Small Tick BIG PROBLEM: Lyme Disease Awareness Month

May is National Lyme Disease Awareness Month; it is a chance to educate the vast majority about Lyme disease and its prevalence in animals. Lyme disease  (Lyme borreliosis)  is transmitted through ticks and is considered a zoonotic disease. According to the CDC, it is the most common tick-borne illness in the United States.

Despite the popular belief that Lyme disease is an East Coast disease, you can find Lyme disease cases throughout all of the United States. Lyme disease is a bacterial infection primarily transmitted by deer ticks. Deer ticks, also known as Ixodes ticks, are tiny black-legged ticks typically found in wooded grassy areas.

The United States has over 300,000 pets and people are diagnosed with Lyme disease every year. It is important to keep your pets on prevention for ticks and fleas, especially during the warmer seasons. Unfortunately, Lyme disease is not the only illness that a tick can transmit to your pet that is why prevention is extremely important. Another preventative measure pet owners may take is vaccinating against Lyme disease. Your Veterinarian can decide which is the best option for your pet.