Pet Pointers: Lyme Disease

 Lyme disease affects both animals and humans, however it is one of the most common tick-borne illnesses transmitted to dogs. Lyme disease is caused by a bacterial infection carried by a specific type of tick, commonly known as the deer, or blacklegged, tick. We’re only at the beginning of the 2022 season but the Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) predicts Lyme disease to be a high threat and will continue to expand throughout the country this year. 

Experts say the challenge for dog owners is that the disease can be difficult to detect because of the small size of ticks that cause the disease. In fact, owners are often shocked when their dog tests positive for Lyme disease, because they don’t ever remember seeing a tick. 

Some symptoms of Lyme disease that dog owners should be aware of may include arthritis (an inflammation of joints), with visible symptoms of lameness (an inability to properly use one or more limbs) and limping. Left untreated, Lyme disease can lead to damage in the kidneys, nervous system and heart. 

One of the best strategies for owners in protecting their dogs against Lyme disease is to prioritize proactive prevention, including vaccines and preventative treatments, because deer ticks that can carry Lyme disease are a threat throughout the near – not just in cooler months.  

High risk spots for Lyme disease are predicted in:

• The Northeast (e.g., Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Rhode Island, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, etc.)

• Florida

• Colorado

• Parts of Kentucky

• Northeastern Tennessee

• Michigan 

• Ohio

• Wisconsin

• Minnesota

• North & South Dakota

• Iowa

• Illinois

• North and South Carolina

In this interview, Dr. Chris Adolph, a parasitology board-certified veterinarian with Zoetis Inc., a leader in global animal health, discusses the growing threat of Lyme disease in dogs. He’ll also talk about the future of pet health and offer the best strategies to prevent Lyme disease in dogs. 

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has recently approved a new label indication of a treatment that is the first and only combination product demonstrated to prevent infections that may cause Lyme disease by killing deer ticks. At the same time, it also includes protection against heartworm disease, fleas, roundworms, and hookworms.

Interview is courtesy:  Zoetis Inc.