A Lyme disease warning for dog owners:

[hedgehog]

We left the dogs in good shape Saturday morning, came home Sunday evening and one dog was so weak he couldn't bark or raise his head. God bless our vets - they opened up the office and checked him out right then and there and started him on antibiotics. He's in good shape now ( and the sound of a dog rooting in the kitchen garbage can never sounded so sweet!)

The takeaway is that Lyme disease can hit dogs, and it hits hard and fast. If we'd waited until Monday morning, i don't think he would have made it.

[mythology]

1. Checking them for ticks is just as important as checking yourself

We got lucky a few years ago when my dog go Lyme disease. Fortunately he had a full recovery, but it took a few weeks before he was fully back to normal.

[hedgehog]

2. Inspecting the dogs for ticks is a nightly ritual here -

the woods out back are home to foxes and coyotes.

[IrishAyes]

3. It's a beautiful place to live.

At my age I had to move into town for retirement, since I wasn't about to move twice. So there's little exposure to lyme disease. But I never knew it could work so fast. Probably faster on little dogs than big ones. Although I'd prefer to rely on more natural methods, I do give my dogs Comfortis, and it works when nothing else will.

Releasing beneficial nematodes will help control any insect that goes through a pupae stage. Costs around $200 for the average yard but well worth it.

[graywarrior]

4. Glad your dog is ok

[RebelOne]

5. Lyme Disease can also affect humans.

You do not have to own dog to become infected.

http://ask.healthline.com/health/lyme-disease?toptoctest=expand

[hedgehog]

6. Lyme disease is just plain nasty for dogs and people!

I'm very suspicious that it triggers autoimmune problems for some - which has led to a huge debate with people insisting that the have chronic Lyme disease and the medical establishment saying there is no such thing.