Vicki
Administrator
Lyme Disease and pets
Lincoln, Vermont - June 28, 2010
A pet owner in Lincoln is broken-hearted after having to put down one of his dogs due to Lyme Disease. And he is now using his experience to educate others about the dangers of deer ticks to pets and humans.
Jared Buker used to have two Shetland Sheepdogs, until last Sunday when he had to have six-year-old Ruby put to sleep. She had complications from an advanced case of Lyme Disease caused by a deer tick bite.
"We buried her in her little bed. She loved her bed, she always slept with her chin on the side," Buker said. Buker then had his other dog Colby checked for Lyme disease. "And apparently there is a vaccination I have never heard of so I brought Colby in on Monday after we put Ruby to sleep and she tested positive for Lyme Disease -- so she is now on Doxicyclene for three weeks, then I am getting her vaccinated."
Lincoln is a rural part of the state, plenty of fields, woods -- perfect tick territory, but you don't have to live in the country to worry about ticks and Lyme Disease. Confirmed cases have been reported all across the state.
And you don't have to be a dog either, people can get Lyme Disease from tick bites too. There was a season high 407 cases last year.
"The person can develop a red rash. Then they can develop other symptoms, flu like symptoms and if it is not diagnosed and treated it can progress to more severe symptoms causing arthritis in large joints, heart problems, and other symptoms," said Patsy Kelso with the Vermont Health Department.
The Health Department recommends people do regular body checks for ticks after spending time outside. "If it is diagnosed and treated with a routine course of antibiotics, it is actually relatively easy to cure and then there are no ongoing symptoms," Kelso said.
The Health Department recommends people do regular body checks for ticks after spending time outside.
In the mean time Jared has set up an on-line memorial for Ruby.
"I did start a facebook group --"Get Your Pets Tested for Lyme Disease" -- in memory of Ruby," he said. "I don't want Ruby to have died in vain. She has already saved Colby and if she can save other dogs from Lyme Disease then she won't have died in vain and she will continue to be a good dog forever and ever."
Judy Simpson - WCAX News
http://www.wcax.com/Global/story.asp?S=12722526
Lincoln, Vermont - June 28, 2010
A pet owner in Lincoln is broken-hearted after having to put down one of his dogs due to Lyme Disease. And he is now using his experience to educate others about the dangers of deer ticks to pets and humans.
Jared Buker used to have two Shetland Sheepdogs, until last Sunday when he had to have six-year-old Ruby put to sleep. She had complications from an advanced case of Lyme Disease caused by a deer tick bite.
"We buried her in her little bed. She loved her bed, she always slept with her chin on the side," Buker said. Buker then had his other dog Colby checked for Lyme disease. "And apparently there is a vaccination I have never heard of so I brought Colby in on Monday after we put Ruby to sleep and she tested positive for Lyme Disease -- so she is now on Doxicyclene for three weeks, then I am getting her vaccinated."
Lincoln is a rural part of the state, plenty of fields, woods -- perfect tick territory, but you don't have to live in the country to worry about ticks and Lyme Disease. Confirmed cases have been reported all across the state.
And you don't have to be a dog either, people can get Lyme Disease from tick bites too. There was a season high 407 cases last year.
"The person can develop a red rash. Then they can develop other symptoms, flu like symptoms and if it is not diagnosed and treated it can progress to more severe symptoms causing arthritis in large joints, heart problems, and other symptoms," said Patsy Kelso with the Vermont Health Department.
The Health Department recommends people do regular body checks for ticks after spending time outside. "If it is diagnosed and treated with a routine course of antibiotics, it is actually relatively easy to cure and then there are no ongoing symptoms," Kelso said.
The Health Department recommends people do regular body checks for ticks after spending time outside.
In the mean time Jared has set up an on-line memorial for Ruby.
"I did start a facebook group --"Get Your Pets Tested for Lyme Disease" -- in memory of Ruby," he said. "I don't want Ruby to have died in vain. She has already saved Colby and if she can save other dogs from Lyme Disease then she won't have died in vain and she will continue to be a good dog forever and ever."
Judy Simpson - WCAX News
http://www.wcax.com/Global/story.asp?S=12722526