Being vigilant about ticks and Lyme disease

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Summer is quickly approaching, and dogs are itching to be outside where they can run and play. However, there are important things to keep in mind about the threat of ticks and Lyme disease this year, according to an expert in Purdue University’s College of Veterinary Medicine.

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection, caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, that is transmitted to dogs via the blacklegged (deer) tick and the western blacklegged tick.

Dr. Lori Corriveau, veterinarian in the Purdue College of Veterinary Medicine's Small Animal Community Practice and a diplomat for the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners, says there are a few things to know about Lyme disease and how it manifests itself in both dogs and humans.

"After being bitten by a tick that has transmitted the disease, 80 percent of humans will develop a rash and/or flu-like symptoms," she says. "In the next few weeks, joint pain ensues with a small percentage of people developing neurologic abnormalities associated with Lyme disease and an even smaller percentage of people developing a heart rhythm disturbance referred to as lyme carditis. At this same point in the infection timeline, dogs have yet to develop any symptoms at all."

Corriveau says that Lyme disease can cause long-term illness in humans, but may never manifest any illness in a dog. However, she still encourages dog owners to be vigilant.

"The dog’s most serious, long-term potential problem with Lyme disease is in regard to glomerular disease," she says. "This is a type of kidney damage that occurs when the immune system is stimulated over a long time by a latent infectious organism or other immune stimulus. This is a much more insidious problem for which specific testing is needed."

Symptoms of the disease in dogs include:

• Fever
• Loss of appetite
• Loss of energy
• Swelling of joints
• Lameness
• Generalized stiffness, discomfort or pain

Corriveau says that, luckily, canine Lyme disease typically responds very quickly to the proper course of antibiotics.

She recommends owners do everything they can to prevent a tick bite on their dogs.

"Tick control on the host is one of the most effective means of preventing infection, along with checking your pet often, especially after coming in from outside and walks in tall grass and removing any tick found on them," Corriveau says. "There are numerous effective tick-control products available in assorted formats including chewable treats, collars and topical spot-on treatments."

She also says that keeping lawns well maintained will help keep ticks away.

The process of transmitting the disease takes about 48 hours, which means if the tick is removed within 48 hours of attaching, the disease cannot be transmitted.

The Small Animal Community Practice is a service of the college’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital and provides veterinary care to pets of Tippecanoe County residents as well as faculty, staff and students of the Purdue University, West Lafayette campus.

The program provides primary small animal veterinary care while functioning as a model for a private small animal practice to allow veterinary and veterinary technician students to gain experience in primary veterinary care and client communication. The service cares for dogs and cats as well as a variety of other pet exotic animal species such as ferrets, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils, degus, sugar gliders, hedgehogs, lizards, snakes, birds and fish. 

Writer: Megan Huckaby, 765-496-1325, mhuckaby@purdue.edu   

Source: Dr. Lori Corriveau, corrivea@purdue.edu