Understanding Lyme Disease and Tick Prevention in Pets

Lyme disease is one of the most common and serious tick-borne illnesses affecting dogs. Many pet owners don’t realize their pet has been infected until symptoms appear weeks or months later. Preventing tick bites and considering Lyme vaccination are the best ways to protect your pet.

Knowing how to check for ticks, recognize symptoms, and implement year-round prevention can make all the difference in keeping your pet healthy.

Learn more about Lyme disease from Cornell University

Ticks and Their Impact on Pets

Ticks are not just an annoyance—they are blood-feeding parasites that transmit diseases like Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and ehrlichiosis. These tiny creatures lurk in grassy fields, wooded areas, and even backyards, waiting for an opportunity to attach to passing pets and people.

Where Do Ticks Live?

Ticks thrive in:

  • Tall grasses and overgrown shrubs
  • Leaf piles and wooded trails
  • Moist, shaded areas near fences or sheds

Understanding where ticks live can help you reduce your pet’s risk of exposure by keeping your yard tidy and avoiding high-risk areas.

How Lyme Disease Affects Pets

Recognizing Symptoms

Unlike in humans, pets with Lyme disease rarely develop a rash. Instead, signs of infection can be subtle and easily mistaken for other conditions.

Common Symptoms Include:

  • Shifting-leg lameness → Joint pain that moves between legs
  • Lethargy → Decreased energy and reluctance to play
  • Loss of appetite → A sign of systemic infection
  • Fever → Often mild but persistent
  • Swollen lymph nodes → A response to bacterial infection

Untreated Lyme disease can lead to severe complications, including kidney failure, heart conditions, and neurological problems. That’s why early detection and prevention are crucial.

More on Lyme disease symptoms from the AVMA

Protecting Your Pet from Lyme Disease

The Lyme Vaccine: An Extra Layer of Protection

In addition to tick prevention, a Lyme disease vaccine is available for dogs. The vaccine helps train your dog’s immune system to fight off the bacteria that cause Lyme disease before infection takes hold.

Is the Lyme vaccine right for my dog?

  • Dogs who live in high-risk areas (regions with dense tick populations) are good candidates.
  • Dogs who frequently hike, hunt, or play in wooded or grassy areas are at greater risk.
  • Dogs with a history of tick exposure may benefit from added protection.

The Lyme vaccine is not a replacement for tick preventatives but works best when combined with year-round tick prevention. Talk to your veterinarian to see if this vaccine is right for your dog.

Year-Round Tick Prevention Is Key

Ticks remain active even in cooler months, so consistent parasite prevention is essential.

The Importance of Year-Round Parasite Prevention for Pets – AAHA

Veterinarians may recommend:

  • Topical treatments → Applied directly to the skin, repelling and killing ticks on contact.
  • Oral medications → Chewable preventatives that kill ticks once they bite.
  • Tick collars → Long-lasting protection that helps repel ticks before they attach.

Best Practices for Tick Prevention

  1. Perform Regular Tick Checks → After outdoor walks, examine your pet’s ears, paws, belly, and under the collar.
  2. Maintain Your Yard → Keep grass trimmed and remove leaf litter where ticks hide.
  3. Avoid High-Risk Areas → Steer clear of tall grass, wooded trails, and dense vegetation.
  4. Bathe Pets After Outdoor Activities → A thorough bath can help wash away any unattached ticks.

Even with preventatives, no method is 100% effective, making routine checks and environmental management critical.

More tick prevention tips from Pets & Parasites

Lyme Disease Diagnosis and Treatment

How Is Lyme Disease Diagnosed?

A veterinarian may use:

  • Blood tests → Detect antibodies against the Lyme-causing bacteria (Borrelia burgdorferi).
  • Urinalysis → Checks for signs of kidney damage, a severe complication of Lyme disease.
  • Joint evaluations → Determines if lameness is caused by Lyme-related inflammation.

Treatment and Recovery

If diagnosed early, Lyme disease is treatable with antibiotics. The most commonly prescribed options include:

  • Doxycycline or Amoxicillin → Given for at least 4 weeks to eliminate infection.
  • Pain relievers & anti-inflammatories → Help manage joint pain.
  • Supportive care → If kidney complications arise, hospitalization and IV fluids may be required.

Even after treatment, some pets may experience lingering effects, so long-term monitoring is essential.

When to Seek Immediate Veterinary Care

Certain symptoms indicate a medical emergency. If your pet shows any of the following, contact your veterinarian immediately:

  • Sudden, severe lameness that worsens
  • Extreme lethargy or difficulty breathing
  • Fever above 103°F
  • Increased thirst and urination (possible kidney damage)

Prompt veterinary intervention can prevent irreversible organ damage and improve recovery chances.

Preventing Ticks on Pets – CDC

Prevention Is the Best Defense

Lyme disease is a serious but preventable condition. By staying vigilant with tick control, considering Lyme vaccination, and scheduling regular vet visits, pet owners can protect their pets from this potentially life-threatening disease.

What You Can Do Today:

  • Check your pet for ticks after every outdoor walk.
  • Talk to your vet about year-round tick prevention.
  • Ask if the Lyme vaccine is right for your dog.
  • Schedule a Lyme disease screening if your pet shows any concerning symptoms.

Book an appointment with our veterinary team to discuss Lyme disease prevention, vaccination, and parasite control.
Visit Central Kentucky Veterinary Center for expert pet care.