Key points to remember about Lyme disease

Lyme disease is the tick-borne disease most commonly seen in the United States and is one of the fastest-growing infectious diseases. According to the Companion Animal Parasite Council, the number of canine Lyme disease cases increased from 245,971 in 2015 to 336,200 in 2019. With the National Weather Service predicting 70-80% of weather this spring and summer ranging above average, you can anticipate this means above average tick populations.  

Key points to remember:  

• Lyme disease is a disease caused by a spirochete bacterium called Borrelia burgdorferi. The disease can be transmitted to humans, a zoonosis, and it is transmitted by the nymph stage of the black-legged tick Ixodes scapularis. 

• The infected tick must be attached to the dog for at least 24 to 52 hours for the infection to occur; the peak time for transmission is 48 to 52 hours of attachment.

• Even if a dog test positive for Lyme disease, it may not show any symptoms. Symptoms tend to develop 2-5 months after the tick bite. 

• Clinical signs include lameness in the legs, swollen joints, lethargy, fever, and enlarged lymph nodes. 2% will develop urinary signs related to Lyme nephritis. 

• The Lyme vaccine is only effective in 60-86% of dogs and for a short duration of immunity. 

• Key preventative is tick control. Use flea and tick preventative regularly.