Protecting your pets from Lyme Disease

(FOX Providence) - With signs of spring, also comes the seasonal threat of ticks and Lyme Disease. And while the warmer weather makes it much more pleasant to be outdoors with family pets, it also puts them at greater risk for tick-borne diseases.

Dr. Gary Block from Ocean State Veterinary Specialists joined The Rhode Show with some tips on keeping our pets and our families safe.

Facts about the Lyme Disease:

-Lyme disease is one of the most common infectious diseases in the Northeast.

-The disease was named after the town in Connecticut where it was first identified and studied. It is not "lime" disease or "Lymes" disease.

-The Lyme disease organism is a bacteria that is transmitted by the bite of a tick. The bacteria is present in the saliva of the tick. In the Northeast, this is most commonly the Deer Tick. The Deer Tick can also carry potentially more devastating diseases such as Erlichiosis and Anaplasmosis and it is not uncommon for dog's to get infected with more than one disease when they are bitten by a tick carrying these organisms.

-The Deer Tick can be very difficult to see, with the adult tick being about the side of a poppy seed. More immature stages of the tick are even smaller, measuring the size of a period on this page.

-The tick is usually found in forests, high brush and even on well cared-for lawns.

Since the size of the tick is so small, often times you won't find it on your pet at all.

Here are some signs that people can look for in their pets:

-The most common signs of Lyme disease are weakness, muscle pain, stiff joints, shifting leg lameness and decreased appetite. In rare cases, Lyme disease can cause a severe form of kidney failure and even damage to the heart.

- Dogs do not get the typical red "bulls eye" skin lesion seen in people who are infected with Lyme disease after a tick bite.

-As in people, Lyme disease can be difficult to diagnose. Many healthy appearing dogs who have been previously exposed to the bacteria will test Lyme positive on routine screening tests but this is not the same as being actively infected and ill. More specific testing and diagnostics may be needed to confirm whether an animal's signs are due to active Lyme disease infection.

-Whether to treat Lyme positive asymptomatic dogs with antibiotics is controversial and your veterinarian will need to discuss the pros and cons of such a decision.

Keep in mind, people cannot get Lyme from their dogs. But, there is a way to prevent it so your pet doesn't suffer.

A vaccine does exist for Lyme disease. This too is controversial as the effectiveness of the vaccine and the potential side effects of the vaccine must be balanced against the dog's exposure risk.

-The best way to prevent Lyme disease in your dog (and yourself) is to routinely check your pets after they have been outdoors-especially if they have been in tall grass, the woods or hiking trails.

-There are a number of very effective and safe products available from your veterinarian (collars, topical products placed on the skin) that can prevent ticks from attaching and feeding on pets. They should be used year round since the Deer Tick can "overwinter" in the house and infection can occur during any month of the year (though most commonly in summer and fall).

-If there is a tick embedded in your dog's skin, the sooner it is removed, the better, since it can often take many hours after the tick bites the dog for it to transmit the Lyme disease organism. Removing a tick should be done with tweezers by grasping the tick near the skin and pull the tick straight out with gentle continuous pressure. Then wash the area with soap and water and wash your own hands as well.