Lyme disease is spread by tick bites, and so preventing tick bites is the best way to prevent infection of both humans and our pets. These ticks need to bite and be attached to a host for 36-48 hours in order to transmit the Lyme bacteria. Additionally, in any given region you can find several species of ticks that carry a variety of diseases, so tick prevention strategies are an important tool for protecting humans and pets from many tick-borne diseases.
Human tick prevention strategies focus on avoiding areas where ticks are found, reducing tick habitat on your own property, preventing tick bites by using repellent products, and checking for ticks after outdoor activitieschecking for any ticks that have bitten in order to remove them as soon as possible. Tick habitats arecan often be areas that youpeople can’t avoid being in, whether it be for recreation (hiking, biking, gardening, dog walking, etc) or occupation, and so other tick prevention is especially recommended when entering those areas. You shouldPeople are advised to wear long sleeves and pants to minimize tick’s access to your skinaccess to their skin for ticks to bite., and. Pthey can also wear permethrin-treated clothing and the use of EPA insect repellents that specifically repel ticks are also effective prevention methods.. Still, no prevention measures work perfectly all the time, especially when entering tick habitats, and so the most important step of preventing infection from tick bites is to check yourself and your petthe body for ticks regularly. Ticks that do have a chance to bite should be removed as soon as possible to minimize the risk of Lyme infection (and other tick-borne diseases).
Checking our pets the body for ticks is also important to do for our pets. It is not always as easy to see ticks that have bitten our pets, however, due to their fur coats. Even short, light colored fur can make it difficult to find ticks, and pets with long and/or dark coats make it nearly impossible to do so all over their body. However, unlike in people, there are These are some of the reasons why we luckily have safe and effective tick preventionpreventive products available for our pets. These products often repel more than one type of pest (i.e. ticks and fleas) and are available in several different forms. Some of these products kill ticks that have bitten the animal, while others also have a repelling effect against ticks. You can discuss with your veterinarian which product or products may work the best to protect your pet from ticks based on your pet’s species, age, exposure and lifestyle. Using tick preventives can also help to decrease the chances that your pets will carry ticks into the home, where they could find and bite the human members of the family as well.
One tool for Lyme disease prevention that is currently available for our dogs but not for humans (or cats) is a vaccine. The Lyme disease vaccine for dogs is efficacious and safe, and depending on your pets lifestyle and exposure to ticks (as well as considering how difficult it is to check their body for ticks and remove them – think long, dark coats!) you and your veterinarian may determine whether it is appropriate for your pet.
Bullet Points/Main Takeaways
Prevention in Humans and Pets
| HUMANS | BOTH | PETS |
| 1. Treat clothes with 0.5% permethrin. 2. Use EPA insect repellents labeled for ticks. 3. Wear long sleeves and pants when in tick habitats. 4. Shower soon after coming inside. | 1. Avoid areas where ticks are found. 2. Check body (and gear/clothes) for ticks daily, especially after coming in from outside. 3. Remove ticks that do bite as soon as possible. 4. Reduce tick habitat on your property. | 1. Use tick preventative products year-round (topical, oral, collars). (and remember, there are Lyme disease vaccinations available for dogs) |
- Preventing tick bites is the best way to prevent Lyme infection in both humans and pets.
- If you find a tick attached to a person or a pet, remove it promptly. Ticks must be attached for 36-48 hours to transmit Lyme bacteria.
- It is important to keep up all tick prevention and avoidance practices year-round. Remember, in the Northeast US, those adult ticks that transmit Lyme disease can be active whenever the temperature is above freezing!
Links for More Information
For more information on preventing tick bites on humans: https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/avoid/on_people.html
For more information on preventing tick bites on pets: https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/avoid/on_pets.html
For more information on safe use of flea and tick preventives in pets: https://www.avma.org/resources/pet-owners/petcare/safe-use-flea-and-tick-preventive-products and https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/safe-use-flea-and-tick-products-pets
For more information on tick habitats, how to avoid and reduce that habitat: https://tickencounter.org/prevention/identify_and_eliminate_tick_habitat and https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/prev/in_the_yard.html