Important Information regarding Lyme disease and Ticks on BI

Open Discussion - for our Readers, Islanders, and Web Site Visitors alike. Discussion regarding any and all aspects of Beaver Island are welcome here. Also a place for general Beaver Island conversation and discussion.

Moderator: Gillespie

Post Reply
JFPowers
Posts: 506
Joined: Sun Nov 27, 2005 8:15 am

Important Information regarding Lyme disease and Ticks on BI

Post by JFPowers »

Important Information regarding Lyme disease and Black Legged Ticks on Beaver Island.

We very recently diagnosed a dog on Beaver Island with Lyme disease. The client also brought in a Black legged Tick, most likely a Deer Tick that we are sending to the Michigan Department of Community Health for Identification. We are also sending several other ticks that were found recently that may also be the same Black Legged tick that can carry the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi that causes the infection commonly known as Lyme disease. A tick must be attached to you or your pet for several hours to transmit the bacteria and develop a Lyme disease infection.

We discovered this case while conducting routine screening for Heartworms, Lyme disease, Erlichliosis and Anaplasmosis that is available at our Beaver Island clinic as well as other veterinary clinics. I strongly advise anyone who has dogs to get this test as Lymes Disease can be a chronic debilitating disease in humans and animals.

We have numerous Flea and Tick control products that are effective at preventing the infection by killing the tick within a couple hours of it attaching to your dog or cat. These are available at our clinic or at many other clinics as well. In addition vaccination of dogs is available to prevent the disease from developing in your pet.

Erik Foster from the Michigan Department of Community Health provided further information on Lyme disease at the links listed below:

http://www.michigan.gov/documents/emerg ... 7376_7.pdf

http://www.michigan.gov/documents/emerg ... 7623_7.pdf

Ticks that you remove from your pet may be dropped off at our office for further identification.

I am planning on having a Veterinarian who is currently researching Black Legged Ticks on Sleeping Bear and the Manitou Islands come do a presentation on the subject if people are interested.

Please contact me to obtain further information on Lyme Disease Prevention on Beaver Island

Sincerely,

Jeffrey Powers DVM
Andy's Grooming Barn
Posts: 371
Joined: Tue Oct 13, 2009 8:23 am

Post by Andy's Grooming Barn »

Thank you so much Jeff on keep us informed.
Andy Kohls
Andy's Grooming and Boarding Barn
JFPowers
Posts: 506
Joined: Sun Nov 27, 2005 8:15 am

Post by JFPowers »

Some updated information:

Two additional animals tested positive for lymes disease on the screening tests today, and we received a call from a summer resident who's dog is just recovering from months of treatment for lyme's disease. Two of these dogs have symptoms attributable to this disease. This is a high number of cases and it is important that your pets be tested as treatment is effective in reducing the course of the disease. Additionally topical and oral preventives to stop Deer Ticks from infecting your pets and a vaccine is available to prevent the infection in up to 90 % of cases.

Let us know if we can help.

Thanks

Jeff Powers DVM
Brad
Posts: 90
Joined: Mon Nov 01, 2010 3:08 pm

Post by Brad »

Lyme disease is caused by a bacteria carried by the tick. Transmission of the bacteria usually requires the tick to be attached to a person for 36-48 hours. The disease starts with a red rash at the site of the bite and is usually neither painful or itchy. The classic rash looks like a target with a red center, clear ring then a red outside ring. The rash may not be present in 25% of cases. Other symptoms include headache, fever and fatigue. Left untreated one may be unable to move one or both sides of the face, joint pains, headaches with neck stiffness and heart palpitations. Treatment for a single bite is with antibiotics such as doxycycline as a single dose, but only if the tick is full of blood. The tick can removed with tweezers. If infection develops with the above rash and other symptoms a longer course with doxycline, amoxicillin or cefuroxime may be necessary. The diagnosis is made by the combination of symptoms, history of a tick bite and blood tests. It may be useful to have the tick tested if possible, but isn't done routinely. Prevention with DEET and early removal of the tick should prevent most disease since it takes prolonged attachment to spread the disease. It can't be spread from human to human or animal to human. Thanks Jeff for the timely warning.

Brad
ScottS
Posts: 91
Joined: Sat Oct 08, 2005 5:04 pm

Post by ScottS »

Can cats get it? Are treatments effective for cats too?
JFPowers
Posts: 506
Joined: Sun Nov 27, 2005 8:15 am

Post by JFPowers »

Someone removed what appears to be a Deer Tick today from their cat. From what I have been able to determine for some reason cats seem to be resistant from contracting the disease.

Several more ticks were turned in today and for whatever reason this year the predominant ticks people are seeing are deer ticks.

Erik Foster from the Michigan Department of Community Health contacted me today about putting together a program for Beaver Island to help educate everyone on the Human and animal risks.

This issue has likely been here for a number of years and we just need to be cognizant of things we can do to help minimize the risks associated with Deer Ticks and Lyme Disease.
ScottS
Posts: 91
Joined: Sat Oct 08, 2005 5:04 pm

Post by ScottS »

We removed two ticks from one of our cats this evening. The other cat was clean.
JFPowers
Posts: 506
Joined: Sun Nov 27, 2005 8:15 am

Post by JFPowers »

If you can save them in some rubbing alcohol I can have them submitted to MDCH to determine what species they are.

