How to Protect Your Pet From Lyme Disease
Why Ticks?
Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi which is transmitted to dogs from a tick bite. Several types of ticks can transmit Lyme disease, the most common being the deer tick—common in our area.
How to Tell if Your Dog’s Been Infected with Lyme Disease
Many dogs become infected by the bacterial organism, but fortunately do not develop clinical signs. If they do, the most common clinical signs of infection are lameness and fever. Sometimes the lameness shifts from one leg to the other.
If Lyme disease is suspected, a simple blood test can be performed to determine if the infection is present. Actually each year EMRVC performs a routine check for heartworm and tick infections, one being Lyme disease.
Treating and Preventing Lyme Disease in Dogs
Lyme infection is commonly treated with the oral antibiotic Doxycycline. Prevention is easy. For that we recommend yearly vaccination, beginning the series as a puppy, and at 6 months of age using the FDA approved medication called Bravecto. Bravecto is just one pill that kills ticks (and fleas) for 12 weeks.
Discounts on Lyme Medication
EMRVC often offers discounts on tick medications. Contact us if you’d like to pick up some medicine for your pet!
Essex Middle River Veterinary Center provides medical and surgical care for cats and dogs at our animal hospital and veterinary clinic in Essex, Maryland, just outside of Baltimore. Our services include preventive wellness care exams, vaccines, spays/neuters, and a variety of specialized care. Our state-of-the-art veterinary offices are conveniently located near I-695 where we see pets from Towson, Honeygo, White Marsh, and other neighboring Baltimore areas.