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May is Lyme Disease Prevention Month

May is Lyme Disease Prevention Month

The arrival of spring and warmer weather means ticks are more active. York county has an extremely high prevalence of Lyme in both people and pets. About one in ten dogs tested positive for Lyme disease in 2021. Protection is key in preventing Lyme infection in dogs.

Lyme disease is caused by a spirochete bacteria known as Borrelia burgdorferi which is picked up by the tick when it bites an infected animal such as a mouse to ingest its blood. The bacteria is then passed to another animal when the tick feeds and injects the bacteria into the bloodstream.

Borrelia bacteria are spread by tiny Ixodes ticks, also known as deer ticks or blacklegged ticks, which are about the size of a sesame seed when engorged.  They can easily be missed in dogs and cats with thick fur. A simple blood test can tell whether a dog has been infected with Lyme or other tick-borne illnesses, however; it may take four to eight weeks from the time a dog is bitten by an infected tick to the time he tests positive for Lyme disease. A tick needs to be attached for 24-72 hours to transmit Lyme disease. Lyme disease cannot be directly spread from one dog to another or from a dog to a person. It can only be spread by the bite of a tick.

Dogs who test positive for Lyme disease do not always display symptoms, but, if they are ill, they will develop a fever, sore, swollen joints and lameness. Some dogs may also develop severe kidney disease. Patients who are not showing symptoms may not require treatment, but it is recommended to check a urine sample for any protein in the urine which may indicate inflammation. Dogs with protein in their urine or dogs who are sick are treated with antibiotics and with pain medications or anti-inflammatories if needed.

The incidence of Lyme disease in dogs can be drastically reduced by vaccinating your dog against Lyme, using a good flea and tick preventative and regularly checking your pet for and removing any ticks found on the skin. Dogs vaccinated against Lyme are also less likely to develop symptoms even if infected compared to unvaccinated dogs. Vaccines are not 100% effective, but combining a flea and tick preventative with vaccination provides better protection than one method alone.  In addition, ticks can carry and transmit other diseases, so use of an effective tick preventative all year is important in limiting the spread of Lyme and other disease in dogs.

If you do find a tick on your dog or cat, remove it by grasping it firmly at the head where it is attached to the skin with tweezers or use a tissue or gauze pad and your fingers to firmly pull it back and away from the skin. Try not to crush the tick or remove it with your bare fingers. If a small bit of the head remains embedded, do not try to dig it out. It will not cause any harm and will be pushed out of the skin as the area heals. On occasion, a tick bite can become infected.  If the area remains red or appears swollen, have it checked by your vet.

Patton Veterinary Hospital offers several types of flea and tick preventatives for dogs and cats and a Lyme vaccine for dogs (no vaccine exists for cats). Keep your pets safe from Lyme this season!

This blog brought to you by the Patton Veterinary Hospital serving Red Lion, York and the surrounding communities.

https://www.avma.org/resources/pet-owners/petcare/lyme-disease-pet-owners-guide

https://www.petsandparasites.org/


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