Lyme disease is one of the most common tick-borne illnesses we diagnose at Marble Pine Cross, and Vermont is one of the higher-risk states in the country. The deer tick population in Ashfield County has been growing steadily since we opened in 2014, and the season now runs from March through November in most years. Here's what we tell clients when they ask about it.

How Lyme disease actually spreads

Lyme disease is caused by a bacterium called Borrelia burgdorferi, carried by the black-legged deer tick. The tick has to be attached for at least 24 to 48 hours before it can transmit the bacteria. That's why daily tick checks matter so much. If you find a tick and remove it within a day of attachment, the transmission risk is very low. The problem is that deer ticks are tiny, about the size of a sesame seed before they feed, and easy to miss in thick fur.

Signs of Lyme disease in dogs

Most dogs who test positive for Lyme exposure never show symptoms at all. When symptoms do appear, they usually show up two to five months after the tick bite. The most common signs are sudden lameness (often shifting from leg to leg), fever, lethargy, and reduced appetite. A smaller number of dogs develop Lyme nephritis, a kidney complication that's more serious and harder to treat. That's part of why we run an annual 4Dx test for dogs who spend time outdoors, even dogs on prevention.

Prevention options we recommend

For most dogs in Ashfield County, we recommend a monthly oral chewable like Simparica Trio or NexGard. Both kill ticks within 24 hours of attachment. We also recommend the Lyme vaccine for dogs who spend significant time in wooded or grassy areas. The vaccine doesn't replace tick prevention, but it adds another layer. We don't recommend one approach for every dog. We talk through your dog's lifestyle and exposure level before making a recommendation.

What happens if your dog tests positive

A positive Lyme test on the 4Dx panel means your dog has been exposed to the bacteria, not necessarily that they're sick. We follow up a positive test with a urine protein test to check for kidney involvement. If the protein levels are normal and your dog has no symptoms, we may monitor rather than treat immediately. If symptoms are present, we treat with a four-week course of doxycycline. Most dogs respond well within the first few days.

If you have questions about Lyme prevention or want to talk through what makes sense for your dog, call us at (+81 3-3731-9577. We're happy to talk it through before you book.