Ticks In Dogs

How (and why) to protect your pets from Lyme disease

Then Teddy, who is 13, stopped eating in January. She became lethargic. Something was clearly wrong.

A test for Lyme disease came back positive and Bass and her vet, Dr. Frank Mondi, of New Hartford Animal Hospital, began fighting for Teddy’s life.

Lyme disease has become much more common in Central New York among both dogs and humans in recent years, and public health officials predict that the number of infections will continue to grow. “I think it’s just the tip of the iceberg,” Mondi said. “And it is so much more important than fleas. Fleas ... transmit tape worms, that’s it. Simple to get rid of and they don’t cause death.

“Lyme disease and other tickborne diseases, they can cause chronic infections, chronic misery and death.”

Prevention

Positive tests for Lyme disease used to be rare in Oneida County, but as they became more common, Mondi’s practice began strongly recommending vaccination for dogs about 10 years ago, he said. The only exception was for mostly indoor dogs who venture no farther than the backyard, he said. That changed this year.

“Today, Lyme disease has been declared endemic, meaning it’s persistent in our area. We recommend (the vaccine) for every pet,” he said. “We also advise our clients to be aware of the disease and the deer ticks that transmit it because we’re exposed ourselves.”

Mondi also recommends that his clients put their dogs on Frontline or Advantix, topical medicines that kill most ticks before they can transmit Lyme disease.

The medicines alone might not kill every tick every time. And the vaccine alone doesn’t protect against other tickborne illnesses, he said.

Mondi also warned pet owners never to use flea collars, which can cause liver damage with long-term use.

“They’re nasty, they’re toxic and they’re not effective,” he said.

So far this year, about 50 dogs brought to the New Hartford clinic have tested positive for Lyme disease, Mondi said, adding that that number is deceptively low because his office has pushed prevention so hard for many years.

Recovery

With antibiotics, dogs can recover from Lyme disease. But Teddy is old and her kidneys were failing, probably as a result of the disease, before she was diagnosed. The disease put her life at risk.

Hartz UltraGuard Plus: Dog How-to Guide Video

Best practices for the first 48 hours after Hartz UltraGuard application: • It's always a good idea to separate the treated pet from other pets for 24 hours after the treatment has been applied. • It's best to not bathe your pet 48 hours prior to, or after application. • Monitor your pet for 24-48 hours after application for signs of sensitivity. If signs of sensitivity occur, bathe your pet with mild soap, rinse with large amounts of water, and consult a veterinarian immediately. • We recommend year round treatment for total protection. Hartz UltraGuard Plus is a monthly treatment that kills fleas, ticks, mosquitoes and flea eggs, plus repels fleas and ticks for up to 30 days to keep your pet pest free. The Pro-cision Flo™ applicator (patent pending) easily penetrates the fur for improved application direct to your dog's skin. Use only on dogs over 12 weeks of age. Do not use on cats or kittens. Package contains 3 monthly treatments. www.hartzultraguard.com How To Use Frontline Plus For Dogs ?

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