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(ARA) - As the weather warms, families are beginning to plan fresh-air outings: playing in the park, hosting backyard barbeques, hiking and bike riding, and picnicking by the lake. But lurking in the grass is a very real health threat: Lyme disease. A bacterial infection spread by deer ticks and western black-legged ticks, Lyme disease affected 24,000 people in 2002 (the most recent year the disease was reported by the Centers for Disease Control). Symptoms usually begin with a bull’s-eye-shaped rash a few days or weeks after infection. Headaches, fatigue, and muscle and joint pain usually follow. Left untreated, long-term complications can include arthritis and neurological and cardiac abnormalities. Many people are aware of the signs and know to protect themselves, but Lyme disease affects animals as well -- and your pets could be at risk.
A 2004 survey conducted by IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. and supported by the American Lyme Disease Foundation (ALDF) revealed that a majority of U.S. dog owners are not equipped with enough knowledge to help them protect their pets from exposure to ticks carrying Lyme disease. Only 11 percent of those surveyed thought it was likely that their dogs would contract Lyme disease, and 38 percent could not explain how it was contracted. Even more disturbing, 75 percent of dog owners did not know any of the symptoms.
“While Lyme disease has traditionally been seen in the Northeast and Upper Midwest, we’re seeing more reported cases in nearly every part of the country,” says David Weld, executive director of the American Lyme Disease Foundation. “Dogs are at much greater risk than people living in the same area.” Because the ticks that carry Lyme disease are so small, it can be nearly impossible to see if your dog has been bitten. And the risk is quickly spreading.
In addition to people and dogs, deer ticks feed on deer, mice, birds and chipmunks. “With the populations of those animals increasing in many regions, and cities continuing to sprawl into surrounding wooded and grassy lands, ticks will have both constant exposure to potential food sources and access to people and pets,” says Weld.
Many dogs exhibit no outward sign of infection, but symptoms are similar to those in people. Luckily, there is a way to check if your dog has been infected. Veterinarians can use a blood test to detect canine Lyme disease. This type of test is easy, economical and can help identify dogs at risk for infection. At the same time, the test also screens for other vector-borne diseases, including heartworm and ehrlichiosis.
It’s important to remember that Lyme disease can be prevented through vaccination and tick control. Since ticks carry other devastating diseases, such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever and ehrlichiosis, it’s vital to keep dogs tick-free.
Prevention really is the best -- and easiest -- medicine. Take care when spending time outdoors. Wear closed-toe shoes and tuck your pant legs into your socks when walking in brushy or high-grass areas. Make sure you use a vet-recommended tick preventative for your pets, and include a screening for Lyme disease as part of your dog’s yearly checkup.
With a few simple actions, every member of your family can enjoy a safe and happy summer.
For more information on the American Lyme Disease Foundation, visit www.aldf.com.
Courtesy of ARA Content
