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© Fort Dodge Laboratories.
     - what is Lyme Disease?   Lyme disease, or Borreliosis, is a tick-borne bacterial disease affecting both humans and animals. First discovered in the United States in humans in 1975 and reported in dogs in 1984, Borreliosis has since spread rapidly across the country, affecting more victims every year. Lyme disease is caused by corkscrew shaped bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi.

     - transmission:   The carriers of Borrelia burgdorferi are ticks. Ticks are blood-suckers - parasites that draw their life from other creatures. When an infected tick bites, the bacterium is transferred to the blood of the host animal.

     - where is Lyme Disease found?   Lyme disease has the potential to exist in any area where Borrelia burgdorferi infected ticks are present. In humans, surveillance data revealed 11 states reporting 497 cases of Lyme disease to the Centers for Disease Control in 1982. By 1992, approximately 50,000 cases had been reported by 47 states; and more than 10,000 cases were reported in 1994 alone, a 20-fold increase since 1982. Lyme disease has become the most common tick-borne disease in the United States. With the exception of A.I.D.S., Lyme disease is considered the fastest growing infectious disease in the U.S..

Surveillance data for Lyme disease in the dog is not compiled on a nationwide basis. Experts, however, believe that Lyme disease exposure in the dog may be 6 to 10 times greater than that reported in humans. The American Veterinary Lyme Disease Society (AVLDS) is working to find out more about Borreliosis in dogs.

     - why is Lyme Disease spreading so rapidly?   While no one knows for sure, there are several possibly explanations. Studies have shown that waterfowl and other migratory birds, for instance, have helped disperse the infected tick. Dogs and wildlife that run in infected fields can bring infected ticks back to suburban locations and backyards. Dogs traveling with their owners can spread infected ticks to distant locations. Secluded wooded areas where people live or spend leisure time are the natural environments for ticks and the Lyme disease bacteria. Also, recent research has shown that dogs may be reservoirs for Borrelia burgdorferi. That is, without appearing sick, dogs may harbor the Lyme disease bacteria, and spread the bacteria to previously uninfected ticks - much in the same way deer and mice are known to do. This does not mean you can catch Lyme disease from your dog, just that he could be helping spread the disease by infecting new ticks..

     - symptoms:   Clinical signs of Lyme disease in pets include arthritis, sudden onset of severe pain and lameness, fever, lethargy, loss of appetite and depression. Lyme disease also affects the heart, brain, and kidneys.

     - diagnosis:   After observing symptoms which suggest Lyme disease, blood tests can be used to look for antibodies - infection-fighting proteins - in the patient's blood. Unfortunately, blood tests currently being used are often inconclusive. If you are concerned that your pet may be suffering from Lyme disease, contact your veterinarian.

     - treatment:   Several broad-spectrum antibiotics have been proven effective in treating Lyme disease, especially in its early stages. However, treatment is not always successful. Your veterinarian will have the most effective treatment program available.

     - how can I protect my dog?   There are several things you can do:

  • Brush your dog after each outing. If a tick is attached to your dog's skin, remove it carefully with tweezers, pulling back steadily and slowly to ease out the tick's mouthparts. Wash the bite area and your hands.
  • Use baths, dips, and flea and tick collars as recommended by your veterinarian.
  • Cut the brush and mow the grass where your dog plays.
  • Treat your yard with a veterinarian-recommended tick-killing spray.
  • Ask your veterinarian about vaccinating your pet with LymeVax®.

     - how often should my dog be vaccinated?   Following an initial series of two vaccinations 2 to 3 weeks apart, your pet should be given a single booster vaccination on a yearly basis.

     - is my pet at risk throughout the entire year?   The risk your pet faces varies by the season and region of the country where you are located. Ticks are active and feeding until the temperature drops into the lower 40's.