Q&A: Tick Edition

Question: What type of infection does Lyme disease cause (viral, bacterial, protozoal)?

Answer: Bacterial! The bacteria is called Borrelia burgdorferi – yes, that is a big word, that is hard to say.

Question: What is the minimum amount of time a tick must be attached to transmit Lyme disease?

Answer: 48 hours.

Moral of the story – keep ticks off of you and your pets! Use dewormer to prevent ticks from attaching to your pet for more than 48 hours. Beware of over the counter products, safety and effectiveness are not fully tested.

Any more tick questions, just ask! The staff at Lomsnes Veterinary love hearing from you folks.

Written by Lomsnes Veterinary Hospital