Prevention of Canine Lyme disease

Lyme disease is a very common tick borne disease, often found in dogs living in the northeastern states and mid-Atlantic region of the United States.  It is carried by caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, a bacterium called a spirochete.  The common deer tick is the primary carrier of the disease.

Prevention of canine Lyme disease is carried out through a series of lyme vaccines, which can be given to dogs twelve weeks and older.  The initial vaccine is given in two doses three weeks apart, after which the vaccine will be administered as a yearly booster.  Veterinarians commonly recommend only dogs regularly exposed to ticks receive a vaccination against Lyme disease. 

Tick control methods can also be put into action via tick collars and topical insecticides that kill ticks.  The true effectiveness of tick collars is questionable, other than those containing Amitraz.  Amitraz is an organophosphate which has been proven to be very effective in killing or repelling ticks.