May is National Lyme Disease Awareness Month

With summer approaching, accompanied with its increasing heat and humidity, we often find ourselves spending more time outdoors, perhaps hanging out on an inviting hammock on that sweet-smelling lawn under a shady tree. Our dogs and outdoor cats may also seek the comfort of cooler places protected from the sun blazing overhead, spending time in tall grasses or in piles of raked leaves behind the house.

While the great outdoors is not only inviting to us but also to our pets, there can be some nasty pests lingering on bushes, on the grass, trees and other inviting areas. Since May has been set aside as National Lyme Disease Awareness Month, this is an excellent time for folks to take necessary precautions to protect not only our beloved pets, but the entire family as well. Lyme Disease can affect both pets and humans, so it is very important to learn about this potentially devastating disease and ways in which it may be avoided.

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection spread by the bite of an infected tick. Although not every tick carries the Lyme bacteria, caution must be exercised, especially in tick-infested areas. Not so long ago, Lyme disease was considered only rampant in Lyme "endemic" areas, however this nasty and complicated disease may be found throughout the entire United States and Europe. Additionally, ticks carry a wide variety of other serious bacterial infections.

So what can we do protect our pets from being infected with Lyme disease? Here are a few simple suggestions.

There is a Lyme disease vaccine is available for dogs. Make sure to talk to your vet about the benefits and risks of this vaccine. Unfortunately at this time there is no vaccine developed for cats.

Check with your vet about the most efficient prescription topical tick species appropriate repellents and protective products. Although slightly more costly than the over-the-counter products, prescription varieties are considered to be much safer.

Be sure to thoroughly examine your pets for ticks daily. Upon finding ticks, use a fine-point tweezers or a special tick-removal tool, to remove them. It is an excellent idea to preserve any ticks you may find by saving them in a container filled with rubbing alcohol and bring the specimen to your vet for testing. Always wear gloves when performing this task. Grab the tick as close to the skin as possible, pulling it straight out. Never crush or puncture the tick. Follow this procedure by wiping the area carefully with a veterinary approved antiseptic, and wipe the tool with alcohol. Brush and comb your pets after any outdoor exposure, especially if they have been playing in tall grasses or shrubs.

Since ticks thrive in high grasses, keep your lawns mowed short particularly in the areas in which your pets spend time. Make sure that any pesticides you are using are pet-safe.

Since ticks thrive in high grasses, keep your lawns mowed short particularly in the areas in which your pets spend time. Make sure that any pesticides you are using are pet-safe.

Seek veterinary advice immediately if you observe any of these symptoms in your pets; swollen joints, decreased appetite or lameness, or lethargy. Antibiotics are successful in treating animals in the early stages of Lyme disease; however, delaying treatment may lead to fatal kidney disease, arthritis, heart condition and neurological disorders which can cause confusion or aggressive behavior.

By using prudent caution and care, you can provide a much safer environment for both your pet and yourself. By following these simple suggestions and learning more about Lyme disease, you and your pets will be a lot safer.

For more information about Lyme disease click here

What concerns you about Lyme disease and your pets? Discuss them by leaving a comment.