Lyme Disease

Lyme disease is a very common tick-borne disease here in the northeast. Some vets estimate that up to 75% of dogs in the northeast test positive for Lyme. But, your dog might not ever present with the illness. Your vet may want to perform a Lyme test to see if your dog  is carrying the infection. If your dog starts to show signs of lameness, fever, lethargy or enlarged lymph nodes, seek medical attention. These symptoms begin occurring about two to three months after your dog gets the initial infection. Luckily, the medication used to treat Lyme is pretty successful.

The Lyme-infected deer tick has to be attached to your dog for at least 48 hours for the infection to be transmitted. This means that you should do a daily check for ticks. These little suckers are tiny, so be very meticulous in your searches. Prevention is the most sucessful method of avoiding infection. It's probably best to talk with your vet about the best tick preventative for your pup. There are a lot of options out there, and not all of the options suit everyone.

Also, remember that humans get Lyme disease. So, you should do checks on yourself AND your dog after being outside. You don't have to be in the woods. You can get jumped (on by the tick) in your own backyard. Make sure you know the symptoms of human Lyme disease. Lyme disease is a reportable disease, meaning that your doctor is required to report cases of human Lyme disease to the state health department and the CDC. So, don't become a health statistic, cover up with light-colored clothing, use tick repellent and do a tick check when you get inside. Do the same for your pup, although they probably won't want to cover up with light colored clothing.