I know I sent most of you email about the importance of getting your four legged family member tested for Lyme disease, but I can't emphasize how important this is. A lot of people still think that because they have a "city" dog and because their dog will never be near a deer, and therefore never exposed to deer ticks, that they can't get Lyme disease. Not true!!!
Borrelia burgdorferi is the scientific name of the bacteria that causes Lyme Disease. Technically the microscopic bacteria that cause Lyme disease are called spirochetes... they have a coiled or cork-screw appearance under the microscope and they are now carried by voles, squirrels, mice and many other "city" animals. Frontline, K9Advantix and other flea and tick medications will NOT prevent Lyme disease. The bacteria is transmitted the instant a tick bites and is injected into your dogs blood stream. The Frontline will eventually kill the tick, but by then it's too late. Your dog is already infected. I'm not suggesting that you shouldn't use one of these products, you most definitely should. It will help protect your dog, just remember there is no guarantee that it will prevent the disease.
I suggest that you get your dog tested for Lyme disease once in the late spring and once in the early fall. Once the dog starts to be affected by the bacteria, Lyme Disease can progress from a mild discomfort to the stage where a dog will be in such joint and muscle pain it will refuse to move; it is not uncommon for an owner to have to carry a sick dog into the animal hospital. Over the span of two or three days a dog can progress from normal to completely unable to walk due to generalized joint pain. In addition to joint damage, the bacteria can affect the dog's heart muscle and nerve tissue. If the disease is diagnosed in time, treatment can cure the dog before permanent joint or nerve damage occurs. Certain antibiotics, such as Tetracycline, are very helpful in eliminating the disease.
Unfortunately, approximately 5% of dogs will contract the disease and show no symptoms. This happened with my Keeway. My vet found low levels of the bacteria and treated it aggressively with Tetracycline. If he had not done that test, Keeway could have suffered serious medical damage. That's why I want all my clients to get their four legged family members tested for Lyme disease twice a year, whether they are showing symptoms or not.
