April is Lyme and Heartworm Prevention Month

Have you noticed your puppy limping, or not acting like themselves? You may want to have them tested for Lyme disease.

Lyme disease is becoming more prevalent in our area due to the rising number of ticks.

Did you know 50-75 percent of dogs will test positive for Lyme disease in New England?

Lyme disease is caused by a bacteria, which is carried by deer ticks. When the tick bites your dog, it can inject the bacteria into their bloodstream within one to three days. All it takes is one tick bite.

If you find a tick on your companion, don't panic. Firmly place a pair of tweezers as close to the skin as you can and pull the tick right out. This ensures that you remove the entire tick.

What are signs of Lyme disease?

• Limping or swollen joints

• Fever

• Just not acting like themselves

• Vomiting and/or diarrhea

• Lack of energy/depression

• In rare cases can cause kidney failure

• Some pets can have the disease and show no signs

Lyme disease is diagnosed with a blood test, which also tests for Ehrlichia, Anaplasma, and Heartworm disease. This test takes about 10 minutes and can be run at our animal hospital.

Your companions should be tested yearly for Lyme disease as well as the other tick borne diseases (Ehrlichia and Anaplasma).

Lyme disease is treated with antibiotics for about three to four weeks; at that time their symptoms should go away. It is important to know your dog can be reinfected with Lyme disease at any point.

Lyme disease can be prevented with an annual Lyme vaccination as well as year round tick prevention. Unfortunately, there are

no vaccines for Anaplasma or Ehrlichia, which makes tick prevention even more important.

Dr. Goldstein is a veterinarian at Blue Mountain Animal Clinic in New Ringgold.