What do you know about Lyme disease? If the answer is, “Er, what’s that?” or “Not much,” and you have a dog that you like to exercise in the countryside then you need to know more. It is a very nasty condition which, in the UK mainly affects deer, sheep, rodents, dogs and humans.
It is caused by a bacterium which is carried by a specific species of tick. The disease doesn’t seem to have any serious effect on most animals but in the case of both dogs and humans it does. In both it can and often does cause severe illness that can be long lasting and difficult to get clear of. In fact Lyme disease in humans is potentially fatal. A friend of mine caught it from a tick bite in the New Forest and took the best part of last year to recover, so think on when visiting similar areas!
The signs and symptoms of Lyme disease in people can vary but commonly include flu-like symptoms (easily confused with so many other conditions), a rash, headaches, chronic arthritis and some neurological symptoms. It is quite common for none of these to become apparent until several weeks after being bitten by the tick. Diagnosis is therefore difficult but it helps if you can tell the doctor about the tick bite; how long ago, where, etc.
If your dog contracts the disease you can expect to notice signs of fever, loss of appetite, enlargement of the lymph nodes and a recurring lameness that shifts from limb to limb. In such a case you must consult your vet.
The disease spreads chiefly through the ticks feeding off an infected host before dropping off and then biting and feeding off an, as yet, uninfected host such as you or your dog. The ticks are to be found in many areas of countryside but areas which are known to be well populated by them include The South Downs, parts of Wiltshire, Berkshire and Scotland’s West Coast. Cumbria, Exmoor, Salisbury Plain and the New Forest are also homes to these creatures. The New Forest in particular is known to be a very significant reservoir of Lyme disease bearing ticks, owing to the large deer population.
The incidence of Lyme disease in humans seems to be increasing, 25% more in 2011 than in 2010 for example, probably because of climate change leading to an increase in the tick population.
How can you avoid becoming a victim? Well, for humans, keep exposed skin to a minimum in places like the New Forest. Wear long sleeves, long trousers tucked into socks, that sort of thing and avoid long grass, bracken etc. because those are often the areas where the tick lurk. There is currently no vaccine against Lyme disease for humans.
For dogs, one thing you can do is to avoid taking the dog into areas likely to be infested.
However a vaccine has recently become available for dogs. Your vet will be able to give you all the information you need but don’t delay. The sooner the dog can be protected the better.
This article was provided by Pete Hopper,
The Dorset Copywriter.