5 Ways to Protect Your Pet From Lyme Disease.
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Research shows that dogs and cats always love to appreciate the smells and the sights of the areas outside your home. Unfortunately, there are opportunistic organisms that can dampen the hike or the walk your pet takes with you — deer ticks. These parasites are the known vectors of the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, which causes Lyme disease. As your pet’s primary care provider, you should protect your pet from Lyme disease, wherever you and your pet are. Here are some of the basic preventive measures you can do.
Consult Your Veterinarian
Clinical data maintain that a canine vaccine for Lyme disease can keep your pet safe from this ailment. Experts say that this vaccine is only effective in protecting your dog only if your pet has not acquired the disease yet. There is no significant clinical proof that a Lyme vaccine can help protect a dog that has already been exposed to the bacterium. You can also ask your veterinarian for effective and safe tick preventive to protect your pet from deer ticks.
Protect Yourself Too
Whenever you take your pet on a walk or a hike, make sure you wear DEET-treated clothing and shoes. Research says that this simple solution can discourage deer ticks from hanging on to you for long periods. Before you and your pet reach your property, be sure to check yourself for any stubborn tick that may have found a way to attach to you that long.
Keep Your Yard in Order
If you have a thriving yard, full of grass, shrubs, and trees, always see to it that you mow your lawn, rake fallen leaves, and trim the hedges regularly. Also, clear any idle objects that are just sitting in your yard. These are favorite hiding places for ticks. See to it that your trash bins are locked because the smell of waste attracts rodents that usually carry deer ticks.
Protect Your Pet
You can protect your pet from Lyme disease by using tick preventives on your dog. There are tick collars, tick shampoos, and tick powders that can deter ticks. You can reinforce these commercial preventives by filling your yard with plants that repel ticks. Examples of such plants that are safe for pets are sage, marigold, Venus flytrap, thyme, sweet basil, and rosemary.
Check Your Pet for Ticks Regularly
Animal health experts advise that you should always inspect your pets for ticks every day. Do this if you know that your pet likes to spend time in your yard. With the tips of your fingers, feel for bumps on your pet’s skin. Concentrate on the areas behind the ears, under the legs, around the neck, under the tail, on the back, and in between toes.
Veterinary data analysis reveals that Lyme disease is one of the most successful and rampant bacterial diseases in the United States. You should be vigilant in protecting your pets against it. Here at Bridge Park Animal Hospital, we believe that keeping your pet safe from illnesses like Lyme disease is a major key to your pet’s optimal health. Feel free to drop by our clinic in Johns Creek, Georgia, for a one-on-one consultation. You can also call us at 770-569-5799 if you want to schedule an appointment or if you have more questions about Lyme disease.