The most common infectious disease we see in dogs is?
The answer .........Lyme disease.
In this "blog", I have chosen to discuss a disease with which I and veterinarians throughout Western New York have become all too familiar with in the past 9 years or so. While rarely seen here just 12 years ago, it is now the #1 infectious disease we see in dogs at Aurora Pet Hospital, by far!! So just what is Lyme disease, and what can I as a dog owner do to prevent my dog from becoming infected?
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection spread by ticks. While originally prevalent in the Northeast United States, it has now spread to many areas around the country, and is endemic in our area. It primarily affects dogs and humans, and is rarely found in other domestic animals like cats.
It is spread to a dog when it is bitten by an infected tick, most commonly the deer tick. When attached to a dog, ticks spread Lyme disease through their saliva. It is extremely important to realize, that a tick must be attached for a minimum of 24 to 48 hours before it can begin transmitting the disease to a dog.
Once infected, most dogs do not show any signs at all. In fact, it may take up to two years after infection for the dog to become ill. The classic signs are a fever, swollen lymph nodes, depression and lethargy, along with severe lameness and swollen joints. If left untreated, in the later stages, it can severely damage the kidneys, the heart, and the nervous system, and lead to death.
As one of my colleagues told me in May of 2009: "Mike, you will never diagnose Lyme disease if you are not looking for it". Was he ever correct. That was around the time a new very accurate in clinic test called a SNAP test became available. We now term this a "HEAL" (heartworm, ehrlichia, anaplasma, lyme) test. It is very accurate, only requires a few drops of blood, and the results are available within 15 minutes. We highly recommend all of our canine patients be tested in our office on an annual basis,
When a dog tests positive for Lyme disease, Dr. Meisner and I will recommend placing them on the antibiotic, doxycycline. It is extremely important this antibiotic be administered as directed for 28 consecutive days. We will also recommend drawing blood for another test which quantifies the amount of infection present in the body. This test is called a Quant 6C antibody test. A urinalysis is also required to see if any damage to the kidneys has yet occurred. If high antibody levels are found in the blood, we will recommend another Quant C6 test in 6 months, to make certain the initial treatment was successful.
In 2015, researchers at the University of California, Davis, discovered that the bacteria that cause Lyme disease can actually trick the infected dogs immune system into not launching a full immune response. The same is thought to occur in humans. While they initially trigger a strong response in an infected animal, the bacteria soon cause abnormalities in the lymph nodes, which allow them to remain there indefinitely. It is therefore possible for the bacteria to remain in the body long-term, leading to the periodic flare-ups that infected people and dogs often experience.
One may ask if these dogs that have been infected previously still require an annual vaccination against it? The answer is a definitive yes!! It has been discovered that during periods of stress, the bacteria hidden in the lymph nodes can begin to spread in the bloodstream once again. If a dog has little or no immunity against them, the severe form of the disease may return, causing widespread inflammation in the kidneys, and leading to death. It has been demonstrated that by vaccinating previously infected dogs annually, the antibody levels are kept at a high enough level, so the reoccurring infection can be quickly stopped, before such kidney damage can occur.
So how do we prevent Lyme disease in a dog? The first thing one can do is avoid areas where ticks are known to thrive. These include densely wooded areas and areas of thick brush. Also areas that deer are known to inhabit. The next thing is to choose a tick control product that is scientifically proven to be very safe and very effective. At the Aurora Pet Hospital, we recommend and dispense only the most effective products for flea and tick control available anywhere. Third and lastly, have your dog vaccinated. The Lyme disease vaccine administered here is proven to be very safe and effective at preventing the disease. We always recommend good tick control along with vaccination however, as no vaccine or tick control product alone is ever 100% effective at preventing the disease.
Lastly, I would like to address a few "myths" about Lyme disease that I occasionally hear from clients, friends, and even some family members. The first is: "I don't live in the woods, so my dog cannot possibly get ticks!!". While that may be true in a very few instances, with deer being very common in Western New York, and the fact that mice infected with ticks can live virtually everywhere, very few dogs are not at risk for tick exposure. And if you have a woodpile in your yard for a fireplace, yes, ticks thrive in that environment as well.
