1 in 5 shelter dogs infected with Lyme, co-infections and/or heartworm

By Leigh Beeson, University of Georgia

Long the bane of pet owners’ existence, ticks and mosquitoes are expanding their geographic range due to warming temperatures, frequently bringing disease with them.

A new study from the University of Georgia suggests shelter dogs in the Eastern U.S. may be bearing the brunt of that burden.

The researchers analyzed blood samples from 3,750 dogs from animal shelters in 19 states across the Eastern U.S. to determine the prevalence of heartworm and three tick-borne bacteria.

The study found more than one in 10 of the dogs were infected with heartworm. More than 8% of the dogs had been exposed to the bacteria that causes Lyme disease. An additional 10% were infected with bacteria that cause anaplasmosis or ehrlichiosis, which are less well-known diseases contracted from ticks.

Almost 5% of the dogs had multiple infections, meaning many had been exposed to more than one disease-causing agent.

These diseases can easily avoided by using preventive medications. But that often requires access to veterinary care. Unfortunately, many neglected or stray animals that are brought to shelters haven’t received these preventatives for long periods of time, if they’ve had them at all.

For heartworm, infections may be treatable with medication and over even surgery, but it’s an expensive option. Unfortunately, many long-term infections are difficult to treat and may be fatal.