Ticks aren’t just pesky parasites—they’re potential carriers of disease. Lyme disease, a bacterial infection transmitted through deer tick bites, can affect both animals and humans. The following guide will help you detect symptoms of Lyme disease, prevent contraction, and learn about treatment methods. Contact your veterinarian immediately if you believe your pet is exhibiting any of the symptoms below.

What Pet Owners Should Know About Lyme Disease

What Are the Signs of Lyme Disease?

Although Lyme disease can be difficult to detect, there are various symptoms pet owners can look out for. If your pet develops swollen joints, fever, fatigue, lameness, or a loss of appetite, schedule a trip to the veterinarian. Some dogs with Lyme disease have vague signs and are just not themselves.  If left untreated, symptoms can degrade into serious kidney complications.

Because signs of the disease often take months to appear, you should regularly check your pet for pests. Excessive scratching, licking, or biting at a particular spot may indicate a tick issue. Frequent head shaking could point to a tick in the ear canal. Pay attention to bumps when you pet your cat or dog, as these might be tick bites or even attached ticks themselves.

How Can You Prevent Lyme Disease?

The sooner you remove ticks from your pets, the less likely they’ll be to develop Lyme disease. If you take your dog out to a field or wooded area, inspect them thoroughly when you get home. The tick has to be attached 24 hours to transmit the Lyme bacteria.  Lyme is a serious disease for dogs but cats are resistant to Lyme disease. Check the ear canal, lips, base of the tail, feet, and areas around their eyes. Remove any discovered ticks with a pair of tweezers, or stop by our clinic as we have special tick removers available.

Early prevention is the best method. During routine checkups, your veterinarian will thoroughly examine your pet for parasites. We have very sensitive blood tests to detect Lyme disease.  There are tick control products on the market, but in our particularly high-risk area, I recommend all dogs be vaccinated to prevent Lyme disease. After the first shot, pets will need a booster two to four weeks later, as well as annual boosters.

How Is Lyme Disease Treated?

If your pet tests positive for Lyme disease, you and your veterinarian will discuss treatment options. In the majority of cases, this will include antibiotics administered over the course of several weeks. Generally, this is an effective treatment, but it’s important to follow your vet’s care instructions. Persistent symptoms may require additional treatments.

For pet owners in the states of Maryland and Delaware the risk of Lyme disease is especially high. Protect your pet with quality preventative care from Cherry Hill Dog & Cat Hospital. Located in Elkton MD, we offer customized tick and flea control programs for every patient as well as Lyme vaccines and blood tests for Lyme disease. Their staff and Dr Douglas Foreman and Dr Roberta Mauro are dedicated to the safety and wellness of your pet. Visit their website to view a full list of services or call (410) 398-1331 to schedule an appointment today.