skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Saturday, July 27, 2024

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Arson attacks paralyze French high-speed rail network hours before start of Olympics, the Obamas endorse Harris for President; A NY county creates facial recognition, privacy protections; Art breathes new life into pollution-ravaged MI community; 34 Years of the ADA.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Harris meets with Israeli PM Netanyahu and calls for a ceasefire. MI Rep. Rashida Tlaib faces backlash for a protest during Netanyahu's speech. And VA Sen. Mark Warner advocates for student debt relief.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

There's a gap between how rural and urban folks feel about the economy, Colorado's 'Rural is Rad' aims to connect outdoor businesses, more than a dozen of Maine's infrastructure sites face repeated flooding, and chocolate chip cookies rock August.

Increasing Cases of Lyme Disease in Dogs Highlighted During April

play audio
Play

Friday, April 14, 2023   

April is Prevent Lyme disease in Dogs Month, and animal health experts are getting the word out about tick borne diseases in pets.

Over the past two decades, the number of cases of Lyme disease in humans has been on the rise, and a corresponding increase has been seen among dogs.

Maryland is among the states with the highest incidence of Lyme in the nation. While Lyme is perhaps the most well-known tick borne pathogen, there are a number of other threats to animals including Anaplasma and Ehrlichia.

Dr. Elizabeth Hepner, president of the Maryland Veterinary Medical Association, said when it comes to Lyme we cannot rely on symptoms alone.

"Some pets can be infected and not show any signs of disease," Hepner explained. "Some pets can have kind of nondescript clinical signs including lethargy or a fever, maybe a little bit of a decreased appetite, in other pets we can see shifting leg lameness and pain in their joints."

She pointed out only 5% to 10% of dogs show symptoms of Lyme, and it is important to have dogs tested for tick borne pathogens yearly. The 4Dx test used to screen for heartworm includes testing for Lyme along with Anaplasma and Ehrlichia.

While not available in humans at this point, dogs can be vaccinated against Lyme. Hepner noted the Lyme vaccine is administered by a vet then boosted after a few weeks and is good for one year, though she emphasized it is not a substitute for prevention.

"When I talk to my clients about the Lyme vaccine, I stress that prevention with your ideally oral flea and tick prevention is the best way to prevent Lyme disease," Hepner noted. "But the vaccine does add another layer of protection."

Hepner added prevention is key, and while it is important to do annual testing, she stated year round vigilance is now required.

"Very important to keep all pets on year-round flea tick and also heartworm prevention," Hepner advised. "Also, if you live in a high tick area, definitely recommend doing tick checks on your pet after you guys go outside just another layer of protection to prevent parasitism."


get more stories like this via email

more stories
According to the Tax Policy Center, for higher-income earners, sales taxes consume a lower share of their income than for other households. (Vitalii Vodolazskyi/Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

As Nebraska state lawmakers convene for a special session on property tax reform called by Gov. Jim Pillen, groups are weighing in on the details …


play sound

Traveling around rural Minnesota can be difficult but in more than half the state, nonprofit transit systems are helping people get where they need …

Social Issues

play sound

Student loan forgiveness took center stage on Thursday at the American Federation of Teachers conference. The Biden administration has canceled more …


Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., has introduced legislation to codify the Chevron Deference into law. (Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

Recent Supreme Court rulings on air pollution are affecting Virginia and the nation. Climate advocates said the court overstepped its bounds in …

Health and Wellness

play sound

World Hepatitis Day is this Sunday, and for the Oregon Health Authority, it's an opportunity to promote its plan to eliminate hepatitis across the …

The Gender Shades project revealed facial recognition performed poorest for darker-skinned women, and performed best for lighter-skinned men. (Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

Columbia County, New York, is implementing new facial recognition and privacy policies, following new upgrades to the county's surveillance cameras…

Health and Wellness

play sound

New York disability-rights advocates are celebrating the 34th anniversary of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The 1990 …

Social Issues

play sound

As summer winds down and North Carolina students prepare to return to school, the focus shifts to the urgent need for better public education funding…

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021