Whether you bring your dog with you or board him or her at a facility, summer vacations can present health challenges for dogs.
Dr. Michael Tuder, a vet with the Animal Infirmary of Hoboken, says, “Hudson County is not a hotbed for Lyme disease. The tick that carries that particular organism is not prevalent here. They’re more in an environment where there are wild animals like deer, raccoons, and coyote, which you don’t see in high volume here.”
The most common tick we see around here is a dog tick, which, despite its name, is not the dangerous one. The dog tick is about the size of a peanut, once it’s sucked some blood from your dog and is embedded in his or her fur.
But you might be going to a destination where there are wild critters and where the tick that causes Lyme disease hangs out.
That’s why “lifestyle” is so important to Tuder and his staff. “In our practice we find out from the owner what things they do,” he says. “Are they the type of person who goes down the Shore, goes to the Hamptons camping? Those are the environments where there’s concern about exposure to other types of ticks.”
But boarding your dog raises other issues. “On the flip side,” Tuder says, “if you do take your dog to day care, who knows where the other dogs have been? Illness can spread from another dog that went down the Shore and had a Lyme-carrying tick on it that attaches to another dog.”
What should dog owners watch for? Lameness without a history of injury. “Many dogs and cats present with limping, and the owner doesn’t know how it happened,” Tuder says. “Typically they’re aware of their pets’ habits, like jumping on and off furniture.
“On rare occasions, they’ll get a rash,” Tuder adds, “but not like the bullseye rash that people get. We also look for achiness, lethargy; they’re just not themselves. In the later stages it can affect the kidney function and nervous system.”
But Wait…
OK, you’re prepared for Lyme. But there’s another very serious illness that dog owners have to be aware of—canine influenza.
“It’s a viral disease we see in dogs that can make them very sick,” Tuder says. “Last year they found a new deadly strain in the New York/New Jersey area that might require hospitalization and is costly for owners.”
It can spread in parks, dog runs, and daycare.
“I’ve seen the devastating effects of canine influenza,” Tuder says. “It’s much more costly and emotionally devastating to treat than to prevent.”
Fortunately, there’s a vaccine, but it requires two shots. The FDA has not yet approved a two-in-one shot. “People ask, ‘which is more important,’” Tuder says. “Both are important.”
He says that a dog can come down with influenza anytime, but in summer or during holidays, when dogs are boarding, there might be a spike.
What should dog owners watch for? Respiratory issues, a productive or nonproductive cough, lethargy, loss of appetite, achiness, slowness, and the biggest sign, a high fever.
Tuder has adopted a policy in his practice of offering the necessary vaccines along with heartworm medications.
He says, “I’d much rather prevent than treat.”—Kate Rounds
Resource
Animal Infirmary of Hoboken
600 Adams St.
(201) 216-5777
hobokenvet@aol.com
Lyme aid
Imagine my shock last springwhen I received the results from a yearly routine heartworm test. “He tested positive for the spirochete Borreliaburgdorferi. He was infected approximately five weeks ago.”
“Spiro what? I don’t even know what that is.”
I didn’t realize the test for heartworm disease simultaneously tests for tick-borne illnesses. My dog,Rye, was infected with Lyme disease.
That’s impossible. I religiously put the recommended topical treatment on my seven-year-old German Shepherd year-round. He is methodically checked for ticks whenever we go to rural areas.He has also received the vaccine for Lyme. But more important he had not left Hoboken’sconcrete environment for seven months. How is it possible that he had been bittenby a deertick within the last five weeks?
It has been nearly a year since that phone call. And what I have learned has been a real eye opener. My vet said she has seen many cases of dogs, who never left the city, testing positive for Lyme disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 14 states in the U.S. are considered high risk, and New Jersey is one of them.The CDC also reports that more than 30,000 cases of Lyme disease are reported each year, many in urban areas, just like ours.
Lyme disease can cause swollen painful joints, lameness, fever, swollen lymph nodes, and in rare instances, kidney failure or neurological problems in our canine companions and in us as well. Some dogs, like mine, never show any symptoms at all.
What can you do?
To prevent tick bites, topical treatments can be effective. However, several independent studies have shown that they are only 85-95 percent effective.
Topical preventatives are designed to prevent ticks from attaching and ultimately biting your dog, according to the CDC.Although topical tick prevention has been around for years, in 2014 two chewable alternatives were approved by the FDA. Nexgard® (afoxolaner) and Bravecto® (fluralaner) are two new ectoparasitics that have proven to be very effective, according to the Elsevier Veterinary ParasitologyJournal. Consult your veterinarian to decide which is the better option for you.
As for the canine Lyme vaccine, it’s controversial. Some vets argue that it helps prevent infection, while others say the vaccine merely lessens the severity of the disease.It’s important to discuss the vaccine with your vet to determine what’s right for your dog.
There are also natural preventatives that can be used in and around your home.Many herbalists recommend growing plants like basil, peppermint, sage, lavender, and rosemary to keep these pests out of your yard.But there have been no studies on their effectiveness.
If Lyme is discovered early enough in your dog, antibiotics, typically Doxycycline, are recommended, and it is extremely effective against early-stage Lyme, according to The Merck Veterinary Manual.Veterinarians, however, are divided on the efficacy of antibiotics, after the initial infection. My vet advised against antibiotics because my dog was not displaying symptoms.She suggested alternative natural treatments, including herbs and supplements. Your vet may disagree; every case is different.
Having lived through this, my advice is to be proactive. Talk to your vet about steps you can take to keep your dog tick free. Check your dog after every outside venture. And don’t assume that your pet cannot get Lyme disease in Hoboken.—Terri SaulinoBish
For more information, visit http://www.cdc.gov/lyme/faq/index.html
http://www.cdc.gov/lyme/prev/on_pets.html
http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/generalized_conditions/lyme_borreliosis/overview_of_lyme_borreliosis.html
http://www.elsevier.com/locate/vetpar