Protect your pet against lyme disease, PLEASE

[Judy Chrusch]

Hi everyone, this is still very hard for me even though we have a new bundle of joy but I can't say it enough to protect your pets from ticks. Find a vet you like and that you trust and work together. No good vet will ever steer you wrong. If you live in an area where their are deer you can pretty much expect ticks and possibly lyme . It is VERY bad where we live and there have been MANY lyme cases some even fatal. So PLEASE I BEG you to protect your pet and be responsible and yes there are those rare cases where they can still contact lyme even if you vaccinate against it. Check your dog daily and remove any ticks ASAP.

As MOST of you already know and forgive me for sounding like a broken record but there are new people joining and reading these forums everyday but I lost my sweet boy less then 2 months ago due to lyme and he was vaccinated BUT he was MISDIAGNOSED, so familarize yourself with the symptoms and insist on treatment if you think your pet has contacted lyme. Learn how to read bloodwork as well bc I had all that and trusted my then vet, only to find out after it was too late that he did indeed have type 3 lyme . ALWAYS go with your gut and remember it's your pet, you must insist on some things and do what's best for you.

I wanted to post this reminder again bc we are entering spring and even in the winter in the dead of snow you will still have ticks, so again, where there are deer you may find ticks. Don't gamble with your dogs life , they depend on us to do the right thing.

Take care everyone and know that I care about your pets as much as you do so please please be wise and don't ever think it can't happen to you . I went through alot and miss my boy so much all bc of a tick and I don't care if I sound like a broken record, I'm doing it bc I care.

Thanks for reading this and remember my boy who died in January at the young age of 4 . Heart broken we will always be bc he gave us so much but now I can hopefully help others to do the right thing.

God bless everyone and love your pets, it's the least we can do for there unconditional love they give us.

Judy

[Brooke&Ryan]

Thank you Judy!

I think most people know what we went through with Julius as well. (http://rottweiler.net/forums/showthread.php?t=33413) He is now never without his tick collar. After seeing what Lyme Disease did to him...well, I just never want to repeat it.

Like you have said, it just hits them like a Mack truck. Julius was never protected before (except for homeopathic remedies) & now he's never without his tick collar.

You went through so much with Czar & I'm glad that you continue to share his story with others. Don't ever think you sound like a broken record. People will learn from your story.


Brooke

[groupieindenial]

What type of collar do you recommend to use? I worry about this too, but I'm not sure what I should be doing to ensure this doesn't happen to me.

[Brooke&Ryan]

I use the Preventic collar & I'm pretty sure that Judy still does as well.

It contains Amitraz, which will paralyze the mouth part of the tick. It makes the tick fall off before being able to transmit any tick-bourne illnesses.

Works for me!


Brooke

[Cherry Heart]

Out of curiosity, I have read alot to not keep a collar on your dog all the time for safety reasons, so I assume that would be good advice even if it is a tick collar? I use frontline plus on my cats and plan on using it on my puppy (7 more weeks!)when I get her. That is sapose to be for ticks and fleas correct? I really do want to be informed about this disease as we live in the middle of hunting country (Middle of nowhere Missouri) and there are deer running around town. We see them on peoples front lawns and running across the steet on our way to work at night. Is frontline enough, will I need a collar too or is there a pill the pup can take like there is for heartworm? Thanks so much for sharing your stories. It teaches me new things each day, this place is a God send for new rottie owners.

Cherry-

[StellaLee]

I live in the middle of city - should I still worry about a tick collar? My girls are a year old now.

[Denise L.]

Originally Posted by StellaLee

I live in the middle of city - should I still worry about a tick collar? My girls are a year old now.

I live in the city too and I use Frontline Plus on Cyrus.

I take him with me most wherever I go and you never know...

[spidey]

I want to mention also that it's not just deer ticks that can carry Lyme. My vet here in Texas tells me that the diseases ticks carry depends on where you are, and not just on what kind of tick they are. So in other words, you shouldn't assume you're safe from Lyme disease just because there aren't many deer where you are.

