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Lyme disease is one of the most common tick-borne diseases seen in family pets today. When left untreated, Lyme disease can result in debilitating lameness and arthritis, as well as occasional neurological, cardiac and fatal kidney disease. Lyme disease is diagnosed through a combination of blood tests, history of tick exposure, as well as having scientific symptoms as part of the history and physical exam of the pet. While Lyme disease is easily treated with a 3-4 week course of Doxycycline, it is far better to stop this severe infection, rather than treat it.
The a lot of crucial aspects of prevention revolve around stopping tick bite and exposure to affected animals. Fortunately, there are lots of effective tick control products on the market that successfully repel and kill ticks. One of my favorite products is the Preventic Amitraz Tick Collar. When this collar is appropriately fitted to the pet’s neck it can detach and kill ticks for up to 3 months. The only negative issue surrounding this collar is that it cannot be submerged in water, so it need to be removed in those family pets when swimming or from those family pets that are often out in the rain.
My other two favorite products for stopping tick infestation and Lyme disease transmission are Frontline plus and K9 Advantix II. I have especially found the latter product valuable in stopping tick attachment and infection transfer. When used according to the labeled recommendations, both of these products are highly effective in lessening tick exposure. Other products like revolution are also valuable in lots of cases.
While there is a vaccination for prevention of Lyme disease, I have not been pleased with either the efficacy or safety of even the newer Lyme vaccinations, and I as a result don’t recommend Lyme vaccination of dogs. lots of years ago there were problems with Lyme vaccinations in people, and I have found similar problems in dogs vaccinated for Lyme disease.
There is also an exceptional homeopathic remedy called Ledum, which I have occasionally found valuable when used in dogs experiencing early signs of Lyme disease. Consultations with homeopathic veterinarians to help strengthen the pet’s immune system through diet and nutritional supplementation, in addition to homeopathic remedies and herbal supplements, can also go a long way in stopping Lyme disease in our pets.
Lyme Disease