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Stirling Veterinary Services

Care, Compassion, Community

STIRLING VETERINARY SERVICES






36 Wilson Rd

Stirling, ON

K0K 3E0


(613) 395-2716



stirlingvet@gmail.com

Common Questions about Ticks, Dogs, and Lyme Disease:       



•     What are the symptoms of Lyme Disease?

     •     How does my dog get Lyme Disease?

     •     What is the risk of Lyme Disease?

     •     How can I prevent Lyme Disease?


With a surge in the tick population, we are getting more and more questions about ticks and Lyme disease.  This information will hopefully answer some of those questions and help you protect your pets.


Lyme disease is transmitted to dogs by one specific tick, commonly known as the deer tick.  The tick must be carrying the bacteria ( Borrelia burgdorferi) and be attached to the dog for more than 24 hours to transmit the bacteria.  


Symptoms of Lyme disease occur within 6 months of exposure.  The most common symptoms include fever, lameness, and listlessness.  Less commonly some dogs can develop more life-threathening kidney, heart and neurological disease.


Prevention of Lyme disease includes avoidance, screening for ticks, tick control products and vaccination.  In your own back yard, where possible, remove tall grasses and leaves where ticks may hide.  Check your pet daily for ticks by running your fingers over the body paying special attention to neck, ears and paws.  Removal of tick promptly reduces the risk of transmission of Lyme disease to your dog.  Click here to view a video on how to remove a tick using tick twisters.  Application of a tick control products will also help to kill any ticks you may miss.  There are several tick control products available.  Please give us a call or ask and we will gladly provide you with more information on these products.  Finally, vaccination for lyme disease will provide an addition level of protection.