Tick season is being extended as the weather is still warm and there is little snow and frost. In all seasons, especially the spring and summer season, we frequently find ticks on our pets. With finding these ticks on our pets, there are many questions from concerned pet owners. Ticks are a concern for us here in Halifax because they can potentially carry and transmit Lyme disease to both humans and dogs.
Lyme disease is caused by a bacteria ( Borrellia burgdorferi ) that can infect certain species of ticks. In Nova Scotia, the deer tick is the most common carrier of Lyme disease. There is anther common tick in Nova Scotia as well the American Dog Tick. This tick does not carry the Lyme disease.
In humans, Lyme disease causes flu-like symptoms and a characteristic “bullseye” rash within days of the tick bite. Other symptoms can develop over the following weeks to months including joint pain and headaches.
In dogs, Lyme disease acts quite differently. Symptoms only develop weeks to months after the bite, and many exposed dogs may never show signs of illness. Common canine symptoms are fever, arthritis – like signs and occasionally kidney disease. The tick needs to be attached for up to 24 hours to transmit the disease to your pet. If your dog has had an engorged tick, it is recommended that within 4-6 weeks test for Lyme disease. We have a 4Dx blood test that we can do in-house and there is a more detailed test that we can send away to be analyzed. If there is a positive test, then a course of antibiotics may be prescribed to your pet.
Ticks love long grass and bushes however in the recent years they can be found in your backyard or even in the city. Deer are not the only ones that carry ticks; all aminal carry them. Check your pet daily for ticks and remove any you find promptly, there are tick twisters that can be used to remove them properly. When removing make sure you remove the whole tick by twisting not pulling.
Ask your veterinarian or one of our helpful staff at PetFocus Bedford South about which tick preventive medication would be best for your pet. These are normally used monthly in tick season or year round. There are topicals that are applied monthly and chewables that can be given once every 3 months.
Vaccination for Lyme disease is available for dogs and is an important step in protecting dogs that may have exposure to ticks. We recommend Lyme vaccination and proper parasitic prevention for all animals.
Written by Bedford South Veterinary Hospital
