"Dogs Contract Lyme Disease From Deer Ticks "
Lyme disease, also known as Borreliosis burgdorferi (the bacteria), is named after Lyme, Connecticut where the first cases were discovered. It’s most common along the Atlantic seacoast (primarily Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, the upper Midwest territories, and along the Pacific coastal line. This is a tick-borne, bacterial disease affecting domestic animals and humans.
Deer ticks progress from larvae to nymphs to adults. The transmission of Lyme disease is at its highest in the spring and the fall months when the nymphs (spring to early summer) and adults (spring and fall) are seeking hosts to feed on.
The most common symptoms in dogs, according to The Merck Veterinary Manual include lameness, fever, anorexia, lethargy, and lymphadenopathy (disease of the lymph nodes) and the second most common syndrome affecting canines is renal borreliosis which is usually fatal.
With spring upon us, it’s important to begin taking precautions against Lyme disease. The question of how to prevent Lyme disease is still debated and varies around the recommendation to vaccinate canines or to rely on flea and tick products to control the problem.
The Merck Veterinary Manual recommends vaccinations, rather than sprays, collars, and fipronil spot-on methods, due to improper use of these other methods by dog owners—making them ineffective over long periods of time, and because these products are evaluated for their effectiveness against ticks and not for their ability to prevent the transmission of the disease.
The Tuft University Canine Medicine book on Common Conditions, Diseases & Treatments, recommends using a tick collar containing Amitraz because Amitraz collars are known to kill embedded ticks and prevent new ticks from attaching. It’s claimed that Amitraz is not absorbed by the dog’s system minimizing the risk of reactions such as the possible side affects of vaccinations. However, they do recommend you consider having your dog vaccinated if you live in areas most affected noting that no vaccine is 100% effective and all vaccines present a risk of side affects.
Some experts believe the use of Amitraz is risky due to the possibility of the dog, or even a child, eating or chewing on the collar. Amitraz can be very dangerous if ingested.
Along with a collar, vaccine or other method of treatment and prevention, you should begin checking your dog daily for ticks. Disease bearing ticks can transmit organisms to your dog within 12-24 hours. Using a strong flashlight will help to detect deer tick can be very useful since they are quite small (less than pin-head size).
Once found, remove the tick with tweezers by carefully grasping the tick close to the dog’s skin where the head is (not by the body) and pulling gently and steadily straight out until the tick lets go. Caution must be taken not to squeeze too hard. The tick may contain infected fluids that could get into your dog’s skin if the body is burst.
Burning the tick should also be avoided. This was once thought to be an effective means of removing a tick since the heat of a match would, supposedly, make the tick back out of its embedded area. However, burning could also release infected fluids into your dog’s skin. You also want to avoid any contact with the tick to prevent any of the infected bacteria from getting into your own skin.
Once removed, place the tick in a small amount of alcohol to kill it. Flushing a tick down the toilet or sink won’t kill it.
I live in Connecticut where the disease originated. This past fall two of my neighbor’s dogs were infected with Lyme disease. Each showed symptoms involving joint pain where they suddenly were unable to walk on one of their legs. Both were treated with antibacterial medicine and seem to have recovered. However, one is now showing signs of kidney disease which, I’ve read, may be due to the treatment of the Lyme disease. Further tests are still being done to determine how severe the problem is. Luke, the dog in question, is 12 years old and may simply be showing signs of age.
It's only March and ticks are already out in full force. Take steps now to prevent your dog or cat from becoming ill from Lyme disease.
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