Veterinarians and Physicians Team Up to StopLyme in Children and Pets

(Repost from the AVMA@Work blog)

(IN PHOTO: Rolo has Lyme disease, but thanks to early diagnosis and regular veterinary care, she lives a happy, healthy life with her family.)

StopLyme is a new public awareness campaign joining veterinarians and pediatricians to stop a common enemy: Lyme disease. While this tick-borne disease can’t be spread directly between dogs and people, if your dog has been exposed to ticks that spread Lyme disease, you may have been too.

As part of StopLyme’s educational efforts, Dr. Natalie Marks, a Chicago veterinarian, along with pediatrician and infectious disease specialist Dr. Patricia DeLaMora, have embarked on a national media tour to spread the One Health message and provide parents with helpful tips to keep their children and dogs tick free. The doctors also remind parents that if their child is diagnosed with Lyme disease they should contact their veterinarian and let them know their dog also may have been exposed. Conversely, their pediatrician should be informed if their dog has been diagnosed with Lyme disease. This collaboration between physicians and veterinarians is an example of how disciplines can work together to obtain optimal health for people, animals and the environment.

Listen to AVMA CEO Dr. Ron DeHaven and radio personality Steve Dale discuss the launch of StopLyme and the importance of the veterinarian’s role in One Health and the need for greater awareness of diseases spread by ticks.

In addition to the StopLyme materials, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have tables, maps and graphs of reported human cases of Lyme disease. Veterinarians can also use AVMA’s Lyme Disease: A Pet Owner’s Guide for discussion and sharing with their clients.