Another common one is: "I have never seen a tick on my dog, so it is impossible that he/she is at risk!!". Wrong. While it is true that ticks are often visible when they are engorged after a blood meal, the larval and nymph life stages are extremely tiny. Those are the life stages commonly active in the spring and early summer. Whats more, the adult deer tick is very tiny, and very difficult to see. "OK, I've only found a few ticks on my dog this year, so I'm sure he's fine." Incorrect again. It only takes the bite of one infected tick to spread Lyme disease to a dog, or a person for that matter. Case closed!
Another one is: "I apply a flea and tick preventive to my pet monthly, so I don't have to worry about Lyme disease". Great, but no product guarantees 100% protection, even the one I use in my own dog! Another word of caution, there are still products being sold at pet stores and on the Internet that are using 1970's technology, and have we ever developed more effective and safer products since then!!
Oh yes, and my new favorite: "It is winter and this is Buffalo, so no tick control is needed!". Once again, that is totally incorrect. It has been well documented, that some tick species, including the deer tick, have an antifreeze like compound in their blood. While it is true that many insect species cannot survive well outdoors in our climate, deer ticks certainly can. When we get those warm sunny days in January or February, and the temperature goes above 40 degrees or so, I promise you ticks are active in the environment, just looking for a host to jump on to and begin feeding! For the best protection, it is recommended that dog owners continuously use a tick preventive throughout the year, even in Buffalo, New York!!
In summary, virtually every dog in this area is at risk of contracting Lyme disease. For that reason, and with very few exceptions, we at Aurora Pet Hospital recommend all dogs be vaccinated against it annually, and all dog owners provide their pets with safe and effective flea and tick prevention, throughout the year. Yes, even in the winter months!! And by the way, I can honestly tell you that I was more ticks in my office on dogs and cats in 2016 that I saw in all previous years of practice combined!! And I graduated from the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1979!! I even helped a few humans identify ticks they had removed from themselves!!
Like always, should you have any further concerns about Lyme disease, or any other topic in veterinary medicine for that matter, please feel free to call my office at: 655-0305. We are always here to help.
In this "blog", I have chosen to discuss a disease with which I and veterinarians throughout Western New York have become all too familiar with in the past 9 years or so. While rarely seen here just 12 years ago, it is now the #1 infectious disease we see in dogs at Aurora Pet Hospital, by far!! So just what is Lyme disease, and what can I as a dog owner do to prevent my dog from becoming infected?
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection spread by ticks. While originally prevalent in the Northeast United States, it has now spread to many areas around the country, and is endemic in our area. It primarily affects dogs and humans, and is rarely found in other domestic animals like cats.
It is spread to a dog when it is bitten by an infected tick, most commonly the deer tick. When attached to a dog, ticks spread Lyme disease through their saliva. It is extremely important to realize, that a tick must be attached for a minimum of 24 to 48 hours before it can begin transmitting the disease to a dog.
Once infected, most dogs do not show any signs at all. In fact, it may take up to two years after infection for the dog to become ill. The classic signs are a fever, swollen lymph nodes, depression and lethargy, along with severe lameness and swollen joints. If left untreated, in the later stages, it can severely damage the kidneys, the heart, and the nervous system, and lead to death.
As one of my colleagues told me in May of 2009: "Mike, you will never diagnose Lyme disease if you are not looking for it". Was he ever correct. That was around the time a new very accurate in clinic test called a SNAP test became available. We now term this a "HEAL" (heartworm, ehrlichia, anaplasma, lyme) test. It is very accurate, only requires a few drops of blood, and the results are available within 15 minutes. We highly recommend all of our canine patients be tested in our office on an annual basis,
When a dog tests positive for Lyme disease, Dr. Meisner and I will recommend placing them on the antibiotic, doxycycline. It is extremely important this antibiotic be administered as directed for 28 consecutive days. We will also recommend drawing blood for another test which quantifies the amount of infection present in the body. This test is called a Quant 6C antibody test. A urinalysis is also required to see if any damage to the kidneys has yet occurred. If high antibody levels are found in the blood, we will recommend another Quant C6 test in 6 months, to make certain the initial treatment was successful.
