Lyme Disease Awareness Month

While flipping through the Lowell Ledger last night, I learned that May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month in Michigan. Lyme Disease is a concern both to our pets and to their two-legged care givers, because the ticks that can transmit the disease feed on all of us. Cats, although they can become infected by Borrelia burgdorferi (the causative organism of Lyme Disease), do not develop clinical signs of disease. Dogs, on the other hand, can develop arthritis, kidney disease, heart disease or neurological problems as a result of infection. Fortunately, there are ways to protect our canine friends.

The primary means of protection against Lyme Disease is preventing the transmission from the infected tick. Brushing and combing your dog after it has been outside can aid in the detection of ticks. Topical products like Frontline® and Advantix® can effectively decrease the chances of ticks feeding on your dog. This not only prevents Lyme Disease transmission, but also other tick-borne diseases like Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Ehrlichiosis, Babesiosis and Anaplasmosis. A vaccine is also available for dogs to further protect against Lyme Disease. How much protection your pet needs is based on their risk of exposure to ticks.

For information on Lyme disease in people, the CDC has a nice informational site.

Steve McBride, DVM