Dr Harv
09-23-2009, 10:28 PM
Lyme disease is very prevalent in this area of the United States. Before we had Lyme vaccines, we were seeing over a hundred cases of Lyme disease a year at the animal hospital. This disease poses a huge threat to both animals and people. Here are some helpful hints to prevent the disease:
1. Lyme vaccine is readily available for your dog. Dogs are given two vaccines, one month apart, followed by a yearly booster. We have very few dogs getting Lyme disease that stay current on this vaccine. Some adverse reactions to the vaccine have been reported, and despite the rhetoric, we see very few reactions other then occasional lumps that go away.
2. Practice good quality tick prevention. The product I recommend is Frontline. There are many over the counter products, but few of these receive any adequate studies to verify safety or efficacy. This winter has been very mild and we are still having dogs come in with ticks.
3. Check yourself and your dog daily for ticks if you are in areas of exposure. The best data available says it takes approximately 48 hours for a tick to transmit the disease once it attaches. By daily removal of ticks, you can prevent the disease. Especially check your young children. My clients have told me stories of infants under 3 years old getting the disease.
4. Stay out of wooded or tall grass areas where ticks are abundant. Both deer and mice carry the Ixodes tick that causes the disease. Hunters should keep their pants cuffs in their boots or fastened firmly with bands. Many hunters also spray their clothing with tick repellant products. These should never be sprayed on bare skin and one should avoid inhaling the vapor as much as possible.
5. Typical symptoms for a dog are limping for no obvious reason and acting depressed because of the accompanying fever. Have your dog checked! In older dogs, these symptoms mimic old age, so dog owners often ignore these symptoms.
6. Have your dog tested. There is a test that can distinguish between the antibodies generated from a vaccine and the antibodies generated from actual exposure to the disease producing bacteria.
If you have any questions, post a reply. It is good that everyone learn everything they can about this disease. If untreated, it can lead to kidney, heart, and neurologic disease and can be fatal to both humans and animals.
1. Lyme vaccine is readily available for your dog. Dogs are given two vaccines, one month apart, followed by a yearly booster. We have very few dogs getting Lyme disease that stay current on this vaccine. Some adverse reactions to the vaccine have been reported, and despite the rhetoric, we see very few reactions other then occasional lumps that go away.
2. Practice good quality tick prevention. The product I recommend is Frontline. There are many over the counter products, but few of these receive any adequate studies to verify safety or efficacy. This winter has been very mild and we are still having dogs come in with ticks.
3. Check yourself and your dog daily for ticks if you are in areas of exposure. The best data available says it takes approximately 48 hours for a tick to transmit the disease once it attaches. By daily removal of ticks, you can prevent the disease. Especially check your young children. My clients have told me stories of infants under 3 years old getting the disease.
4. Stay out of wooded or tall grass areas where ticks are abundant. Both deer and mice carry the Ixodes tick that causes the disease. Hunters should keep their pants cuffs in their boots or fastened firmly with bands. Many hunters also spray their clothing with tick repellant products. These should never be sprayed on bare skin and one should avoid inhaling the vapor as much as possible.
5. Typical symptoms for a dog are limping for no obvious reason and acting depressed because of the accompanying fever. Have your dog checked! In older dogs, these symptoms mimic old age, so dog owners often ignore these symptoms.
6. Have your dog tested. There is a test that can distinguish between the antibodies generated from a vaccine and the antibodies generated from actual exposure to the disease producing bacteria.
If you have any questions, post a reply. It is good that everyone learn everything they can about this disease. If untreated, it can lead to kidney, heart, and neurologic disease and can be fatal to both humans and animals.