Client Handout: 7 Myths About Lyme Disease
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Client handout: 7 myths about Lyme disease Consider this list of common myths about Lyme disease and learn the facts to protect your pet: Myth 1: I don’t live in a ease. While you may diligent about wooded area, so my pet checking for and removing ticks, it can’t get ticks. still only takes one tick bite for a pet thaws during winter may release these Even if you think your pets don’t to contract Lyme disease. When you frozen ticks for another blood meal. visit areas where ticks are com- find ticks on your pet, there’s a good For the best protection, continuously monly found, such as wooded areas chance the pet has had other ticks apply preventives throughout the and places with high grass or brush, you’ve missed. And even if you only year, including the colder months. remember that ticks are actually find one tick, your veterinary team able to live out their entire life cycle wants to protect the pet’s well-being Myth 6: My pet was within your home. Woodpiles near by testing for tick-borne diseases in treated for Lyme disease, or inside a home provide the perfect the months following the bite. so now she’s cured. environment for ticks to survive. Once a pet is diagnosed with Lyme And when your pets are inside, this Myth 4: I apply a flea and disease, the doctor usually prescribes improves the environment for a tick’s tick preventive to my pet an antibiotic. Once the antibiotic survival because ticks need readily monthly, so I don’t need course is finished, this doesn’t guar- available hosts. to worry about Lyme antee the Lyme disease is cured and It’s also important to know that disease. the pet is no longer at risk of expe- when small rodents such as mice are That’s fantastic! Just remember, no riencing Lyme disease symptoms. infested with ticks, they can enter the product guarantees absolute protec- The infection in many pets is wide- house, assisting the tick’s transporta- tion. Depending on the pet’s habits spread, and in some cases it may take tion indoors. Even if ticks don’t make and environment, you may need multiple courses of the antibiotic to their way into your home, they can to take additional steps to prevent successfully treat the Lyme disease. still live in low grass and trees—such Lyme disease. When the doctor diagnoses Lyme as the back yards of most suburban For example, because each product disease, he or she may require quan- homes. When pets play in these areas, is different, the doctor may recom- titative tests after treatment to ensure they are at risk of tick infestation. mend different application schedules, complete treatment. Your pet should depending on the product and the also continue to be routinely screened Myth 2: I haven’t seen pet. The veterinarian may also advise for tick-borne diseases every year. any ticks on my pets, so reapplying the product if the pet has they aren’t at risk. been swimming or bathed, so it’s a Myth 7: My pet has You may find ticks on your pets once good idea to check with the veteri- already contracted Lyme they’re engorged and visible to the na- nary team if your pet gets wet after an disease, so he can’t ked eye. However, the tick’s life cycle application. And the doctor may also receive a Lyme disease includes two stages, larva and nymph, suggest routine testing for tick-borne vaccination. where they’re not as easily noticed. diseases and vaccinations against Pets that have been treated for Lyme While you can remove adult ticks Lyme disease. disease run the risk of reinfection. from their pets, you can’t be sure that So it’s important to continue apply- ticks haven’t already laid eggs on the Myth 5: During the colder ing preventives and check your pets pets, continuing the tick infestation. seasons, I don’t need to for ticks. Ticks in the larva and nymph stage worry about applying flea Another way to prevent Lyme need blood meals to grow into adult and tick prevention. disease is to administer Lyme disease ticks, and the pet’s coat is the perfect Because most insect populations de- vaccination. Although there are place to grow. crease once cold weather sets in, you more benefits to giving the vaccine may assume ticks will follow suit. In before exposure occurs, such as with Myth 3: I’ve only found a reality, ticks are much hardier—and puppies, adult or seropositive dogs few ticks on my pet, so their population even peaks during can receive the vaccination to help I’m sure he’s fine. the fall season. Ticks can also survive prevent the pet reinfection. The phrase “it only takes one” fits per- through the entire winter even when fectly to describe the risk of Lyme dis- frozen in the ground. And occasional Source: Ciera Miller, CVT GETTYIMAGES/NIKOLA RAHME.