Lyme disease and man's canine companions

Veterinarian Geoffrey Wright examines many kinds of dogs.

But there's something that one out of every four dogs Wright sees in his Bethlehem office has in common.

"They've been exposed to Lyme disease," he says.

Just 4 percent of dogs he sees develop full-blown cases of Lyme disease. But the rate of dogs being exposed to Lyme disease has skyrocketed in recent years, he says.

"There are areas south of us where it's 75 percent and other areas in Connecticut where it's 100 percent where every dog has had some exposure," he says.

In New Jersey, where Lyme disease is a growing problem in Warren and Hunterdon Counties, the exposure rate for dogs isn't that high. But it's generally higher than in Pennsylvania.

"We're seeing about a 40 percent exposure rate," says veterinarian Vincent Zaccheo of Warren Animal Hospital in Lopatcong Township.

Because of the combination of a high deer population and an abundance of areas where ticks thrive, Pennsylvania and New Jersey are two high-risk states for Lyme disease, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

As is the case with humans, a dog contracts the disease by being bitten by a deer tick.

But while more people are checking themselves for ticks after being outdoors, some dog owners don't realize dogs can contract the disease, too. So they may not check for ticks on their dogs.

Some dog owners also may think Lyme disease just affects dogs on farms or in the country. But that's not the case.

"It's certainly not just isolated to country dogs," Zaccheo says. "We've even seen it in dogs from New York City who have picked it up in Central Park on a walk."

In some cases, humans contract Lyme disease from a tick a dog carried into their home.

"People can't contract Lyme disease directly from a dog that has it," Zaccheo says. "But a tick can drop off a dog onto a bed or a couch and someone can contract if from a pet that way."

Some symptoms of Lyme disease in dogs are the same as in humans. However, symptoms in dogs can be more difficult to detect.

Once infected, a rash often forms. However, the rash usually isn't seen because it because it's under the dog's fur. So dog owners must look for other symptoms.

"The most common symptoms are limping, joint pain and arthritic-type symptoms," Zaccheo says. "But we all see dogs coming in that have symptoms of a high fever and that are lethargic and just not feeling well."

In a few cases, Lyme disease can be fatal to dogs. That happens when the disease affects the kidneys. That's more common in younger dogs than older dogs.

However, local veterinarians emphasize dog owners can reduce the odds of dogs contracting Lyme disease.

A number of preventative products are available, including vaccinations, collars and ointments. Veterinarians often also advise dog owners to be cautious where they walk their dogs. They also instruct homeowners to mow the lawn and clear debris to reduce the chance of ticks thriving around the home.

Dogs aren't the only animals that contract Lyme disease. Horses, birds and cattle also have become infected with it. Cats that go outside occasionally pick up the disease.

"But cats are most fastidious in their cleaning and grooming so Lyme disease isn't such a problem for cats," Zaccheo says.

Local veterinarians say Lyme disease in cats still lags far behind the cases of dogs contracting it. But along with more dogs being exposed to Lyme disease, dog owners are also becoming aware of it. So they're doing something to help reduce the risk.

"These days it takes a two-pronged approach of preventive measures with the dogs and doing things outside the home to help keep ticks away," Wright says.