Lyme Disease

It has recently come to my attention that I really do not know enough about tick borne diseases such as Lyme disease.  I have been dealing with these nasty little hitch hikers since moving to the Sunshine Coast 6 years ago.  In the last few years, it is not uncommon for me to pull 5-8 ticks from my 2 dogs every week in the spring and summer!  So lets start at the beginning!

The ticks that spread Lyme disease in B.C., Ixodes angustus and I. pacificus are tiny bugs, about the size of a sesame seed, and they feed on blood. Different ticks prefer different types of animals.  While most tick bites do not result in disease, some do.  In BC less than 1 percent of ticks tested carry the bacteria that cause Lyme disease, and there is only a very small chance of them giving it to you. However, the disease can be serious, so it is worth taking steps to avoid being bitten. 

Lyme disease is classified as a vector-borne, zoonotic illness – it is spread by ticks (the vector, or agent of transmission). The organism which causes Lyme disease is a spiral-shaped bacterium called Borrelia burgdorfei and it has been found in two species of ticks collected from many areas of B.C. including Vancouver Island, the Lower Mainland, the Sunshine Coast, the Fraser Valley and the Kootenays.

Avoiding exposure to ticks is the surest means of prevention, but here on the Sunshine Coast we have lots! After your dog has been out in wooded or deep grassy areas (ticks love cedar and arbutus trees!) do a thorough tick-check, which involves looking your dog over closely (especially around the armpits, face, and groin areas) for ticks. There are tick repellant products (collars and topical) available at the veterinary office.  Additionally, there is a vaccine against the organism that causes Lyme disease available at Sechelt Animal Hospital.

Some people think you can remove a tick by covering it with grease, gasoline or some other substance. This does not work! It only increases the chance of your pet getting an infection. Holding something hot (for example, a match or cigarette) against the tick also does NOT work! Again, this will only increase the chance of an infection or accidentally burning yourself or your pet.  The simplest way of removing ticks is by using a pair of tweezers or tick removing forceps and grabbing the tick as close to the skin as possible. Then using gentle, slow traction pull the tick straight off.  Do not squish, squeeze or twist.  After removal of the tick it is necessary to check it for all the mouth parts.  Leaving the mouth parts in the skin can lead to infection.  Once the tick is removed clean the area well with antibacterial soap, place the tick in a airtight container and dispose of it. If you are concerned or these little bugs give you the heebie jeebies, please allow us to remove it for you!

Tests are available that are quick, accurate and inexpensive. Your dog comes in for a simple blood test (less than 0.5 ml of blood is needed) and the test results are back the very next day. Should your dog be positive for exposure to the organism that causes Lyme disease we will consult with you on the next steps to take and start your dog on effective treatment as soon as possible. In endemic areas like the Sunshine Coast testing is recommended 6-8 weeks after exposure to ticks.  In my experience the ticks seem to be prevalent all year round, so as a general rule testing yearly with your annual vaccinations is the simplest.

If you are concerned about ticks and Lyme disease please feel free to contact our office to schedule an appointment.

Samantha 

Reg. AHT