Spring is here! We know this because we are starting to see wood ticks hitchhiking and attaching to our furry friends. This may signal spring in Manitoba, but it’s also a sign of something much more ominous.
Lyme disease is now considered endemic in Manitoba, and that should put us on the defensive. Although the bite only happens during tick season, the bacterium stays in the system year-round.
How is Lyme disease spread? The bacterial agent Borrelia bergdorferii is carried by deer ticks. The bacteria live in the ticks’ stomach and can be transferred to your pet when the tick takes a meal. Fact: ticks start looking for a blood meal when the temperature outside reaches four degrees Celsius. The bacteria then go into your pets’ blood, where it has the potential to cause disease.
Most pets can fight off this infection without us even noticing anything happened. In about 20 percent of cases, however, the pet gets sick.
Here are some things to watch for: fever, general malaise, severe shifting leg lameness without apparent cause, and frequent urination. These symptoms can appear long after the initial tick bite, as the disease can remain dormant. The most common symptom seen at our clinic is lameness, with fever a close second.
How can we prevent Lyme disease? By preventing tick bites to begin with, by killing the tick once it has bitten, and vaccinating against the disease. There are many products available for the prevention of tick bites, and some work better than others. Consult your veterinarian on which product and preventative is right for your pet’s lifestyle.
By vaccinating against the progression of the disease, you are providing your pet a better way to defend itself. The animal is trying to do this anyway, but you are giving it a head sta
