WINNIPEG, Manitoba, July 10, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pet owners do not have to live near lakes or woods for their cats and dogs to be infected with tick-borne Lyme disease. Bites can occur in Manitoba backyards, reminds Best Friends Animal Hospital. Awareness of Lyme disease is the first step in protecting pets from its debilitating effects.
The ticks that transmit Lyme disease, commonly known as deer ticks, travel on deer wending their way north through developed greenbelt, as well as forested areas. Migratory songbirds and waterfowl are also often carriers.
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that blood-sucking deer ticks transmit from one animal to another. Fever, arthritis and lethargy are the most common symptoms of infection in pets. Arthritic inflammation leads to joint pain and, possibly, lameness.
Dr. Manjit Sra, DVM, of Winnipeg's Best Friends Animal Hospital, located at 100-2355 McGillivray Boulevard, emphasizes that prevention is essential in keeping pets safe. This begins with daily checks for ticks on pets that spend time outdoors. Look at the skin between toes, in and around ears, on elbows and tail region.
Remove any ticks immediately by grasping them at point of entry with tweezers and pulling straight out without squashing and causing bacterium to enter the pet's blood. Put the tick in alcohol to kill it. Early removal is important, as it can take 24 to 48 hours for a deer tick to transmit infection.
Prevention also includes topical medications, chewable tablets, sprays and shampoos that kill ticks and other parasites. A veterinarian must be consulted before applying these powerful treatments.
Annual vaccination against the Borrelia burgdorferi bacterium, which causes Lyme disease, is important for dogs. There are also treatment options for cats; however Lyme disease is less common in felines as they are typically indoor pets.
Aside from helping pet owners prevent and treat the pain of Lyme disease, Best Friends Animal Hospital provides a broad range of veterinary services. These include wellness exams, dental work, nutrition and behavior counseling, surgery, and laser therapy for pets recovering from surgery.
The hospital is open Monday through Saturday and may be reached by phone at (204)269-4451. Additional information on their full range of veterinary services can be found on their website at http://bestfriendsvet.ca/.
Best Friends Animal Hospital, (204)269-4451
http://www.lymediseaseassociation.org/about-lyme/tick-vectors/about-ticks
http://www.petmd.com/dog/parasites/evr_multi_types_of_flea_tick_control_products