Lyme disease can be a scary thing, and the threat in the Niagara region is growing. Lyme disease, or Borreliosis, is transmitted by the bite of infected deer ticks, which are more commonly found after the winter thaw.
The most common signs and symptoms of Lyme disease include fever, loss of appetite, lameness, lethargy, unusual breathing, and in extreme cases kidney damage. Rarely the pet will exhibit heart problems or neurological symptoms such as seizures. If any of these symptoms occur (even if no tick has been found), it’s important to take the pet to your veterinarian immediately. The sooner the disease is diagnosed, the easier it is to treat. It is important to be aware that not all pets show symptoms when they are infected, if you think your pet has been exposed it is important that they see a veterinarian.
When it comes to Lyme disease, prevention is key. You can protect your pets in the following ways:
- Administer tick preventative regularly, according to the products directions. Products like Revolution and Advantix will either kill the tick or cause it to drop off the pet before it causes damage.
- Cut or mow grassy or overgrown areas regularly to prevent an infestation.
- Closely examine all pets after playtime outdoors to detect embedded ticks.
- Safely remove ticks if found. Place fine-point tweezers around the tick as close to the pet’s skin as possible, and gently pull until the tick detaches. Disinfect the bite site and the tweezers after removal. Place the tick into a small container for later examination by a professional.
An infected tick must be attached to the pet for 48 hours before transmission of the disease occurs. So, as long as ticks are found immediately and disposed of, your pet should be in no danger. Prevention and quick treatments are the keys to protecting your pet and giving them a long, happy life.
If you have any questions, or would like more information on ticks and lyme disease, contact a member of our Pet Health Care Team at Upper Canada Animal Hospital. We are here to help.
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