Preventing Lyme Disease in Dogs

Methods Which Protect Dogs from Infection with Borrelia burgdorferi

Oct 17, 2009

Tick control is the cornerstone of Lyme disease prevention in dogs, although there are vaccines available that provide protection against infection with the disease also.

In many parts of the United States, Lyme disease is an endemic disease and is a legitimate concern for many dog owners. However, Lyme disease is a preventable disease.

Lyme disease is a caused by a spirochete bacteria known as Borrelia burgdorferi and is transmitted to a dog through the bite of an infected tick.

Symptoms of Lyme disease in dogs usually involve joint pain, lameness and fever, but a syndrome of Lyme disease which causes nephritis (kidney disease) is seen more rarely. Though Lyme disease is usually treatable with antibiotics, the nephritis syndrome is much more serious and often becomes life-threatening.

Preventing Canine Lyme Disease Through Vaccination

Vaccination against canine Lyme disease is available. Vaccination against Lyme disease is not considered to be a core vaccine and is not recommended for all dogs. Lyme disease vaccines should only be administered to dogs which are at risk of exposure to the disease. Those dogs at risk for exposure would include dogs which spend time in potentially tick infested areas, such as wooded areas or areas with high grasses. As with any other vaccination, the benefits of the vaccine must be weighed against the potential risks.

Dog owners are encouraged to consult with their dog's veterinarian regarding whether vaccination for Lyme disease is advisable based on the dog's lifestyle, disease risk and individual health considerations.

Vaccination provides protection only against Lyme disease and does not provide immunity against any of the other tick-borne diseases, such as ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and many others.

Effective Tick Control is Essential in Controlling Lyme Disease in Dogs

Tick control is considered to be the most effective means of preventing Lyme disease as well as other tick-borne diseases. Many species of ticks are capable of carrying and transmitting numerous types of diseases and one dog can be infected with more than one tick-borne disease. Therefore, even for those dogs vaccinated against Lyme disease, adequate tick control is a responsibility that dog owners should not ignore.

It should be noted that many of the monthly topical flea and tick control products (Frontline Plus®, Promeris® and others) will still allow ticks to attach and feed for a short period of time. Though it is unlikely that Lyme disease or other tick-borne diseases will be spread before the tick succumbs to the medication and dies, it is not entirely impossible. Therefore, pet owners are encouraged to check their dogs regularly for ticks even if the dog is receiving one of these medications. Any ticks found on the dog should be removed.

It is also worth mentioning that, although Lyme disease and most other tick-borne diseases are not directly transmissible from dogs to humans, it is possible for dogs to introduce ticks which may be carrying disease into the household. These ticks may then become dangerous to the people living there.

Protecting Dogs from Infection Caused by Lyme Disease

Though vaccination is available and may be advisable for dogs at high risk for exposure to Lyme disease, tick control remains the most important means of controlling Lyme disease as well as many other diseases which are transmitted by ticks.

The copyright of the article Preventing Lyme Disease in Dogs in Pet Diseases is owned by Lorie Huston. Permission to republish Preventing Lyme Disease in Dogs in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.