Lyme Disease: Preventing Infections to Pets

Lyme Disease: How it Spreads

Lyme disease is spread through deer ticks, which are scattered though out the USA. Keep in mind, other species of ticks can carry the infection as well. Deer ticks are small bloodsucking parasites that do really well hiding on their hosts.

For the infection to harm the host, ticks must remain blood sucking for about 1-2 days. It is essential to check your pets and yourself early enough to detect any unwanted risks. It is rare for pets to spread ticks to you.

How to spot a problem

If you locate a tick parasite on your beloved pet, take note on your calendar and look out for these signs of Lyme disease over a couple of weeks:

1. Running a high temperature– Your pets belly may be warm upon palpation (touch).
2. Sadness– Your pet may be sleepy more.
3. Lack of appetite– Be on a look out for your pet to possibly eat less.
4. Limping– Your pet may be limping or having some lameness in its legs.

If you notice any of the above signs, make an appointment with your Veterinarian sooner than later.

Preventive Care

In order to prevent your pets chances of contracting the disease, take these safety measures:

1. When returning from being outside, carefully check your pets snout to tail for unwanted guests.
2. Ask your veterinarian for an insecticide that is effective for ticks.
3. Properly trim long weeds whenever possible, especially near tree wooded areas.
4. Be sure to use the proper flea and tick repellant mostly (without missing any months).

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Consider other long term meds such as FirstShield Trio or Simparica pill.

If you locate a tick on your pet, be sure to remove it right away. Use an alcohol swab on the tick to loosen its grab. Use tweezers to carefully get a hold of the ticks head and pull upwards. Do not squeeze the tick as it might spread unwanted bacteria on the bite site. Be prepared that a small amount of hair may be removed on the site where you removed the tick. When in doubt, your Veterinarian or Vet Nurse professional can assist you removing the tick.

Veterinary Care

Your veterinarian will test your pet, and run blood tests to rule out contracted diseases. A complete blood sample varies in a non-emergency hospital, but expect to pay anywhere between $250 and $350. If you opt for X-rays, expect to pay about the same as blood test. Antibodies will appear in the blood for certain proteins. Several antibiotics are effective against lyme disease, but results differ with each pet. For example, some people and pets relapse  despite treatments. On going hospital therapy might need to happen to control some sicknesses during the battle of the disease. The best ways to control evidence of the disease are early findings and therapy.