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The Tale of The Tick and lyme disease
Written by Dolores Paddock
Lyme disease was first discovered 1975 in Lyme, Ct when researchers noticed an
unusual amount of children were being diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. The
researchers discovered that most of the affected children lived and played near wooded areas
where ticks mainly live. What happened next is symptoms similar to those of the children’s
were now occurring on dogs and cats. Typically these symptoms started in the summer
months; the height of the tick season, many affected had been walking or playing in a wooded
area. Lyme disease has been diagnosed all over the United States but is most common in the
Eastern Coastal States.
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection
spread by ticks. It can be found on
dogs, cats and humans and mainly
affects the joints but can also affect
other body systems. Systems and signs
of Lyme disease can include but do not
always show all of the following:
Swelling of the joints
Limping that worsens over time
Swelling of the lymph nodes
103F to 105F fevers
Loss of appetite
Lethargy and/or changes in behavior
22 AmericanPetMagazine.com
APRIL is ...
Prevention of Lyme
Disease in Dogs Month
Lyme disease can be fatal if the disease progresses. Kidney failure, heart failure or a nervous
system disease may develop and kill you or your dog or cat. You should check your pet every
time they come in from outside with a small comb to make sure they have not brought in a tick.
This tick can fall off the pet and end up on you or embed itself into the dog or cats skin. If you
find a rash on your body do not wait, go immediately to a Dr. to make sure there is not a tick
embedded in your skin where the rash would appear.
The prevention of Lyme disease for your cat or dog is quite simple. Regular applications
of a flea preventative once a month is an easy fix. There are many different types of topical
preventatives and you should choose the one you feel is best for your pet. Also another simple
preventative is to avoid environments where ticks are prevalent, especially between May and
August. Wooded areas or areas where there are lots of trees and leaves can cause ticks to
latch on to your dog, cat or yourself. Ticks can be active in any temperature above 32F so
check your dog or cat for ticks whenever they return from the outdoors.
Also check your body to make sure you do not have any crawling ticks on your socks, pants or
arms. Ticks are attracted to light colored clothes, so when you walk with your dog in a wooded area
it is best to wear dark clothes and be as covered as possible to avoid them from attaching to you.
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