Kanga
03-01-2007, 01:43 PM
I came across this interesting article about a new test for ticks.........
A new test, approved by the US Food and drug Administration, will allow dog owners to know for certain whether or not their pet is suffering from any of three different tick-born diseases when they leave the veterinarian's office.
The canine SNAP(R) 4Dx(R) blood test, developed by IDEXX Laboratories and simply conducted during the dog's annual check-up, screens dogs for exposure to Lyme disease and two other emerging tick-borne diseases. The test also simultaneously screens for heartworm.
After receiving USDA approval in last year, the test is now readily available to veterinary clinics throughout the country.
Lyme disease causes similar symptoms in both dogs and humans, including abnormal fatigue, fever, muscle or joint pain, and enlarged lymph nodes. The disease is often called "the great imitator" by doctors and veterinarians because its symptoms mimic many other diseases, making it very difficult to diagnose, until now..
As with Lyme disease, canine anaplasmosis and canine ehrlichiosis are often mistaken for other conditions and cannot be accurately diagnosed without a trip to the veterinarian. Now it is easier than ever for your local vet to diagnose or clear your dog of these two ailments.
Dr. Matt Eberts practices veterinary medicine in Brainerd, Minnesota, (approximately 130 miles north of Minneapolis), where ticks are prevalent. He has spent a lot of time researching canine tick-borne diseases.
Eberts has been a strong proponent of SNAP 4Dx clinic trials and was shocked at the early results, which showed an alarming 40 per cent of the dogs he examines testing positive for Lyme disease.
Perhaps even more troublesome than the extremely high incidence of Lyme disease is the 50 per cent of the dogs entering his clinic testing positive for exposure to canine anaplasmosis. Like Lyme disease, canine anaplasmosis is spread by infected deer ticks that feed on the blood of dogs.
"While Lyme disease continues to be a concern, the growing number of dogs entering my clinic with multiple tick-borne infections adds a new wrinkle to the situation," said Eberts. "There's really no way for pet owners to know what's wrong with their dogs without getting them tested. With this advanced testing, we're now able to quickly identify dogs that have become infected and work with pet owners to look at treatment options or further diagnoses."
Unfortunately, Eberts has had more exposure to tick-borne illnesses than most veterinarians. Not only has one of his own dogs been infected with multiple tick-borne diseases, he too was once infected with a disease from the tiny bugs.
In 2001, Eberts became very ill with what doctors believed was influenza. After a few days of rest, his symptoms subsided, and the vet returned to work.
Unlike the typical flu virus, Eberts' symptoms returned shortly, leaving his doctors confused and the veterinarian hospitalized. His familiarity with canine tick-borne diseases led him to suggest to doctors that he could be suffering from human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (HGE), the human form of canine anaplasmosis.
The doctors agreed with Eberts' suggestion and quickly started the veterinarian on a successful treatment program.
Fortunately, Eberts and his dogs are all healthy and doing well today.
Organizations such as the national Lyme Disease Association (LDA) have long been trying to inform people about the potential dangers of ticks for years. They hope the new test method, and what is learned in the veterinary community, will open the eyes of the public.
"Lyme disease is a huge concern, but we want people to know there are several other tick-borne diseases out there that can be just as harmful. These diseases may have symptoms similar to Lyme disease and may often be acquired by the bite of the same tick," said Pat Smith, LDA president.
Smith believes that dogs can serve as sentinels for humans in this area.
"With their furry coats, proximity to the ground and propensity to roll in leaves and other ground-cover, dogs are many times more likely to come in contact with ticks than their owners," she said. "What we learn from our canine friends can tell us a great deal about where human outbreaks will occur in the future. Dogs play in some of the same areas as our children," she added, "and they are more vulnerable to the disease, too. By monitoring our pets, we can better protect our children in the process."