Thanks for the update.
ScottS
Posts: 91
Joined: Sat Oct 08, 2005 5:04 pm

Post by ScottS »

They might have been pitched already. I'll bring them to you if they are still around.
JFPowers
Posts: 506
Joined: Sun Nov 27, 2005 8:15 am

Post by JFPowers »

In recent weeks we have had a number of dogs on Beaver Island test positive for Lyme Disease. Here is a link to the brochure discussing the screening tests we are running to help you to see the symptoms and other tick and mosquito born diseases that we are incorporating into our suggested annual testing of your dogs. Deer ticks as well as other ticks are increasing at a very rapid rate across the country due to urban sprawl, our mobile society, reforestation and the increase in both pets and wildlife in our proximity. Everyone should screen their pets annually.

https://www.idexxlearningcenter.com/ide ... ochure.pdf
sbsp
Posts: 443
Joined: Sat Apr 04, 2009 2:06 pm
Location: Beaver Island, Kalamazoo, Fripp Island, SC

Post by sbsp »

Jeff -
Have you seen any cases of dog flu on the Island? I know that Chicago has been hit hard with cases this spring.
Kirk
JFPowers
Posts: 506
Joined: Sun Nov 27, 2005 8:15 am

Post by JFPowers »

Kirk,
Here is an update on Canine Influenza from the state of Michigan, it does not appear to have been diagnosed yet in Michigan however it is very close to us.

Canine influenza (CI)
Canine influenza activity continues to be high with over 1,300 reported cases in Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, and Ohio. The current strain of CI circulating is the H3N2 subtype of CI. This strain was identified in Asia as early as 2006 and is of avian origin. The current H3N2 circulating in the United States has been reported to be a 99 % match to the South Korean strain of H3N2. While so far this subtype has only been reported to have sickened dogs in the United States, in Asia it has affected cats in shelter settings as well as dogs.
Most dogs are susceptible to H3N2 and have no immunity. Virtually all dogs exposed to the virus become infected and show clinical signs; however, most affected dogs recover from illness. Dogs ill with CI are reported to incubate the virus for two to four days, and once ill, exhibit such signs as coughing, fever, lethargy, and anorexia. At locations that house multiple dogs, it is reported that it is common to see over 50 percent of the dogs ill. While treatment protocols can vary, treatment typically entails fluid therapy and commonly used antibiotics for secondary bacterial pneumonia. Testing for CI can be performed at Michigan State Universityâ??s Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health (DCPAH). DCPAH advises performing a respiratory disease core panel or respiratory core panel plus to test for the common causes of respiratory disease. If influenza is suspected, indicate that this is suspected on the submittal form. For more information on testing, contact DCPAH directly at 517-353-1683. While there is no vaccine currently available for H3N2, there is a vaccine available for H3N8. It is unclear at this time if the H3N8 vaccination may offer some protection against the H3N3 CI strain. Veterinarians can help to prevent the spread of this disease by observing proper biosecurity procedures including having a designated exam room or contained area for animals presenting with signs of illness, particularly flu-like signs. Veterinarians should also make sure that they are wearing protective clothing when examining and otherwise having contact with potentially ill animals, having designated equipment and supplies for ill animals, and remembering to thoroughly clean and disinfect all items that may have had contact with an ill animal. If the animal does not require hospitalization, have the owner care for the animal at home, making sure to keep the animal isolated for two weeks. As always, proper hand washing is also important. Clients may wish to avoid taking their dogs to these high risk areas (especially in affected states): dog parks, doggy day cares, boarding facilities, grooming facilities, training facilities, dog shows, pet stores, and animal shelters at this time. If clients do take their dogs, it would be advised to avoid other dogs as much as possible, not share items/supplies and wash hands well if handling other animals. After dogs have contact with other dogs, consider isolating and monitoring them from other animals when returning home for at least seven days. Clients with ill dogs should keep their dog isolated for about two weeks. There have been no reported cases of CI in Michigan as of April 27, 2015, however CI is not a reportable disease to the State Veterinarian in Michigan. The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is monitoring the issue and working in partnership with the Michigan Veterinary Medical Association and Michigan State Universityâ??s College of Veterinary Medicine. If MDARD is alerted to positive cases of CI in Michigan, MDARD will work in conjunction with these agencies to notify the public of this information.

I posted a link to a short video I made with some deer ticks turned in today by an alert pet owner, so everyone could see what they look like and some statistics..

https://www.facebook.com/jeffrey.dvm/vi ... nref=story
JFPowers
Posts: 506
Joined: Sun Nov 27, 2005 8:15 am

Post by JFPowers »

We are starting to see more cases of Deer Ticks being brought in the last few days. Remember, Fall is the Worst time for your pets to be contracting Lyme disease, please keep them on Prevention through the early winter months.

We have many solutions present to assist you

Dr. Jeff Powers
Post Reply