Ticks And Lyme Disease

When it comes to prevention and management of diseases, knowledge is precious. It is important to know about ticks and Lyme disease for those people who rear dogs.

In Lyme disease, the risk of infection is usually higher in some regions than others. It is important to know about the area one lives, and about the ticks and Lyme disease in the area. Dog ticks have been reported to be the common carriers of Lyme disease.

Often, deer ticks and Lyme disease have been found to be synonymous in most parts of the world. It is therefore equally important to know about the types of ticks prevalent in an area.

To be in a better position to prevent ticks and Lyme disease in general, it is vital to maintain tick-free dogs by regular washing and treatment of dogs. When the tick bites the dog and attaches itself to the dog for about twelve hours or more, there is a high risk of infection. Therefore, if the tick is found and removed early (before twelve hours elapse), one is sure to eliminate the risk of Lyme disease infection.

To know if a dog has been bitten and infected, it is important to take tests. The common test is an antibody test. However, this test can be tricky since previous exposure to infected ticks and Lyme disease would show a positive result, which could not be a true representation of facts. All in all, for precaution, it is advisable to administer antibiotics if the test turns positive.

The symptoms to be watched out for in dogs that have been exposed to ticks and Lyme disease include limping in dogs, sluggishness or lack of appetite. If these symptoms are portrayed by your dog, it is wise to consult a veterinary doctor. These are possible indications that the dog might have Lyme disease, though it is also possible that they may be a sign of something totally different. If any of these symptoms is noticed, the best thing to do is to visit a veterinary doctor.

It is also a good precaution to perform regular checks on the dog to find out whether the dog has ticks, and eliminate them quickly. The higher the exposure a dog has to ticks, the higher the risk it has to Lyme disease, and by extension the more risky it is to human beings.

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