The fear of contracting Lyme disease is very real for people who spend time outdoors. This disease is spread by ticks, whose bites deliver bacteria known as
Borrelia burgdorferi into the bloodstream of their victims, which can include both people and pets. Ticks that carry the disease (the blacklegged tick [
Ixodes scapularis], also known as deer or bear ticks) are commonly found in forest areas with tall grasses and thick brush. As dogs pass through woods and marshes, the ticks can jump on and cling to their skin with a blood-sucking bite.
Once a tick has been attached for 48 hours, it can transmit the disease, so it’s critically important to check your dog and yourself after every outing. But what should you do if you find a tick on your dog? It’s not necessary to take a dog to the vet if you discover a tick and are confident in your ability to remove it. However, if you need training or have any questions about your findings, the safest option is to seek veterinary care.
Symptoms
Lyme disease is especially worrisome to residents of the northeast United States, and the symptoms can be quite devastating. Infected dogs may exhibit fever, lack of appetite, lethargy, muscle weakness, stiffness, pain and/or swelling of the joints. The disease can progress to cause kidney failure, cardiac damage, and neurological abnormalities, so pet owners should take the disease very seriously, especially those who enjoy the great outdoors: hunters, hikers, campers, and so on.
Your veterinarian may test your dog for Lyme disease, but a positive result is not necessarily troublesome. Dogs who show no clinical symptoms may not need treatment, but not all veterinarians agree on this topic. Dogs who test positive to the initial screening can be further evaluated to determine if their disease is recent and active. In problematic areas, such as most of New England, annual Lyme disease testing is part of a dog’s annual physical, and vaccinations are available for pets to avoid contracting the disease. Discuss Lyme disease with your veterinarian to determine if your dog is a candidate for the vaccination.
Treatment of Lyme disease
Fortunately, most dogs infected with Lyme disease respond well to antibiotic treatment. Doxycycline or Amoxicillin may be prescribed when symptoms trigger owners to seek diagnosis—usually a few months after infection. Although both pets and people get the disease, they cannot transmit it to each other. However, if either brings ticks into the home or outdoor environment, the ticks could fall into carpet, clothes or plants, and then transfer to other dogs or people.
Removing a tick
Keep a pair of tweezers in your dog’s emergency medical kit and use them to grab the tick. Place the tweezers as close to the skin as possible, squeeze, and pull up to remove the parasite. Don’t twist or crush the tick; try to keep it in tact. Take a picture of the tick and keep it on your cell phone in case you need to share it with your veterinary professionals for identification. Place the tick in a sealed plastic sandwich bag, and dispose of the bag in your trash container. Wash your hands and disinfect the dog’s skin and coat. Thoroughly clean the grooming area, too.
Protection
You will find several products on the market to protect your dog from ticks, but using these products does not eliminate the need for thorough examination of your dog after each outing. You will find repellent collars and bandanas, which can be worn separately or together to protect your pooch. Check with your doctor or pharmacist to learn about sprays and other protection from these dangerous insects. Be prepared and you can continue to enjoy the great outdoors worry-free.
