Lyme Disease In Dogs Month
Posted on April 01 2020
Lyme Disease affects over 300,000 people each year; and while we know that people can get it from tick bites, many pet owners are surprised to learn that their companion animals can test positively for Lyme. There are over 58,000 dogs with Lyme Disease this year alone - and it's only the start of spring! There are several methods of tick disease prevention in dogs that can be done this season to reduce the sight of ticks in yards and keep pets safe from tick infections.
Ticks tend to hide in grassy and wooded areas where they can easily attach onto wildlife, people and pets. They are mostly found in the warm seasons, beginning in March, and continue to search for their food source until late fall and early winter. While not all ticks carry Lyme Disease, others carry Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and other painful tick diseases to dogs.
Did you know that white-tailed deer are the number one carriers of ticks in the United States? It's true. This means that if homeowners want to protect their pets from the spread and risk of Lyme Disease, then they need to do what they can to keep out deer from approaching lawns where pets play.
To keep deer off yards, homeowners should consider installing a 7.5-8' feet tall fence around the perimeter of their property. Having a deer fence is proven to reduce the amount of deer, and Lyme Disease cases, by 98 percent! That's worth the investment.
To prevent Lyme Disease in dogs, pet owners are encouraged to groom pets regularly and check for ticks underneath hiding spots (such as collars; behind the ears; groin areas; and ankles). Immediately remove the tick from the skin, if found. They should also know the symptoms of Lyme Disease in dogs; and take pups to the vet, if necessary.
Here are the signs of Lyme Disease in dogs:
- Unsteadiness
- Excessive Drooling
- Weak Muscles
- Muscle Aches/Joint Pains
- Difficulty Eating/Swallowing
- Fast Heart Beat
