Lymes disease or borreliosis is a tick borne bacterial disease affecting both humans and animals. First discovered in the US in humans in 1975 and reported in dogs in 1984, Borreliosis has since spread rapidly across the country, affecting more victims every year. Lymes disease is caused by a corkscrewed shaped bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi. The carriers of Borrelia burgdorferi are ticks. Ticks are blood suckers, parasites that draw their life from other creatures. When an infected tick bites, the bacterium is transferred to the blood of the host anemia. Lyme disease has the potential to exist in any area where B. burgdorferi infected ticks are present. In humans, surveillance data revealed 11 states reporting 497 cases of the Lymes disease to the CDC in 1982. By 1992, approximately 50,000 cases had been reported by 47 states; and more than 10000 cases were reported in 1994 alone, a 20 fold increase since 1982. Lymes disease has become he most common tick borne disease in the US. With the exception of AIDS, Lymes disease is considered the fastest growing infectious disease in the US. Surveillance data for Lyme disease in the dog is not compiled on a nationwide basis. Experts, however, believe that Lymes disease exposure in the dog may be 6 to 10 time greater than that reported in humans.

While no one knows for sure, there are several possible explanations. Studies have shown that waterfowl and other migratory birds, for instance, have helped disperse the infected tick. Dogs and wildlife that run in infected fields can bring infected ticks back to suburban locations and backyard. Dogs traveling with their owners can spread infected ticks to distant locations. Secluded wooded areas where people live or spend leisure time are the natural environments for ticks and the Lye disease bacteria.\\Recent research has shown that dogs may be reservoirs for B. burgorferi. That is, without appearing sick, dogs may harbor the Lyme disease bacteria and spread the bacteria to previously uninfected ticks much in the same way deer and mice are known to do . This does not mean you catch Lymes disease from your dog, just that he could be helping spread the disease from you dog by infecting new ticks. Clinical signs of lye disease in pets include arthritis, sudden onset of sever pain and lameness, fever, lethargy, loss of appetite and depression. Lymes disease also affects the heart, brain and kidneys.

After observing symptom which suggest Lymes disease, blood tests can be used to look for antibodies infection fighting proteins in the patients blood. Unfortunately, blood tests currently being used are often inconclusive. IF you are concerned that your pet may be suffering from Lymes disease contact your veterinarian. Several broad spectrum antibiotics have been proven effective in treating Lymes disease, especially in its early stages. However, treatment is not always successful. Your veterinarian will have the most effective treatment program available.

Routinely check your pets after they have been outdoors, especially if the have been in areas with tall grass and brush. Brush your dog after each outing. If a tick is attached to your dog's skin remove it carefully with tweezers, pulling back steadily and slowly to ease out the ticks mouth parts. Wash the bite area and you hands. Use baths, dips, and flea and tick collars as recommended by your veterinarian. Cut the brush and mow the grass where your dog plays. treat your yard with a veterinarian recommended tick killing spray. Ask your veterinarian about vaccinating your pet with a Lyme's vaccination.

The ticks most often associated with the transmission of the Lymes disease organism include the Deer tick, found in the northeast and upper Midwest, the black legged tick found in the Midwest and the Western black legged tick found mainly in the coastal areas of California, Oregon and Washington. Research has also shown that the American Dog Tic, the Lone star tick and the Pacific Coast tick can also be infected with Borrelia burgdorferi. American and Lone star ticks are located throughout the country, while Pacific Coast ticks are found primarily western coastal areas.