Ticks and Lyme Disease: Is it time to vaccinate your dog?

Deer Ticks have been found in Huron County since 2014 and some of them have tested positive for Lyme Disease. 

Frequently Asked Questions:

But my dog is on Revolution, does that mean he/she is protected against Lyme Disease?

No, unfortunately not.  Revolution is a great product for fleas and heartworm - but it unfortunately kills ticks too slowly (days or weeks) which means that they could spread Lyme Disease before they die.  However, there are effective fast-kill tick products including Nexgard, Spectra, and Simparica Trio.  We can help you chose the best prevention product for your dog's lifestyle.

How often should my dog be vaccinated for Lyme Disease?
The first year, dogs receive 2 doses of vaccine given 3 weeks apart.  After that the vaccine is given yearly at your pet’s annual check-up.  Please note that dogs should be negative for lyme disease prior to vaccination.  If there’s a chance your pet may have already been exposed, please talk to the veterinarian about testing and treatment prior to vaccination.  Testing for lyme disease is included in your pet's yearly 4DX blood test for heartworm and tick borne diseases.

More Information about Ticks and Lyme Disease:  The Huron County Public Health Unit tested ticks found on people and pets in 2014 to identify which tick species are living in our area and our risk of Lyme Disease.  Results of those tests show that the majority of ticks submitted were harmless Brown Dog Ticks.  However, some of the ticks were identified as Ixodes species, the Deer Tick which can carry Lyme Disease.  Some of those Deer Ticks collected in Huron County were found to be carrying Borellia, the organism that causes Lyme Disease.   A dog seen in our office last year tested positive for Lyme Disease, and there was also a lyme-positive tick removed from another dog.  

Ticks are active during cool damp weather – anytime the temperature rises above 0 Celsius your dog needs tick protection! Ticks favour brushy areas with long grass and leaf litter.  If you’re outside hiking, biking, or camping this year, be on the lookout for ticks!  Good tick control also includes daily tick checks and timely removal of ticks on people and pets.  Human family members should shower at night to dislodge ticks before they have a chance to attach to the skin.  You can remove ticks with fine-pointed tweezers, or a “tick twister” device (available from our office).  The following link describes the tweezer method: http://www.cdc.gov/ticks/removing_a_tick.html