Paws Off! Keeping Lyme Disease Away from Your Pet.

Lyme disease is on the rise, but with the right prevention, your pet doesn’t have to be at risk. From daily tick checks to year-round protection, discover how you can help keep your dog safe, healthy, and ready for adventure—no matter the season.

What is Lyme Disease and How is it Trasmitted?

Lyme disease is transmitted through the bite of a Blacklegged Tick (also known as a Deer Tick) infected with the Borrelia burgdorferi bacterium. Ticks typically need to be attached for at least 24 hours to transmit the infection, which is why daily tick checks are so important. These tiny parasites are hard to spot and can easily hitch a ride on pet fur or exposed skin.

Taking Action Against Lyme Disease!

Lyme Disease Testing

We recommend regular tick and parasite testing to help keep your pet healthy and protected.

To check for Lyme disease, we perform a SNAP 4Dx Plus test—a quick blood test that screens for:

Lyme disease (Borrelia burgdorferi)
Heartworm disease
Ehrlichiosis
*Anaplasmosis

This test uses proven C6 ELISA technology to detect antibodies that are produced only in response to an actual Borrelia burgdorferi infection, helping to more accurately identify both clinical and subclinical cases of Lyme disease.

If your pet tests positive for Lyme disease, we may also recommend the Lyme Quant C6 test. This follow-up test helps determine whether the infection is active or historical, allowing us to better quantify, monitor, and manage Lyme-infected pets.

Please contact us to book a blood test for your pet or to discuss the best parasite prevention plan for their lifestyle.

Canine Lyme Vaccine

The Lyme disease vaccine for dogs works by stimulating the dog’s immune system to produce antibodies against a protein called OspA, found on the surface of the Lyme disease-causing bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi while it resides in the tick.

When a vaccinated dog is bitten by an infected tick, antibodies from the vaccine circulate into the tick’s gut through the dog’s blood and attach to the OspA protein. This action stops the bacteria from multiplying and prevents them from moving to the tick’s salivary glands, effectively blocking transmission of the infection to the dog. These antibodies can also help eliminate the bacteria inside the tick itself, which means that same tick is far less likely to infect another host.

Because Lyme disease can cause serious, long-term health problems such as joint pain, fever, and kidney disease, preventing infection is far better than treating it. The vaccine is especially recommended for dogs in high-risk areas or those that spend a lot of time outdoors. For best protection, it should be combined with year-round tick prevention products and regular tick checks. Dogs typically require an initial vaccine series followed by yearly boosters to maintain immunity.

Lyme Disease FAQ

1. Why is regular testing important—even for healthy-looking dogs?

Lyme disease often presents with no symptoms, especially in its early stages. In fact, 90–95% of infected dogs show no clinical signs. Annual testing helps catch these silent infections before they develop into serious conditions, like Lyme-associated kidney disease. Canadian Veterinary Medical Association

2. How is Lyme disease diagnosed and treated in dogs?

Diagnosing Lyme disease can be challenging because other illnesses—including tick-borne diseases like anaplasmosis—can cause similar symptoms, and most exposed dogs never show signs of illness. A positive blood test confirms exposure but doesn’t prove that Lyme disease is causing a dog’s symptoms.

To make an accurate diagnosis, your veterinarian will consider:

Tick exposure history
Clinical signs present
Laboratory results that support a Lyme diagnosis and rule out other diseases
Your dog’s response to treatment

Treatment goals for sick dogs:

The standard approach is a 2–4 week course of antibiotics (commonly doxycycline or minocycline; alternatives include amoxicillin or injectable cefovecin).
Most dogs show improvement within 48 hours.
Complete elimination of the bacteria isn’t always realistic—the aim is to achieve a premunitive state, where the bacteria remain without causing illness.

Special considerations:

Dogs with Lyme nephritis may need extended antibiotic therapy and additional supportive care for kidney function.
Antibiotics are not recommended for dogs who test positive but have no symptoms, and they are not used to prevent infection after a tick bite. Veterinary Partner Network

3. Can Lyme disease cause long-term health problems?

Yes. While some dogs recover quickly with treatment, others may develop chronic joint pain or, in severe cases, Lyme nephritis—a dangerous kidney complication. This is why early detection, treatment, and ongoing monitoring are so important. Canadian Veterinary Medical Association

4. How common is Lyme disease in Canada?

Lyme disease risk is increasing across Canada, especially in Ontario, Quebec, and parts of the Maritimes. Warmer weather and expanding tick populations mean that blacklegged ticks are now found in more areas than ever before. Checking regional risk maps and using prevention is essential year-round. Canadian Veterinary Medical Association

For Pet Parents: More to Explore

CHECK OUT THE MAP HERE

Monitoring Lyme Disease

Tick and Lyme disease tracking maps show where blacklegged ticks are active and where Lyme disease has been reported. These tools help pet owners stay informed about local risks and take steps to protect their pets. Checking the map before outdoor adventures lets you plan ahead, avoid high-risk areas, and stay on top of tick prevention year-round.

How to Remove a Tick

Removing a tick can be a difficult process. Their small bodies and tough exterior lend them the ability to burrow into you or your pet's skin. Following the proper procedure is recommended. If you do not feel comfortable removing the tick yourself, we would be more than happy to help! Please contact us at your earliest convenience so we can organize an appointment.

INSTRUCTIONS HERE

Symptoms of Lyme Disease

Most dogs (90 to 95 percent) infected with the bacteria do not become ill. Their immune system successfully clears the infection without causing any health issues. However, some dogs may develop symptoms of the disease. These symptoms can be mild and may include a stiff gait with an arched back, sensitivity when touched, fever, reduced appetite, lethargy, and inflammation of the joints or lymph nodes. Signs of Lyme disease typically appear several weeks after a tick bite.

MORE INFORMATION HERE

Tick Risk App

The “Flea Tick Risk” app, provided by Boehringer Ingelheim, a free resource that tracks the risk of ticks and fleas in Canada and other countries. Using local weather data, it provides weekly updated, real-time maps to help you see when/where parasitic risks are highest. Users can also report tick or flea bites, contributing valuable data to ongoing research. The app is available in multiple languages for both iOS and Android devices.

CHECK OUT THE APP HERE