Vaccinations are a common part of keeping pets healthy, but not all vaccines are part of the standard immunization package that puppies get and adult dogs repeat yearly. For example, the Lyme disease vaccine is one vaccine your vet probably offers but you may have never gotten for your dog. If you're not sure if your dog needs it, keep reading.
Where Ticks Live
Lyme disease is spread by infected ticks, so it's important to figure out if you're in an area where ticks are a problem. Unfortunately, ticks can be found almost everywhere. They're common in outdoor areas, especially in thick woods or heavily overgrown areas. However, they can even be found in gardens and lawns.
Where Ticks are Infected
Not all ticks carry Lyme disease, but many do. In fact, one recent study showed that up to half of all United States counties have ticks that are infected. This puts you and your dog at risk. If you're in one of the counties affected, you should have your dog vaccinated. After all, this simple vaccine can protect your dogs from catching Lyme disease from any tick around, so it's a valuable vaccine to get.
Tick Protection
All it takes is one bite from a tick to spread disease. However, it can help to take steps to keep ticks from biting your pet.
Theoretically, if you use tick repellant on your pet, you don't need to worry about getting the Lyme disease vaccine. Most tick repellants prevent ticks from biting your pets, and many make pets unappealing from the moment they smell your pet. However, it's not a guarantee. If you visit areas that have lots of plants and undergrowth, it's a good idea to still spring for the vaccine just to be on the safe side.
Lyme vaccines can protect yourself from a debilitating virus that's seriously dangerous to the livelihood and well-being of pets everywhere. If you're still not sure if Lyme disease is a problem in your area, talk to your local veterinarian. Chances are they know whether your pet is at risk, as they will be the ones treating any and all pets that come in with tick bites and Lyme disease infections. If there aren't any serious risks in your area, you can consider passing on this vaccine. However, remember that one bite is all it takes for your pet to get sick. If you had to choose for yourself, getting a simple shot to protect yourself from Lyme disease forever would be well worth it, so do what you can to protect your pet the same way you would yourself.
To learn more, contact a veterinarian like Reabe Kevin C.
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