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                         July 19, 2002

Pet Pointers

A weekly pet tip or other bit of information
from Maj. Felicia D. Langel, USMA Veterinarian 938-3817

Lyme disease, part 2

The Vet Clinic is very sensitive to the lyme disease problem on post and is offering lyme testing for all dogs.

The clinic uses a rapid-essay test that is performed in the office and takes approximately five minutes to read. The cost of the test is $15. All dogs that test positive for exposure to lyme disease are immediately treated with antibiotics.

In addition to the testing program, the Vet Clinic also encourages the use of prophylactic methods for controlling lyme disease.

The clinic strongly recommends that all dogs and cats be treated with the monthly Frontline topical flea and tick insecticide. Frontline is safe for use on all mammals and will not harm children.

The clinic also advises that those dogs who routinely run in tall grass and brush be vaccinated against lyme disease. The lyme disease vaccine is 95 percent effective in dogs and is initially given in two doses three weeks apart, then once a year thereafter.