[StellaLee]

I guess because I live in the city I never thought about it. I don't know what I would do without this forum. I was about to pull my hair out because of my girls, but I have read alot of helpful tips that has helped me become a better mother. If only I could get them to calm down on there leaches, everything will be perfect.

[Judy Chrusch]

The preventic collar is the best and the most sure proof BUT it's not recommended with multible dogs bc when they play they have a tendancy to bite at the neck or collar area and that isn't something that should be in the mouth.

Frontline is good but I have a friend who uses it and I still find lots of ticks on him and they have been feeding so not sure why that is but it's best to discuss it with your vet.

Also make sure you use a preventative all year round bc I took Czar's collar off in the dead of winter last year with snow on the ground and later found one that had been attached for a while .

It really does depend on where you live and as I said, discuss your options with your vet if you're not sure. Check your dog daily even when useing a preventative and when ever in question have him/her checked out.

I didn't post this to freak people out, I just wanted to tell you how important using a preventative is and that dogs can die from it. Prior to Czar's illness I knew of 4 who had died from lyme. Trust me it's hell when they leave you all bc of a tick .

Brooke, I'm so sorry, you're right, Jules also had lyme and thank God he's o.k and shouldn't have any ill affects later in life. I told you IF they don't get the vaccine there symptoms are like a mac truck has hit them. It gets them down and then will continue to get worse not better w/o treatment.

If they contact lyme and they were vaccinated it is VERY difficult to see the true signs bc it masks the symptoms, that's what happened to me. Now grant you every dog who limps doesn't mean they have lyme. Lameness is the first sign and then will lose their appetite and can run a fever, etc.

Just do your homework on the pros and cons of each and see which outways the other. There is a new and better vaccine out now so that's something you can inquire about as well. In good conscious I will not tell people what to do or not do, that's why I encourage people to discuss it with there vets and trust them in making the right decision.

Judy

[Judy Chrusch]

Originally Posted by spidey

I want to mention also that it's not just deer ticks that can carry Lyme. My vet here in Texas tells me that the diseases ticks carry depends on where you are, and not just on what kind of tick they are. So in other words, you shouldn't assume you're safe from Lyme disease just because there aren't many deer where you are.

Thanks Amanda I knew there was something else I wanted to mention, that's exactly right. Any tick can be a carrier.

Judy

[lblax]

i always go with the vacination against lime and simply dont worry yes it still happens but those kind of cases are rare while ive never had a dog contract it i have treated my child twice for it and both my nieces have had lymes here is a info site http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/lyme/

[anni's.mom]

reading thru all this -- which is good information to share, especially coming into the springtime -- i started wondering about preventic and frontline, among others. specifically, the tic (or other insect) still has to bite the animal before ingesting enough of the toxin to become paralyzed and fall off (or however it is the toxin works). doesn't that mean the animal is exposed regardless of what products you apply to it or have it ingest? and how do we know how long it takes for insect to pass on infection or parasites after it initially bites?

just my curiosity.

[poohbearsmom]

While tick borne diseases are dangerous to our animals, I would NEVER use a Lyme Vaccination. I've personally seen several dogs react adversely to this vaccination, ranging from symptoms that mimic Lyme, to severe seizures.

I'd much rather utilize topical preventatives, and check my dogs daily to remove any ticks that may have just jumped on board.

Since it takes up to 12 hours or so for the tick to swap infected spit with the dog, the actual risk of contracting the infection is not as bad as one might think.

Lyme is not so bad where I live, however, ticks are, and there are several other tick borne illnesses that are, and the symptoms are similar.

To sum it up, I'd rather be vigilant on a daily basis than expose my dog to a Lyme Vaccine.

[Patty1231]

Originally Posted by poohbearsmom

I'd much rather utilize topical preventatives, and check my dogs daily to remove any ticks that may have just jumped on board.

I know, I'm good at stupid questions - but is there a GOOD way to check for tics, given their thick black coat?