Comparing Knowledge About Lyme Disease Among Pet Owners

Dayana PerezBethane Lokuta, DVM.

Ridgewood Veterinary Hospital, Ridgewood, NJ

To determine if dog owners are more knowledgeable about Lyme disease than other pet owners.

• Created survey pre-test to ensure clarity and objectivity.

• Small sample size may have led to no statistical significance.

• Future: Utilize trends & findings to address gaps in knowledge and misconceptions about Lyme disease.

Special thanks to my wonderful preceptor Dr. Bethanne Lokuta, Keith Harris, Dr. Dean J. Cerf, Tamara Swedberg, Ann Marie Hill and all the supporting staff at Ridgewood Veterinary Hospital.

Significance

Purpose

Outcomes

Evaluation

Acknowledgements

Background photo by Flickr user: https://www.flickr.com/photos/kevinmgong/Heading image of blacklegged tick by Bing user: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2010/04may_ticksat/. Images under “Significance” by: https://www.flickr.com/photos/125169888@N07/, https://www.flickr.com/photos/stevewall/, https://www.flickr.com/photos/johncarleton/, http://www.ridgewoodvet.com/, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairview,_Bergen_County,_New_Jersey

Lyme disease infects animals and humans through infected

blacklegged tick bites.

Nearly 30,000 Lyme disease cases are reported annually to the

Center of Disease Control and Prevention.

One in 16 dogs in the United States test positive for Lyme

disease.

9.82% of Lyme canine positive results in NJ come from Bergen

County.

Project targets Ridgewood Veterinary Hospital clientele due to increased exposure to Lyme

infection.

Target Population: Ridgewood Veterinary Hospital clientele:

① Dog owners② Non-Dog owners

Fungal Disease Bacterial Disease

Viral Disease Don't know

8%

27%

35%31%

0.00%

37.50%

43.75%

18.75%

What is Lyme disease?

Non-dog Owner Dog-Owner

78%

19%

2%2%

Lyme disease has been reported in:

In nearly every state of the U.S.About half of the states in the U.S.Only in Northwestern part of the U.S.Only in upper Midwest and Mid-Atlantic States

81.25% of Dog owners

&73.1% of

Non-Dog own-ers

Create Lyme disease survey

Distribute & collect survey:

Responses into Qualtrics

Analyze data using SPSS

Dog-owners Non- dog owner

6.25% 3.85%0.00%

3.85%

50.00%

38.46%

18.75%26.92%25.00% 26.92%

All are preventative methods EXCEPT:

Tick and flea preventative products for your pets.Lyme vaccinations for dogs.Lyme vaccinations for peopleControlling Tick infestations in place of residence.Don't know

Dog Owner Non-dog Owner

71.87% 73.08%

15.62% 15.38%9.38% 11.54%

3%0%

Lyme Disease is Transmitted by:

A bite from a Lyme infected tick.Infected tick bite & A pregnant woman passing Lyme disease to the fetus.Infected tick & Bodily fluid exchange with infected animal or personDon't know

Methodology