More than one in five shelter dogs infected with heartworm, Lyme disease

ATHENS — Long the bane of pet owners’ existence, ticks and mosquitoes are expanding their geographic range due to warming temperatures. And they’re 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 study found that more than one in five of the dogs in the study were infected with heartworms or had been exposed to Lyme disease.

Both diseases can easily be avoided by using preventive medications. Those medications often require access to veterinary care. But that’s what makes shelter dogs a good measure of how prevalent these diseases are in the community.

Previous UGA studies have shown that areas where more dogs have Lyme also have higher rates of human infection with the disease.

Due to climate change, the ticks and mosquitoes carrying these diseases are expanding their geographic range, potentially putting more people and their pets at risk.

The best course of action is prevention, the researchers say. Regular veterinary care and use of flea, tick and heartworm preventatives can keep you and your pup safe for years to come.

Special Photo: UGA