In episode 85 of the Medical Nursing Podcast, we’re finishing our infectious disease series with a group of diseases that are increasingly common but often overlooked, and that’s tick-borne disease.

I had NO idea what these were when I worked in general practice. The first time I ever heard of it was when a dog from a nearby rescue centre we worked with had a bleeding disorder, and the vet mentioned Ehrlichia. I had no idea what it was, but the patient needed a lot of care.

Tick-borne disease is on the rise, and there’s a good chance you’ll see it - particularly if you work in first opinion practice, internal medicine, emergency and critical care, or rescue and rehoming settings.

When I say tick-borne disease, I’ll cover four main conditions. These are:

• Borrelia burgdorferi, which causes Lyme disease

• Anaplasma phagocytophilum

• Ehrlichia canis

• And Babesia species, most commonly Babesia canis

In the episode, we’ll look at what each of these diseases causes, how they present, how we test for and treat them, and - most importantly for us - what we can do as nurses and technicians to care for these patients.

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This podcast does not replace a veterinary surgeon's advice, and its content is provided only for information. A veterinary surgeon must diagnose all conditions, and veterinary nurses and technicians must ensure they work within local legislation and regulating body guidelines at all times. Any products or treatments discussed are for information only and do not constitute endorsements of products or services.