Lyme Disease Awareness

Lyme disease awareness month is coming up! May is the official month for Lyme disease awareness, but it’s something we should always be keeping an eye on. Here at Mosquito Joe, we want you to have the knowledge you need to best protect your pets and loved ones.

Lyme disease is caused by a bacteria that is commonly transmitted through two types of ticks. On the east coast and in the midwest, Lyme is spread by the deer tick; also known as the blacklegged tick. On the west coast, Lyme is transmitted from a western blacklegged tick. It is unpleasant to think about, but ticks have to stay attached to you for 36 to 48 hours before it can transmit its Lyme-causing bacteria. This means that if you notice the tick in time, you can remove it before it infects you. Adult ticks, which are approximately the size of a sesame seed, are most active from March to mid-May and Mid-August to November. Although Lyme disease is more prevalent in the Northeast, it can surface throughout the United States. Be on the lookout!

Lyme Disease: Symptoms & Treatment

As we know, Lyme disease commonly affects pets. Symptoms of Lyme in dogs (or humans) can vary. An early sign and symptom for humans is an erythema migraines rash, also commonly known as the “bull’s eye” rash. This can start to appear three to thirty days after the tick bite. Other indicators include facial palsy, swollen knee, additional rashes, severe headaches, episodes of dizziness, and nerve pain. Patients treated with appropriate antibiotics in the early stages usually recover rapidly and completely.

Unlike humans, diagnosing dogs takes a little more time. Symptoms actually don’t start to appear until 2-5 months after the initial infectious bite. A few things to be on the watch for include: fever, loss of appetite, lack of ability to shift the body about (lameness), joint swelling, and decreased activity.

Thankfully, Lyme disease can be diagnosed through a blood test, showing whether an animal has been exposed to the bacterium or not. By talking to your veterinarian, you can easily receive antibiotics and get your pet back up and running in no time! For more information on Lyme disease, visit lymedisease.org

Prevention and Care

The best way to prevent Lyme disease is to avoid areas where ticks live, especially wooded, bushy areas with long grass. You can decrease your risk of getting Lyme by taking some simple precautions:

• Cover up: When in wooded or grassy areas, wear shoes, long pants tucked into your socks, and a long-sleeved t-shirt.
• Use insect repellents: Repellents used on the skin can also be applied to clothing but provide a shorter duration of protection (same duration as on skin) and must be reapplied if outside for long periods of time.
• Check yourself, your children and your pets for ticks: Be especially vigilant after spending time in wooded or grassy areas. Blacklegged ticks are about the size of a sesame seed, making it hard to discover unless you search carefully and thoroughly. It also helps to shower as soon as you come indoors. As mentioned earlier, ticks often remain on your skin for hours before biting you.
• Don’t assume you’re immune: Unfortunately, you can get Lyme disease more than once.

Unlike Lyme disease, Mosquito Joe’s mission is to make outside fun again! When it comes to keeping your family and pets protected, we believe the best practice is preventative care. Our outdoor barrier spray works on mosquitoes, but it also eliminates and prevents ticks and fleas. Many of us at Mosquito Joe are pet owners and we take pride in pets being itch free and rid of those nasty pests.

By utilizing our service, we can make your yard a truly enjoyable environment for you and your four-legged friends. There are no contracts and no obligations, so give us a call at 404-996-1381. You (and your furry loved ones) will thank us!