By Paw Prints
Spring is finally here. That's great news. But it also means tick season has arrived. Ticks are a nuisance, but the main problem with them, of course, is the diseases they spread.
If you are a dog owner in the Newburyport area, you need to be aware of Lyme disease. Lyme disease is an infection caused by bacteria (Borrelia burgdorferi) and transmitted by ticks. Dogs and people are susceptible; interestingly, though, cats do not appear to become sick.
There are many different kinds of ticks, and many different tick-transmitted diseases, but the culprit for Lyme disease is the deer tick, commonly called the black-legged tick, or scientifically, Ixodes.
Each deer tick has four life stages and lives for at least two years. Immature stages usually prefer small mammals such as mice, and adults usually prefer deer, but any stage may feed on dogs and people. Even during mild winter weather, adult deer ticks may be active and in search of a blood meal. Once attached, a deer tick feeds for several days. Lyme disease is spread more rapidly toward the end of the blood meal.
The classic signs of Lyme disease in dogs are lameness, fever, lethargy and loss of appetite. Sometimes, neurological or kidney disease is present. Clinical disease may range from mild to severe. However, many dogs infected with Lyme disease will never become ill.
If you think your dog may have Lyme disease, visit your veterinarian. There are tests to detect whether a dog has been infected. However, the tests will not differentiate a dog that has been infected and is not sick, and a dog that has been infected and is sick, so diagnosis is not always straightforward. A combination of history, physical exam and laboratory test results aid in the diagnosis.
The good news is that most cases of canine Lyme disease are treatable with antibiotics. However, despite treatment, many dogs will not completely clear the infection, and relapses are possible.
With many illnesses, a dog's defense system remembers that it has encountered the illness before, which helps prevent re-infection. But a dog's immune system does not control Lyme disease as it typically would other infections. When exposed to an infected deer tick, dogs may be re-infected.
The best treatment for Lyme disease in dogs is prevention. First, avoid tick-infested areas, if possible. Deer ticks like wooded, shady areas where deer frequent. Remember, if your dog is being exposed to deer ticks, then you probably are, too.
Second, use a good anti-tick product regularly on your dog. There are several safe, effective products available. But most tick products need to be applied monthly to work. One common mistake is that dog owners use these products seasonally. Ticks do not check the calendar. If the weather is mild, assume deer ticks are waiting for your dog. I recommend year-round prevention because fluctuations in temperature are unpredictable.
Third, there are two effective canine Lyme vaccines available. Talk to your veterinarian about whether your dog is a good candidate.
Your dog should be checked regularly for ticks. If one is found, remove it promptly. There are numerous commercial tick-removal instruments available. Alternatively, common tweezers can be used. Grasp the tick's head (where it is attached to your dog) and gently, but firmly, pull it out. Flush the tick down the toilet. Dab the area with an antiseptic and wash your hands. If you are unable to remove the tick, consult your veterinarian.
In my practice, we screen dogs annually for Lyme disease. This on-site test also checks for heartworm disease and two other tick-transmitted diseases (Anaplasma and E. canis).
Last year, 55 percent of our canine patients tested positive for Lyme disease. We are also seeing an increase in other tick-transmitted diseases. This underscores the importance of good tick control and owner awareness.
nnn
Dr. Heidi Bassler is medical director of the Veterinary Center of Greater Newburyport. Do you have questions for Dr. Bassler? Send them to ndn@newburyportnews.com.
.
