What should pet owners know?

Dr. Louis, the veterinarian, was not surprised at the positive results. She has been seeing an increase in tick-borne diseases within the last few years. She keeps a visual reminder in her office to inform her clients about the increase in these diseases. Every time she receives a positive result back, she places a plastic coin in a jar on her office’s welcome counter labeled, “Positive – Tick-borne Disease.” Next to the jar, Dr. Louis posted a statement from the American Veterinary Medical Association:

Because people and their pets often spend time in the same environments where Lyme and other disease-transmitting ticks are found, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) are working together to offer advice to households with both children and pets. People who have been diagnosed with Lyme disease should consult their veterinarian to determine their pet's risk based on the animal's lifestyle and possible environmental exposures. Likewise, people whose animals have been diagnosed with Lyme disease may want to consult their physician about their own or their children’s risk if they have concerns that the animals and family members might have been exposed to similar environmental risks.

Increasingly, Dr. Louis’s clients have been inquiring about tick-borne diseases because of the doctor’s visual reminder. Dr. Louis asked Jada to develop a FAQ sheet to display on the vet’s website.

Open Part 5 of your Digital Lab Notebook then scroll down to continue.