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Preventing Lyme Disease in Pets

Lyme disease is a dangerous illness that can affect not only humans, but cats and dogs too. Lyme disease is transferred to humans or animals through infected ticks. It is vital to protect your pet against ticks so it can avoid deadly illnesses like Lyme disease. At South Side Animal Clinic in Rolla, MO, our team provides preventative tick treatments for your pets. We will also teach you how to avoid ticks and what to do if your pet does get infected.

Lyme Disease

What Are Ticks?

Ticks are insects that tend to stay and feed on warm-blooded bodies, like animals. These pests are found in wooded areas with tall grass. They wait for a host and latch onto it. Ticks may nestle into the fur of your pet. Ticks bite your pet and draw blood from it. These insects are small and can easily bite your or your pet, undetected.

What Is Lyme Disease?

If a tick is infected with Lyme disease, it can pass the illness onto your pet when it bites the animal. The disease is commonly carried by black-legged ticks, or deer ticks. Humans can get Lyme disease just as easily as pets, especially those who spend a lot of time outdoors in wooded areas.

Symptoms of Lyme Disease

If your pet exhibits any of the following symptoms, it may have Lyme disease:

  • Lameness or limping
  • Swollen joints
  • Decrease in activity
  • Loss of appetite
  • Fever
  • Kidney problems

These symptoms can take up to five or six months after a tick bite to manifest. When they do, they can very well indicate a variety of illnesses, so it is often difficult to diagnose Lyme disease. It is vital to monitor your pet for any changes in behavior, even small ones.

If you do notice your pet acting strangely, visit our animal clinic. Modern medicine has come up with a blood test to detect antibodies against the disease in the blood of an infected animal. You can have your pet tested for Lyme disease at our animal clinic.

Treatment for Lyme Disease and Subsequent Preventive Pet Care

If your pet tests positive for Lyme disease, our holistic veterinarian will prescribe an antibiotic that has proved to be effective in treating the disease. You will likely need to give your pet the medicine for 4 weeks. Our vet will guide you on treating your pet.

At our animal clinic, we will also educate you on how to prevent tick infestations. It is important to make sure that your dog or cat is up to date on its pet vaccinations. There are pet vaccinations available to protect your dog against Lyme disease. Meanwhile, taking the following natural pet care steps will help cut down the possibilities of it occurring in the first place:

  • Cut back any shrubs bordering your house
  • Keep your lawns mowed 
  • Avoid the woods and other places that may be infested with ticks
  • Check your pet for ticks if it has been in marshy areas or fields of tall grasses 

Schedule an Appointment with Our Holistic Veterinarian for Preventative Care

To keep your pet protected from Lyme disease, it is important to practice preventative care for your pet against ticks. At South Side Animal Clinic in Rolla, MO, we provide a variety of flea and tick preventative measures. Our goal is to keep your pet healthy and happy. Call us today to schedule an appointment or to learn more.