Protect Fido from Lyme Disease

Hello, my name is Jane and yes I am a crazy dog owner. This cute face to the right is one of the lights of my life, Wiley. I rescued Wiley and those big ears four years ago and he’s been my number one running pal, cuddle body and just a great companion since day one. If you are a dog owner, you know this love. The love of a wiggling body and pure joy any time you walk through the door. I could go on forever about my pup, but I will stop and get to the topic at hand: protecting this little guy.

As we’ve written about before, Lyme disease is a growing issue for many parts of the country, but what some people don’t know is that it affects dogs (cats don’t seem to show any symptoms). Unfortunately our four-legged friends can just tell us when they aren’t feeling well and their fur hides any hint of the bulls eye rash that human get. You may notice if your dog is a little “off” however. In the case of Lyme disease, here are canine symptoms:

• Lameness due to joint pain
• Sensitive to touch
• Lack of appetite
• Difficulty breathing
• Stiff walk
• And more

Lyme disease is transferred to humans and dogs alike through bites from deer ticks. As our dogs are more likely (in most cases) to run around in the woods, bushes and leaves piles than we are, they are also more likely to get bitten by ticks, making it all the more important to protect them. Topical flea and tick medicines that are applied monthly will help kill ticks if by chance one does bite your furry buddy. And just as you would if you were bitten by a tick, remove it carefully with tweezers and place it in a plastic bag in case it needs to be tested for Lyme.

If you live in an area where there are a lot of deer, it’s very likely that deer ticks are close by as well. In certain cases, tick control is necessary to protect you and family from tick bites and the diseases they carry. Mosquito Squad’s barrier treatment and tick control will help kill ticks before they can get to you. Contact your local squad to learn more.