In 2015, researchers at the University of California, Davis, discovered that the bacteria that cause Lyme disease can actually trick the infected dogs immune system into not launching a full immune response. The same is thought to occur in humans. While they initially trigger a strong response in an infected animal, the bacteria soon cause abnormalities in the lymph nodes, which allow them to remain there indefinitely. It is therefore possible for the bacteria to remain in the body long-term, leading to the periodic flare-ups that infected people and dogs often experience.
One may ask if these dogs that have been infected previously still require an annual vaccination against it? The answer is a definitive yes!! It has been discovered that during periods of stress, the bacteria hidden in the lymph nodes can begin to spread in the bloodstream once again. If a dog has little or no immunity against them, the severe form of the disease may return, causing widespread inflammation in the kidneys, and leading to death. It has been demonstrated that by vaccinating previously infected dogs annually, the antibody levels are kept at a high enough level, so the reoccurring infection can be quickly stopped, before such kidney damage can occur.
So how do we prevent Lyme disease in a dog? The first thing one can do is avoid areas where ticks are known to thrive. These include densely wooded areas and areas of thick brush. Also areas that deer are known to inhabit. The next thing is to choose a tick control product that is scientifically proven to be very safe and very effective. At the Aurora Pet Hospital, we recommend and dispense only the most effective products for flea and tick control available anywhere. Third and lastly, have your dog vaccinated. The Lyme disease vaccine administered here is proven to be very safe and effective at preventing the disease. We always recommend good tick control along with vaccination however, as no vaccine or tick control product alone is ever 100% effective at preventing the disease.
Lastly, I would like to address a few "myths" about Lyme disease that I occasionally hear from clients, friends, and even some family members. The first is: "I don't live in the woods, so my dog cannot possibly get ticks!!". While that may be true in a very few instances, with deer being very common in Western New York, and the fact that mice infected with ticks can live virtually everywhere, very few dogs are not at risk for tick exposure. And if you have a woodpile in your yard for a fireplace, yes, ticks thrive in that environment as well.
Another common one is: "I have never seen a tick on my dog, so it is impossible that he/she is at risk!!". Wrong. While it is true that ticks are often visible when they are engorged after a blood meal, the larval and nymph life stages are extremely tiny. Those are the life stages commonly active in the spring and early summer. Whats more, the adult deer tick is very tiny, and very difficult to see. "OK, I've only found a few ticks on my dog this year, so I'm sure he's fine." Incorrect again. It only takes the bite of one infected tick to spread Lyme disease to a dog, or a person for that matter. Case closed!
Another one is: "I apply a flea and tick preventive to my pet monthly, so I don't have to worry about Lyme disease". Great, but no product guarantees 100% protection, even the one I use in my own dog! Another word of caution, there are still products being sold at pet stores and on the Internet that are using 1970's technology, and have we ever developed more effective and safer products since then!!
Oh yes, and my new favorite: "It is winter and this is Buffalo, so no tick control is needed!". Once again, that is totally incorrect. It has been well documented, that some tick species, including the deer tick, have an antifreeze like compound in their blood. While it is true that many insect species cannot survive well outdoors in our climate, deer ticks certainly can. When we get those warm sunny days in January or February, and the temperature goes above 40 degrees or so, I promise you ticks are active in the environment, just looking for a host to jump on to and begin feeding! For the best protection, it is recommended that dog owners continuously use a tick preventive throughout the year, even in Buffalo, New York!!
In summary, virtually every dog in this area is at risk of contracting Lyme disease. For that reason, and with very few exceptions, we at Aurora Pet Hospital recommend all dogs be vaccinated against it annually, and all dog owners provide their pets with safe and effective flea and tick prevention, throughout the year. Yes, even in the winter months!! And by the way, I can honestly tell you that I was more ticks in my office on dogs and cats in 2016 that I saw in all previous years of practice combined!! And I graduated from the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1979!! I even helped a few humans identify ticks they had removed from themselves!!
Like always, should you have any further concerns about Lyme disease, or any other topic in veterinary medicine for that matter, please feel free to call my office at: 655-0305. We are always here to help.
