Lyme Disease

Lyme disease is a concerning tick-borne infection for us in this region as it can affect both dogs and humans. The Eastern coastal states have the highest prevalence of Lyme disease in the country. While we may not see too many ticks here in Manhattan, many of us travel outside of the city with our dogs and into surrounding areas with heavy tick populations. Lyme disease is endemic in Long Island, Westchester County and the lower Hudson Valley, as well as many other popular destinations. The purpose of this posting is to inform you about the disease itself and about the best ways to prevent infection in your dog.

Lyme disease is caused by a bacterium called Borrelia burgdorferi and is transmitted to dogs in this area via the deer tick or eastern blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis). Affected dogs show signs of fever, lethargy, swollen lymph nodes and joint pain. Dogs will often have painful swollen joints that appear to resolve, only to have another joint become affected days to weeks later. This condition is classic for Lyme disease and is often referred to as a “shifting leg lameness”. Less commonly, some dogs with Lyme disease can also develop kidney disease that can be quite significant and even be fatal.

There are specific blood tests available to test your dog for exposure to Lyme. Results of these tests can lead to some confusion as many dogs will be exposed to this bacterium, but never show signs of illness. A thorough examination and discussion with your veterinarian is warranted if you are concerned about Lyme disease in your dog or if your dog has tested positive for the disease. The infection, if diagnosed early, can be successfully treated with antibiotics. However, some dogs can have lasting arthritis and irreversible kidney damage.

While Lyme disease can affect humans as well it is not possible to become infected directly from your dog. The infection can only be transmitted to us via a tick bite. All ticks are not infected with these bacteria and once a tick bites, it takes 24-48 hours of being attached to the dog or human before it can start to transmit the bacteria to a dog or person. It is therefore important to check yourself and your dog for ticks and remove them immediately once they are found to help prevent transmission of Lyme and other tick-borne diseases.

Tick prevention with an oral or topical product is also important for dogs that spend time outside of the city or in areas known to have ticks. Most prescription tick preventatives will kill a tick in 24 hours or less thereby dramatically decreasing your dog’s risk of contracting Lyme disease. There is a vaccination for Lyme disease that is given to dogs with a higher risk of exposure. The veterinarians at The Vet Set can help you decide if this vaccine is important for your dog based on her lifestyle.