trainee begins to stroke him and notices something behind his ear.
Saved in the nick of time
It's a tick that's behind the Collie's change in behaviour. Whilst this isn't very common, it can happen. The tick is removed and his coat is shaved as a precaution, in case there are other ticks on his body. Ollie is then able to return home to his family and, within 10 hours, he's thankfully back to his old self.
Besides using a flea and tick collar and spot-on treatments for dogs, it's important to remember that after every outing with your dog, particularly in the countryside, you should check their entire body for ticks and other parasites that could harm their health.
