Lyme Disease has been in the forefront in the news lately. The following are a few facts that may be useful to you:
- Lyme Disease is tick-borne bacterial disease that affects people and animals. It can be transmitted to you or your pet by infected ticks that live in woods and long grasses. The ticks can range in size from as little as a grain of rice to almost as large as a small pea. They can be either black or brown in colour. Always check your pet (especially in the ear and stomach areas) as well as yourself when you return from an outdoor walk.
If you find a tick, do not remove it with your fingers. First, put a drop of rubbing alcohol on the tick to make it release its grip (otherwise you may pull only half the tick away leaving its head imbedded in you or your pet). Then, using a pair of tweezers, carefully remove the tick and dispose of it.
- You cannot get Lyme Disease from your pet. You can get it only directly from the tick itself. Lyme Disease is now the most commonly reported tick-borne disease in humans.
- The same blood test used to detect Heartworm in your dog can be used to detect Lyme Disease and two other tick born diseases (Ehrlichiosis and Anaplasmosis). All it takes is a simple blood test to check if your dog has been exposed. Without the blood test diagnosing is difficult because in the early stages there may be no symptoms present.
- There is a vaccine available to protect your pet from getting Lyme Disease. The symptoms of Lyme Disease can often be misdiagnosed for the flu or arthritis so vaccinating your pet against this disease is the most effective way to prevent Lyme Disease.
No prevention is 100% effective that is why we recommend testing and vaccinating your dog every year.
If you have any further questions or need assistance, do not hesitate to call Town and Country Animal Clinic at 519-250-0099.
