Dear Dr. Forsythe: Where does Lyme disease come from? I pull so many ticks off my dog that I’m concerned that she could come down with the disease eventually. I haven’t gotten her vaccinated for Lyme’s disease, but I’ve been thinking about it recently after it seems like there are more ticks than ever. What should I do to prevent her from getting the disease?
Derek, Sonoma
Dear Derek: The black-legged or deer tick (Ixodes scapularis) and the western black-legged tick (I. pacificus) are the species that carry and transmit the bacteria that cause Lyme disease. Both are smaller than the other ticks found on pets in the United States.
To get a blood meal, ticks usually climb onto low-growing vegetation and hop onto passing hosts using their forelegs. If it is an infected host, such as a white-footed mouse, the tick ingests the bacteria in the blood meal and becomes an infective carrier without getting sick itself. The tick can retain infection throughout its life-cycle and give it to subsequent hosts, such as you or your dog. Usually an infective tick must be attached for 48 hours before transmission can occur.
To help protect your dog, consider a recombitek Lyme vaccine which helps block the transmission from tick to dog of the spirochete that causes Lyme disease. Also apply a topical tick control product monthly that kills ticks that may transmit Lyme disease. Brush your dog frequently during tick season and conduct thorough tick checks. If you find a tick attached, remove it promptly with tweezers and without crushing the tick. Contact your veterinarian if you are concerned.
Lyme disease affects animals differently and many display no clinical signs at all. In dogs, many cases start with limping, lymph node swelling and fever. Other signs include loss of appetite, painful joints and lethargy. Dogs don’t show signs for two to five months post-infection. Antibiotics help but don’t stop the disease. If you are really concerned about this disease or think your pet may have Lyme disease, I suggest you have your pet examined and get more information on preventing this nasty insect from coming into contact with your dog. Sonoma is a Lyme’s endemic area, and you are wise to become informed about this disease. Thanks for writing.
Dr. F.
Dear Dr. Forsythe: There is a girl on my street who often rides her bike and lets her dog run beside her on a leash. I have always thought this looked very dangerous for both her and the dog, but I never said anything because I felt it wasn’t my place. However last week I saw her get tangled up and fall “ass-over-tea-kettle” when her dog took off in another direction while she was peddling with him down the lane. It was a terrible crash that left her pretty scraped up. Please remind your readers how dangerous this practice is. Thank God she was only scraped up, as it could have been much worse.
A concerned neighbor.
Dear Neighbor: You’re right. There is a reason why people say go “walk the dog” rather than “ride the dog on a bike.” I feel that this is a much more serious infraction than wearing white after Labor Day or using a butter knife to cut your steak. I’m assuming you went and helped scrape this poor girl up off the pavement after she fell? I’m glad to hear that her injuries were minor, and I hope her dog was okay as well. Hopefully she learned her lesson about the perils of combining a refreshing bike ride and a dog walk at the same time. Perhaps you also let her know not to mix household cleaners together or tap-dance in the shower? The point is – it is hard to teach common sense but thank you, kind sir, for trying!!!
Dr F.
