Cats and Lyme Disease by Sherri S . Cokefair , VMD , Calico Creek Vet Clinic
News You Can Use Recalls :
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Cats and Lyme Disease by Sherri S . Cokefair , VMD , Calico Creek Vet Clinic
The arrival of spring and warm weather brings adult ticks out of dormancy and ready to feed . We know that it ' s common for dogs to get Lyme Disease from ticks , but what about cats ? Although cats CAN get Lyme Disease , it is very rare and is generally not a concern . Cats are highly resistant to the bacteria ( Borrelia burgdorferi ) that causes Lyme Disease . For some reason , ticks typically do not prefer cats as a host , but that doesn ' t mean they won ' t attach to a cat . Once a tick attaches to its host , it takes 1-2 days for it to transmit Lyme Disease . Because of how rare Lyme Disease is in cats , there is not a vaccine for them , like there is for dogs .
Cats that do get Lyme Disease will often have no physical symptoms . Cats that become symptomatic may experience fever , lethargy , decreased appetite , and limping , caused by joint inflammation . Symptoms do not occur right away after infection and usually take at least a month to begin . Lyme Disease can be diagnosed by your veterinarian , through blood tests , and is treated with an antibiotic .
The most important thing you can do to prevent your pets from contracting Lyme Disease , is to keep them on a monthly preventative . Most flea and tick prevention will kill a tick before it is able to transmit Lyme Disease . If your cat goes outside , make sure to brush them when they come back in . Do routine " tick checks " and if you find any ticks , remove them right away . When removing a tick , avoid touching it with your bare hands . Humans can contract Lyme Disease through mucous membranes or breaks in the skin , just by handling an infected tick . Indoor cats should also be kept on a monthly flea / tick prevention . Even if they never step foot outside , indoor cats are still able to get fleas and ticks . How , you wonder ? Fleas and ticks can come in on you or another pet that goes outside , such as the dog . Rodents , like mice , can bring fleas and ticks into your home , as well .
Consult your veterinarian about which flea and tick products are safe for your cat . Cats are very sensitive to insecticides and some of the " natural " remedies that are out there . Putting the wrong thing on your cat could make them very sick .
Pawsitively Pets -- June
Around The Hydrant :
News You Can Use Recalls :
Ark Naturals Company of Tampa , Florida : Recalling value packs of Ark Naturals Brushless Toothpaste , due to the inadvertent omission of a mold-inhibiting ingredient , which could shorten shelf life . Info : customerservice @ arknaturals . com . ( 5 / 19 / 23 )
Lazy Dog Cookie Company , Inc : Voluntary recalling a specific lot of its Pup-PIEs . The Pup- PIEs lot number being recalled is 022297 . If you have one of these products , you may return it to the store you purchased it from for a full refund . Info : info @ lazydogcookies . com . More info will be provdied regarding the recall once the voluntary removal of sale is completed . ( 5 / 5 / 23 )
Stratford Care USA , Inc : Recalling multiple brands of Omega-3 supplements due to potentially elevated levels of vitamin A , which can cause health problems and vitamin A toxicity if too much is ingested over a long period of time . The FDA recommends immediately discarding any remainder of this product in a way that no wildlife or other animals can get to it . Info : 877- 498-2002 . ( 3 / 13 / 23 )
Nestlé Purina PetCare Company : Expanding its voluntary recall of Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets EL Elemental ( PPVD EL ) prescription dry dog food to two additional product lots , which precede the production dates of the previously recalled lots . Info : 1-800-345-5678 . ( 3 / 10 / 23 )
Source : dogfoodadvisor . com , amva . org
Calico Creek Veterinary Clinic
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