My Pet World: New initiative promotes early diagnosis of Lyme disease
Lyme disease is an epidemic in America. Last year, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicated there is 10 times more Lyme disease present in people than previously thought. At least 300,000 people are diagnosed annually with Lyme in the U.S.
Lyme is transmitted to people, and to dogs, by deer ticks.
The good news is, for dogs, there's an inexpensive blood test for Lyme (and two other tick diseases, as well as heartworm, which is transmitted by mosquitoes). The test is evaluated by veterinarians in-clinic, so pets can be diagnosed on the spot and treatment can begin promptly. People aren't always so lucky.
Of course, if the family dog has been exposed to ticks, family members may have been exposed, too, since dogs often share our environment.
Dogs have an advantage, however, as canine tick disease preventives are quite effective. However, people can't wear tick collars or have tick products rubbed on their backs. There's no Lyme vaccine yet for people, but there is one for dogs.
The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) have partnered on a new initiative to enhance awareness of and promote early diagnosis of Lyme. If the family dog is diagnosed with Lyme, veterinarians will suggest that children in the family see their pediatrician, and adults visit their doctors. Similarly if a doctor, particularly a pediatrician, diagnoses Lyme in a family member, the suggestion will be made to have the family dog tested for Lyme.
"We're seeing increasing prevalence of Lyme, and other ticks diseases, and the long-term health implications for people and animals are huge," says Dr. Ron DeHaven, AVMA CEO. "I believe this partnership will make a difference."
Informally, many veterinarians have sent clients to their physicians after diagnosing their dogs with Lyme. And early prognosis of Lyme disease can be key to an improved outcome.
"A part of my job is being a public health officer," says Chicago veterinarian Dr. Natalie Marks.
What's interesting, and illustrative of the spread of Lyme, is that Marks' office is in the heart of a concrete jungle -- not a locations people think Lyme occurs. Marks says she recently diagnosed Lyme in a dog who'd never left its big city backyard.
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