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Lyme disease
can affect individual pets differently. Some animals may display
no symptoms. Other animals may develop fever, loss of appetite,
painful joints, lethargy, and vomiting. If left untreated, the
spirochete may damage the eyes, heart, kidneys, and nervous system.
Lyme disease has been diagnosed in humans, dogs, cats, horses,
goats, and cattle. Other species may also be at risk.
Cats
Cats may show lameness, fever, loss of appetite, fatigue, eye
damage, unusual breathing, or heart involvement. Many cats do
not show noticeable symptoms, despite being infected.
Dogs
Infected dogs may be lethargic, have a poor/loss of appetite,
or a fever (103° - 105 ° F). Dogs may also experience
lameness shifting from one joint to another, fatigue, kidney
damage or failure, heart disorders, or neurologic involvement
(e.g. aggression, confusion, overeating, seizures). Dogs can
be infected with the Lyme bacterium but not exhibit any noticeable
symptoms. Dogs appear to have the same expression of disease
as humans, therefore, humans have been considered an animal model
for dogs. Transplacental transmission has occurred in dogs.
Cattle
Many cattle do not display signs of Lyme disease; those that
do may have lameness, painful or swollen joints, fever, laminitis,
or weight loss. A skin rash may be present on the udder of infected
cows. Bb has been found to exist in urine and colostrum
of infected cattle; therefore, the possibility of transmission
between cows should be considered. The Lyme bacterium has also
been found in blood, milk, synovial fluid, and spontaneously
aborted fetal tissue. Bb can survive in frozen milk, but
is killed during pasteurization.
Horses
Infected horses generally do not have a fever, but may have lame
or stiff joints, laminitis, depression, or refuse to eat. This
bacterial infection may be a cause of moon blindness or loss
of vision. There have been reports of spontaneous abortion and
encephalitis in horses infected with Bb. Neurologic signs
include head tilt, difficulty swallowing, or aimless wandering.
Transplacental transmission occurs. Colts born to infected mares
have displayed birth defects. Many horses may be infected with
the spirochete, but display no symptoms.
PROTECTING
YOUR PET
- Apply tick-killing
chemicals to your animals in order to protect them from disease
spreading ticks. Sprays and dips containing permethrins and pyrethrins
kill ticks on dogs, cats, and horses. Precautions should be taken
when applying insecticides as some animals may be sensitive to
the chemicals. Follow the manufacturer's instructions.
It is a good
idea to wear rubber gloves during application. Tick collars will
help discourage ticks from attaching to your pet(s). Never apply
multiple repellents on your pet. A mixture of different chemicals
on your pet could make the animal very sick.
- Take precautions
to guard against ticks when entering tick habitat, such as grassy,
shrubby, wooded, or beach grass areas. Cut/mow grassy areas regularly
to reduce tick habitation.
- Treat the
environment with insecticides designed specifically for ticks.
To avoid contaminating water, experts recommend spraying at least
75 feet away from a well.
- Conduct frequent
Tick-Checks! Examine animals closely in order to detect
embedded ticks.
- Remove attached
ticks properly and promptly to reduce the chance of transmission
of the LD bacterium. Place fine point tweezers around the tick's
mouthparts (the place where the tick is attached) and gently
pull upwards until the tick detaches. Do not use your bare
fingers!
Disinfect
the bite site and tweezers after removal. Wash your hands. Place
the tick, along with several blades of grass, into a small container
(e.g. a clean screw-cap pill bottle or a zip-lock bag) for later
examination. Call your veterinarian to determine if there is
a local place where the tick can be tested. Label the container
with: the date, name of pet, type of animal, owner's name, address
and phone number.
- Have your
animal(s) examined as soon as possible if you notice any symptoms
of disease; the sooner a disease is diagnosed, the easier it
is to treat.
- Vaccines
are available for dogs.
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