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How to
Protect Your Dog and Family From Tick-Borne Disease
(ARA) - Playing outside with the
family dog is a joy during the warm weather. Whether you're
running in a park or just playing catch in your own backyard,
dogs offer companionship and delight. But with tick-borne
diseases on the rise, dog owners need to be vigilant about
making sure an unnoticed tick doesn't make their furry family
member sick. The extra effort could make the difference in
keeping the whole family healthy.
More than just Lyme disease, other
tick-transmitted infections are becoming an increasingly
important health matter for urban and suburban dogs in all
areas of the country. Tick-borne diseases are present as much
in the backyard as they are in the back country.
"The range and density of several tick
species in North America are expanding as a result of
climactic changes, wildlife populations and conservation
efforts," explains Michael Dryden, DVM, a Kansas State
University professor of veterinary parasitology.
"Reforestation, changes in agricultural practices and wildlife
conservation efforts have contributed to an explosive growth
in deer populations - a key factor in the expansion of several
tick species' habitats."
As cities and towns continue
expanding, animals that host ticks are coming into metro areas
because they're good places for both feeding and breeding,
explains Pat Smith, president of the Lyme Disease Association
(LDA).
 "Children,
ages five to nine, are at the highest risk of acquiring Lyme
disease," said Smith. "Since dogs play in some of the same
areas as our children, we pet owners need to monitor our dogs'
health so we can better protect our children and ourselves in
the process."
Not Just Lyme
Some ticks can transit multiple
diseases with one bite. This affects not only pets, but means
the entire family is more susceptible - children and adults.
Here are some of the most common and dangerous tick diseases
that can affect your pet:
* Lyme disease is transmitted by
black-legged (deer) ticks. The most common visible signs of
Lyme disease infection are recurrent arthritis and lameness
that lasts for three to four days, sometimes accompanied by
loss of appetite and depression.
* Canine ehrlichiosis is commonly
transmitted by the brown dog tick and the lone star tick.
Early stage symptoms may include fever, lack of appetite,
depression and weight loss.
* Canine anaplasmosis is sometimes
referred to as dog fever and is transmitted by the same vector
that carries Lyme disease, the black-legged (deer) tick.
Disease symptoms are often arthritis-like with multiple
painful joints.
Protect Your Family
Tick-borne diseases are often
difficult to diagnose based on symptoms alone. Accurate
diagnosis requires a trip to the veterinarian. Left
undetected, these diseases can leave dogs with debilitating
effects.
A 2006 survey conducted for IDEXX
Laboratories, a leading veterinary diagnostic company based in
Westbrook, Maine, found that despite the potential
debilitating effects of canine Lyme disease, only 12 percent
of dog owners were concerned about their dogs contracting the
disease. Furthermore, although Lyme disease has been reported
in all 50 states, only 41 percent of dog owners surveyed
believed their dogs could become infected.
The good news is that dog owners can
take a few simple steps to help protect their pets from
tick-borne illnesses:
* Talk to a veterinarian about the
tick-borne diseases in your specific area.
* Be aware of the common symptoms or
signs of the tick-borne diseases that may be present in the
area.
* Make screening for tick-borne
diseases a requirement during annual exams at the vet.
* Check your dog's coat daily for
ticks.
* Use a tick-prevention medication.
"While Lyme disease continues to be a
concern, the fact that a growing number of dogs enter my
clinic with multiple tick-borne infections adds a new
wrinkle," said Matt Eberts, a veterinarian who practices in
the tick-endemic area of Brainerd, Minn. "There's really no
way for owners to know what's wrong with their dogs without
getting their dogs checked regularly."
To learn more about tick-borne
diseases and risks for dogs, visit
www.dogsandticks.com.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
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