How
to Protect Your Dog and Family From Tick-Borne Disease
(ARA) - Playing outside with the family dog is a joy during the warm
weather. Whether you’re running in a park or just playing catch in your
own backyard, dogs offer companionship and delight. But with tick-borne
diseases on the rise, dog owners need to be vigilant about making sure
an unnoticed tick doesn’t make their furry family member sick. The
extra effort could make the difference in keeping the whole family
healthy.
More than just Lyme disease, other tick-transmitted infections are
becoming an increasingly important health matter for urban and suburban
dogs in all areas of the country. Tick-borne diseases are present as
much in the backyard as they are in the back country.
“The range and density of several tick species in North America are
expanding as a result of climactic changes, wildlife populations and
conservation efforts,” explains Michael Dryden, DVM, a Kansas State
University professor of veterinary parasitology. “Reforestation,
changes in agricultural practices and wildlife conservation efforts
have contributed to an explosive growth in deer populations – a key
factor in the expansion of several tick species’ habitats.”
As cities and towns continue expanding, animals that host ticks are
coming into metro areas because they’re good places for both feeding
and breeding, explains Pat Smith, president of the Lyme Disease
Association (LDA).
“Children, ages five to nine, are at the highest risk of acquiring Lyme
disease,” said Smith. “Since dogs play in some of the same areas as our
children, we pet owners need to monitor our dogs’ health so we can
better protect our children and ourselves in the process.”
Not Just Lyme
Some ticks can transit multiple diseases with one bite. This affects
not only pets, but means the entire family is more susceptible —
children and adults. Here are some of the most common and dangerous
tick diseases that can affect your pet:
* Lyme disease is transmitted by black-legged (deer) ticks. The most
common visible signs of Lyme disease infection are recurrent arthritis
and lameness that lasts for three to four days, sometimes accompanied
by loss of appetite and depression.
* Canine ehrlichiosis is commonly transmitted by the brown dog tick and
the lone star tick. Early stage symptoms may include fever, lack of
appetite, depression and weight loss.
* Canine anaplasmosis is sometimes referred to as dog fever and is
transmitted by the same vector that carries Lyme disease, the
black-legged (deer) tick. Disease symptoms are often arthritis-like
with multiple painful joints.
Protect Your Family
Tick-borne diseases are often difficult to diagnose based on symptoms
alone. Accurate diagnosis requires a trip to the veterinarian. Left
undetected, these diseases can leave dogs with debilitating effects.
A 2006 survey conducted for IDEXX Laboratories, a leading veterinary
diagnostic company based in Westbrook, Maine, found that despite the
potential debilitating effects of canine Lyme disease, only 12 percent
of dog owners were concerned about their dogs contracting the disease.
Furthermore, although Lyme disease has been reported in all 50 states,
only 41 percent of dog owners surveyed believed their dogs could become
infected.
The good news is that dog owners can take a few simple steps to help
protect their pets from tick-borne illnesses:
* Talk to a veterinarian about the tick-borne diseases in your specific
area.
* Be aware of the common symptoms or signs of the tick-borne diseases
that may be present in the area.
* Make screening for tick-borne diseases a requirement during annual
exams at the vet.
* Check your dog’s coat daily for ticks.
* Use a tick-prevention medication.
“While Lyme disease continues to be a concern, the fact that a growing
number of dogs enter my clinic with multiple tick-borne infections adds
a new wrinkle,” said Matt Eberts, a veterinarian who practices in the
tick-endemic area of Brainerd, Minn. “There’s really no way for owners
to know what’s wrong with their dogs without getting their dogs checked
regularly.”
To learn more about tick-borne diseases and risks for dogs, visit
www.dogsandticks.com.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