To determine the current level of understanding of lyme disease and other tick-related infections in pet owners, IDEXX conducted a survey of more than 1,400 US dog owners in 2006. The survey found that more than 70 per cent feel ticks are a serious pet disease threat, and an increasing number of US dog owners are concerned about Lyme disease in their dogs.
However, far fewer are familiar with canine ehrlichiosis or anaplasmosis. Although pet owners may not be familiar with many tick-borne diseases outside Lyme disease, more than half correctly understand that ticks can carry multiple harmful diseases that can infect their animals.
According to Dr. Stephen Levy, a veterinarian in Durham, Connecticut, who has been on the forefront of tick-borne disease research for the past 20 years, the potentially broad range of symptoms brought on by Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases makes this sort of testing a vital part of a dog's annual veterinary exam. He believes regular screening is important for both disease identification, and to begin the treatment process immediately.
not
"With the potential range of symptoms brought on by Lyme disease and other tick-borne infections, I encourage pet owners to make testing a standard part of their dogs' veterinary exams," said Levy. "Most tick-borne illnesses can be treated, but dogs infected with multiple diseases may take longer to recuperate."
Tick prevention and monitoring tips for dog owners
Most ticks spend their lives on or close to the ground waiting for a suitable host animal and can be found in a number of grassy or brushy areas, which may include anywhere like a park or a simple strip of long grass. Since they cannot move quickly or fly, ticks survive by climbing onto objects such as tall grass, weeds, bushes, trees, fences or building siding, and wait for a suitable host to pass by. When ticks detect vibrations, living odors or exhaled carbon dioxide, they drop from their location or stretch out to attach to a passing host.
Levy recommends that owners with active dogs check their pets daily, especially in the warmer months. Dog owners can simply brush their fingers slowly through their dogs' fur, applying enough pressure to feel any odd bumps. If a small lump is found, pull the fur apart to identify the object.
An embedded tick can vary in size, from a pinhead to a grape, and are usually black or dark brown. Depending on the size and location of the tick, its legs are also sometimes visible.
More information about dogs and tick-borne diseases is available at www.dogsandticks.com.
A new test, approved by the US Food and drug Administration, will allow dog owners to know for certain whether or not their pet is suffering from any of three different tick-born diseases when they leave the veterinarian's office.
The canine SNAP(R) 4Dx(R) blood test, developed by IDEXX Laboratories and simply conducted during the dog's annual check-up, screens dogs for exposure to Lyme disease and two other emerging tick-borne diseases. The test also simultaneously screens for heartworm.
After receiving USDA approval in last year, the test is now readily available to veterinary clinics throughout the country.
Lyme disease causes similar symptoms in both dogs and humans, including abnormal fatigue, fever, muscle or joint pain, and enlarged lymph nodes. The disease is often called "the great imitator" by doctors and veterinarians because its symptoms mimic many other diseases, making it very difficult to diagnose, until now..
As with Lyme disease, canine anaplasmosis and canine ehrlichiosis are often mistaken for other conditions and cannot be accurately diagnosed without a trip to the veterinarian. Now it is easier than ever for your local vet to diagnose or clear your dog of these two ailments.
Dr. Matt Eberts practices veterinary medicine in Brainerd, Minnesota, (approximately 130 miles north of Minneapolis), where ticks are prevalent. He has spent a lot of time researching canine tick-borne diseases.
Eberts has been a strong proponent of SNAP 4Dx clinic trials and was shocked at the early results, which showed an alarming 40 per cent of the dogs he examines testing positive for Lyme disease.
Perhaps even more troublesome than the extremely high incidence of Lyme disease is the 50 per cent of the dogs entering his clinic testing positive for exposure to canine anaplasmosis. Like Lyme disease, canine anaplasmosis is spread by infected deer ticks that feed on the blood of dogs.
"While Lyme disease continues to be a concern, the growing number of dogs entering my clinic with multiple tick-borne infections adds a new wrinkle to the situation," said Eberts. "There's really no way for pet owners to know what's wrong with their dogs without getting them tested. With this advanced testing, we're now able to quickly identify dogs that have become infected and work with pet owners to look at treatment options or further diagnoses."
