Re: Tick preventive

Thanks for the thought about the vaccination. Does it really work? I
thought they had basically discounted the value of the human vaccine and I
guess I figured that it would be the same for dogs.

Boy, is this timely.

First, let me be clear. I am not a veterinarian. I am the practice manager
for my husband's practice with a background in science education. I get all
aflutter with parisitology and vector borne diseases - weird, I know.

I just got back tonight from a seminar with an expert in lyme disease. This
is a veterinarian with a Ph.D in (fill in the blank.... having to do with
this area). Not on staff with a drug company for the record. This is from
the talk, my background and notes. For those wanting cites, do yourself a
favor and do your own research. There are a couple wackos here who will pick
battle no matter what is posted.

Efficacy. This vaccine is given twice, one month apart at first - then
boosted yearly. The studies show the efficacy is 92.2%

One of the problems with the human lyme vax (LFA-1) was with adverse events
regarding a cross reaction with host tissue which was not demonstrated in
dogs. Thus far there have been 30 million doses of the Fort Dodge version
and there has been no such cross reaction with the host tissue in dogs. In a
study, 1.2 million dogs were given 3.4 doses of this vax with an adverse
event of 0.43%. These adverse events were extremely mild and limited. The
0.43% alone is tiny.

We do a yearly test for heartworm and lyme - I'm guessing it includes the
others but I just don't think of it that way. Is an annual test
sufficient?

Depends on your environment. Just because you may not travel to an area
known for ticks doesn't mean your dog isn't susceptible. 75% of human cases
have been traced back to one's own back yard. The deer tick (ixodes) is no
longer confined to areas like Rhode Island and Connecticut. Birds can
transport ticks for us to 7 months and infect ticks themsleves. Many areas
on scatter maps
http://www.dogsandticks.com/US-map-lyme-disease-dogs/index.html look benign
only because it hasn't been on the radar and not looked for. Recently,
they've woken up and this will change the maps.

Dogs are 6 times more likely to test positive for lyme than their owners.
This has a lot to do with their total body proximity to the ground. Ticks
are vertical travellers. They hop aboard and climb vertically until there is
no where else to go. (That's why hikers should wear socks in the dorky trend
over the cuffs of pants).

So, how often? We do it yearly or when symptoms suggest it to rule it in or
out. The incubation period for Lyme disease to become clinical is 2-5
months. It takes 3-5 weeks post infection for a positive to show on a 4DX
snap test (which is very accurate). At this point I would say discuss this
with your vet and ask what his/her protocol is for your area.

You say "caught early". What is considered early and what would I be
looking for?

Again, if the 4DX snap test is done (with a small blood sample) at least 3-5
weeks post infection and no more than 2 months or slightly more later, the
infection may be present in a low enough stage that there are not yet
clinical signs. Only 5% of dogs diagnosed are clinically infected - meaning
showing symptoms. It can be very silent. If there is a positive the next
step would be a C6 test to check the level of infection. Protocol varies,
but the basic is to treat with doxycycline depending on the level of the
follow-up C6 (under or over 30).

Last September, we were at a trial where we thought Sassy was showing some
muscle pain. Since she could find no other explanation, the vet at the
show suggested that we have the dogs tested when we got home. They both
tested clear and Sassy's muscle pain let up in a couple of days.

That's good. Ruling something like that out (as well as the other 3
diseases) is important. The basic signs of lyme in dogs is malaise, joint
pain, fever, enlarged lymph nodes and swelling with warmth at the joints.
We've caught it early on the 4DX and after a couple weeks of doxy the owners
said their dog, even though symptom free at first, was suddenly spry. They
had attributed the slow down as old age.

We do keep the dogs clipped short - especially during the summer months.
In the winter, we may let them get shaggier. And since they are small and
we have our hands on them a LOT, we normally find ticks either before they
attach or within the first twelve hours.

It's great that you do tick checks. There is a window of time (forgot what -
something like 12-20 hours) before the infection takes hold. HOWEVER... the
deer tick not fully engorged is TINY. Very, very hard to see. The doctor
tonight said the efficacy of tick checks is nearly zero.

I would prefer to not give them a
monthly medication if it's not necessary. But I also don't want to have
either dog get Lyme - or any of the other tick diseases. We spend a lot
of money months in advance entering agility trials and a dog not running
at top ability is not cost-effective. And mostly, I don't want a sick
dog.

I truly leaves this up to you and your veterinarian. Gather the information
and go in with good questions just like you did here. See this web site:
www.dogsandticks.com

-Sharon



.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Tick preventive
    ... guess I figured that it would be the same for dogs. ... I just got back tonight from a seminar with an expert in lyme disease. ... transport ticks for us to 7 months and infect ticks themsleves. ... It takes 3-5 weeks post infection for a positive to show on a 4DX ...
    (rec.pets.dogs.health)
  • Illinois - Lyme disease
    ... "When Baxter starts limping, you can tell he's not well," said owner ... Canine lyme disease - a tick-borne disease that can cause joint, ... in the gut of deer ticks and western black-legged ticks. ... When dogs are infected, they usually run a fever and have shifting leg ...
    (sci.med.diseases.lyme)
  • Poor undertreated dog: Every couple of months or so, Baxter starts limping
    ... His ailments come from canine lyme disease, ... "When Baxter starts limping, you can tell he's not well," said owner ... lives in the gut of deer ticks and western black-legged ticks. ... When dogs are infected, they usually run a fever and have shifting leg ...
    (sci.med.diseases.lyme)
  • Re: What made you stay here?
    ... Innova and my dogs also have small, ... with my current dogs and noticed that their fur doesn't smell. ... Every year this topic (along with ticks, ... Fleas are bad enough, but we live in serious tick country. ...
    (rec.arts.tv.soaps.cbs)
  • Re: Tick Questions
    ... who feel that there may be a population of ticks that are no longer ... K9 AdvantixTM is a once-a-month topical flea, tick, and mosquito treatment ... lbs., 21-55 lbs., and dogs weighing over 55 pounds. ... Stops fleas from biting. ...
    (rec.pets.dogs.health)