With warming weather of spring and early summer, the tick and biting insect populations steadily increase, making the risks of insect-borne diseases more likely for trail riders.
Veterinarians and health officials are warning about a possible increase in cases of Lyme disease this year because of the spread of ticks into formerly tick-free areas making the chances of encounters with ticks far more likely for trail riders as they enjoy rides into nature.
Increase in tick-caused Lyme disease
Veterinarians and health officials are warning about a possible increase in cases of Lyme disease in horses and humans this year because of the spread of ticks into formerly tick-free areas.
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In Ohio, a Lyme-disease-carrying species of tick rarely encountered before 2010 is increasingly making itself at home according to health authorities. The population of a black-legged tick, also known as the deer tick is thought to be migrating from the east, and so far, the ticks have been found in at least 26 Ohio counties.
Ohio has recorded an increase in cases of Lyme disease in humans so far this year and it is though that more will be recorded because of the increase in the number of ticks.
Although Lyme disease in horses is quite common for animals living in high-risk areas, equine Lyme disease is not easy to identify, since fewer than 10 percent of horses show any symptoms.
Symptoms vary from horse to horse, but an equine with Lyme disease may show an unexplained reluctance to move, as if sore all over, and/or a transitory lameness that cannot be ascribed to any specific cause. Joint swelling may also be apparent in some horses.
There is a striking variance in the symptoms suffered by individual horses infected with Lyme disease, with some able to tolerate infection without showing signs of illness, and others becoming severely ill. Poor recognition of the infection in horses means that there is little available research material to guide veterinarians.
Horses with Lyme disease may experience problems with multiple organ systems, leading to both acute problems and possible permanent damage and chronic health issues, especially where the infection remains untreated. Lyme disease complications in horses can include liver damage and hepatitis, or severe neurological injury from encephalitis, resulting in ataxia, and/or behavioral changes.