Lyme Disease: How to Protect Your Pet from Ticks This Fall

As the end of summer approaches and the welcome autumn Connecticut weather replaces the unbearable heat, it feels like the perfect time to let your pet explore the outdoors. While we love to give our dogs some room to roam, in this area especially there’s always something to look out for: Lyme disease. From running around in the backyard to hiking trails, have fun with your pet on outdoor adventures this fall, but be sure to check for ticks that can cause this disease.

What is Lyme Disease?

Lyme disease was first reported in 1975 in Lyme, Connecticut, and is caused by the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi, also known as a spirochete. The disease spreads when ticks feed on animals infected with this bacteria, and then transmit it to other animals and humans the next time they feed. Among animals, dogs are most frequently infected with spirochetes, but infections have also occurred in cats, horses and cattle.

Prevalence of Lyme Disease

Since Lyme disease was first discovered in dogs in 1984, it has been on the rise in deer, mice and other animals, which helps spread infected ticks. Lyme disease is currently the most prevalent tick-borne disease among both humans and dogs in the United States. The prevalence of Lyme disease among dogs resembles its frequency among humans; since ticks don’t seem to prefer which species they feed on. The following facts will show you the commonness of Lyme disease and how you can protect your pet:

• 35, 198 new human cases were reported in 2008
• It is estimated that there will be 40,000 new cases per year by 2012
• There are no official numbers of dog cases reported—but research suggests that dogs are twice as likely to become infected as humans living in the same area.
• Approximately 75% of unvaccinated dogs in high Lyme disease regions will eventually test positive for Lyme disease, with the number of cases expected to increase each year.
• Tick-borne diseases comprised nearly half of all pet insurance infectious disease claims in 2007.

High Risk Areas for Lyme Disease

Although Lyme disease has been reported in all 50 states, it poses a higher risk in the Northeast and North Central states. As of 2007, Connecticut represented the state with the highest number of Lyme disease cases relative to its population. In the same year, nearly two out of every 10 dogs in the Connecticut area tested positive for the disease, so Connecticut pet owners should take extra precautions to keep their pups safe.

“In 2007, two out of every 10 dogs in the Connecticut area tested positive for Lyme disease.”

Signs and Symptoms

It may be difficult for you to recognize Lyme disease in your pet, as only about 1 percent of all dogs exhibit symptoms. The most common way the disease is identified is through yearly routine pet examinations at veterinary hospitals. However, the small portion of dogs that show signs of Lyme disease tend to exhibit the following symptoms:

• Joint pain and arthritis
• Sudden lameness
• Low-grade fevers
• Swollen lymph nodes most commonly in the front legs
• Lack of appetite
• Dehydration
• Inactivity or lethargy

In many cases, dogs don’t exhibit the most common symptoms, joint pain and fever, until two to five months after being bitten by the infected tick. In severe cases, the infection can cause kidney failure and eventual death. Remember: it is never a good idea to equate the symptoms that people with Lyme disease experience to any signs your pet may be showing, as the disease will rarely affect your pet in the same way it affects you.

“Dogs don’t exhibit the most common symptoms of Lyme disease until two to five months after being bitten by the infected tick.”

Canine Lyme Treatment

If your pet tests positive for Lyme disease, don’t worry—help is available through your family veterinarian. A 30-day treatment of doxycycline easily treats the bacteria in most cases, and anti-inflammatory medications can be prescribed to relieve joint pain. Additional pain medications can be prescribed, but the symptoms of the disease usually subside quickly with the antibiotic treatment.

Vaccination

If you’re worried your pet is at risk there are several vaccines that have been approved to prevent Lyme disease in dogs. The vaccines will reduce infection but are not guaranteed to prevent it, and your pet should be vaccinated annually for best results. Like most other pet vaccines, side effects that resemble symptoms of the actual disease are possible, so use discretion when deciding whether to have your pet vaccinated. It is often recommended to provide vaccines only if your pet lives in a high-risk area.

Prevention

If vaccination doesn’t sound right for your pet, there are plenty of other ways to help prevent Lyme disease. Most veterinary hospitals offer a vast selection of flea and tick preventatives including sprays, shampoo, combs, oral medications and popular topical treatments, like Advantage and Frontline. The following recommendations will also help you protect your pet from Lyme disease:

• Cut your grass regularly and trim trees to create more sunlight in your yard, as ticks are attracted to darker places.
• Fence in your yard to prevent other animals from entering your property and leaving ticks behind. If your yard is not fenced in, avoid feeding these animals.
• Apply a tick-killing insecticide to your grass to rid your yard of ticks. Once your yard is tick free, it will remain that way unless other animals bring ticks back.
• Check your pet daily for ticks, and remove any that you find with tweezers close to the skin. Remember: the earlier you discover and remove the tick, the less likely your pet is to become infected with Lyme disease.

While Lyme disease most frequently affects dogs, be sure to follow these same prevention tips to ensure the safety of your cats, horses and any other outdoor pets that may come into contact with other animals.

About the Author

K. Paul Rumble D.V.M. is the owner of Pond Point Animal Hospital in Milford, Connecticut, specializing in the care of companion animals including cats and dogs. He is a 1969 graduate of the Ontario Veterinary College and has been associated with Pond Point Animal Hospital since 1985. His special veterinary interests include animal dermatology, orthopedics and internal medicine.

For more information about the topic of pet health or their Milford, CT animal hospital, visit the website at www.pondpoint.com or contact us at 1.800.671.7885.