Everyone has their own opinion about ticks, but most of us would say they are disgusting and most people know ticks carry diseases. The Companion Animal Parasite Council website notes that one in 16 dogs in the United States test positive for Lyme disease. In upstate NY Lyme disease is the most common disease transmitted by ticks but there are several others gaining prevalence causing nasty diseases in dogs.

The battle against tick and tick borne diseases rages on all across the country. It is important to know that ticks survive and can bite during the winter months as well as the rest of the year. Ticks are less active when the temperatures are very low, but they recover quickly and look for blood meals when the temperature goes above the mid 30s.

It is incredibly important to use tick prevention all year round. Winter time can be the most active time for the ticks that carry Lyme disease. When the sun comes out and the temps hit the 40s or 50s people love to go for hikes with their dogs…and the ticks are waiting for you. We can certainly see days like this every winter month in upstate NY. Don’t deprive yourself and your pup from that fantastic hike, but do protect from ticks.

April is “prevent Lyme disease in dogs” month. This is a great time of year to get out into nature, before the fleas, mosquitos and other bugs become a nuisance. But the ticks are ready and waiting for you.

I like to say that prevention of Lyme disease in dogs is a 3 prong approach .

First - be vigilant, check your dog after every walk outside, be sure to check inside ears, between toes and even inside their mouth. However even the best of us can miss the tiny tick that measures only 1-2mm in size on your furry friend.

Second - keep you pets (cats too) on the newest generation of tick prevention medications all year round. At Victor Vet Care we carry Simperica Trio, Credelio, and Seresto collars.

And Third and most exciting is the Lyme vaccination. We now carry the newest vaccine available, and the only one that targets multiple proteins expressed on the surface of the Borrelia bacteria. (the organism that causes Lyme disease). This vaccine produces a much broader coverage against the Borrelia bacteria than ever before.

We are extremely excited to be carrying the new Vanguard crLyme vaccine and we will begin using it April 1, 2023. Please call the office to schedule an appointment for the new Lyme vaccine.