Unfortunately, Eberts has had more exposure to tick-borne illnesses than most veterinarians. Not only has one of his own dogs been infected with multiple tick-borne diseases, he too was once infected with a disease from the tiny bugs.
In 2001, Eberts became very ill with what doctors believed was influenza. After a few days of rest, his symptoms subsided, and the vet returned to work.
Unlike the typical flu virus, Eberts' symptoms returned shortly, leaving his doctors confused and the veterinarian hospitalized. His familiarity with canine tick-borne diseases led him to suggest to doctors that he could be suffering from human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (HGE), the human form of canine anaplasmosis.
The doctors agreed with Eberts' suggestion and quickly started the veterinarian on a successful treatment program.
Fortunately, Eberts and his dogs are all healthy and doing well today.
Organizations such as the national Lyme Disease Association (LDA) have long been trying to inform people about the potential dangers of ticks for years. They hope the new test method, and what is learned in the veterinary community, will open the eyes of the public.
"Lyme disease is a huge concern, but we want people to know there are several other tick-borne diseases out there that can be just as harmful. These diseases may have symptoms similar to Lyme disease and may often be acquired by the bite of the same tick," said Pat Smith, LDA president.
Smith believes that dogs can serve as sentinels for humans in this area.
"With their furry coats, proximity to the ground and propensity to roll in leaves and other ground-cover, dogs are many times more likely to come in contact with ticks than their owners," she said. "What we learn from our canine friends can tell us a great deal about where human outbreaks will occur in the future. Dogs play in some of the same areas as our children," she added, "and they are more vulnerable to the disease, too. By monitoring our pets, we can better protect our children in the process."
To determine the current level of understanding of lyme disease and other tick-related infections in pet owners, IDEXX conducted a survey of more than 1,400 US dog owners in 2006. The survey found that more than 70 per cent feel ticks are a serious pet disease threat, and an increasing number of US dog owners are concerned about Lyme disease in their dogs.
However, far fewer are familiar with canine ehrlichiosis or anaplasmosis. Although pet owners may not be familiar with many tick-borne diseases outside Lyme disease, more than half correctly understand that ticks can carry multiple harmful diseases that can infect their animals.
According to Dr. Stephen Levy, a veterinarian in Durham, Connecticut, who has been on the forefront of tick-borne disease research for the past 20 years, the potentially broad range of symptoms brought on by Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases makes this sort of testing a vital part of a dog's annual veterinary exam. He believes regular screening is important for both disease identification, and to begin the treatment process immediately.
not
"With the potential range of symptoms brought on by Lyme disease and other tick-borne infections, I encourage pet owners to make testing a standard part of their dogs' veterinary exams," said Levy. "Most tick-borne illnesses can be treated, but dogs infected with multiple diseases may take longer to recuperate."
Tick prevention and monitoring tips for dog owners
Most ticks spend their lives on or close to the ground waiting for a suitable host animal and can be found in a number of grassy or brushy areas, which may include anywhere like a park or a simple strip of long grass. Since they cannot move quickly or fly, ticks survive by climbing onto objects such as tall grass, weeds, bushes, trees, fences or building siding, and wait for a suitable host to pass by. When ticks detect vibrations, living odors or exhaled carbon dioxide, they drop from their location or stretch out to attach to a passing host.
Levy recommends that owners with active dogs check their pets daily, especially in the warmer months. Dog owners can simply brush their fingers slowly through their dogs' fur, applying enough pressure to feel any odd bumps. If a small lump is found, pull the fur apart to identify the object.
An embedded tick can vary in size, from a pinhead to a grape, and are usually black or dark brown. Depending on the size and location of the tick, its legs are also sometimes visible.
More information about dogs and tick-borne diseases is available at www.dogsandticks.com.