How to Prevent Lyme Disease in Pets

Lyme disease is an infection caused by the "Borrelia burgdorferi" bacteria, which is transmitted through ticks. It causes fever and arthritis, and can eventually lead to joint damage, heart problems and kidney disease. It normally affects dogs and people, and is rarely seen in cats.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Dog Flea/tick Collar
• Dog Flea/tick Control Medication
• Flea And Tick Dog Shampoo
• Flea/tick Killer
• Flea/tick Spray
• Insect Repellents
• Cat Flea/tick Collars
• Flea Combs

1. Consult your veterinarian about vaccinating your pet against Lyme disease. This will be a two-shot series with annual boosters.
2. Apply Frontline medication monthly if you live in or are visiting an area where ticks are a problem. Consider purchasing a tick collar for prevention; the newer ones work very well.
3. Learn which ecological niches are inhabited by ticks, and avoid them when exercising your dog.
4. Bathe your dog with an appropriate tick shampoo when you return from a hike in a tick-infested, brushy area.
5. Brush your dog regularly to rid her of excess hair and prevent ticks, which are drawn to warm fur.
6. Check your pet regularly for ticks, especially on the neck and around the armpits and the ears.
7. Learn the various tick species so you'll know which ones carry Lyme disease and which don't. A deer tick is brown and leathery but becomes glossy black when engorged. The western black-legged tick is found on the Pacific Coast. Both can carry the Lyme disease bacteria.
8. Remove ticks immediately. Ticks will become engorged with your pet's blood for about a week, but the bacteria is transmitted after 24 to 72 hours.
9. Take the tick to your veterinarian for identification if you suspect it may be one that carries Lyme disease.

Tips & Warnings

• Some flea-control products will kill ticks; consult your veterinarian for details.
• Lyme disease is difficult to diagnose but is treatable without complications if diagnosed and treated early. Consult your veterinarian about symptoms if you live in an area where Lyme disease is prevalent.