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Linden Woods-based vet Larry Adelman pictured here with a dog called Maggie. (SUPPLIED)

A Linden Woods vet is warning Winnipeg dog owners about what he says is a growing danger that is liable to tick people off — Lyme disease.

Larry Adelman, 54, who runs a home-based practice on Fairhaven Road, has diagnosed two local "probable cases" of the disease in recent weeks — one in Linden Woods and the other in Fort Whyte.

Adelman stressed that the while the cases cannot be confirmed until positively identified by test results, which can take weeks, the symptoms are typical in both instances.

"They can be almost flu-like symptoms," said Adelman, who has operated his home-based practice for the past four years.

"Your dog will appear listless, won’t respond when you call its name and is likely to go off its food," added the vet, whose resume includes 10 years working at Seven Oaks Veterinary Hospital in West Kildonan.

"Other symptoms of the disease might include feverishness, joint stiffness and swollen lymph nodes."

Adelman said the disease — so-named after the town of Lyme, Conn., in the U.S., where a number of cases were first identified in 1975 — is transmitted through the bite of an infected tick.

And while spread of the disease is not fussy about the age or breed of your dog — "it’s pretty much universal," Adelman said — the environment can play a part.

"Ticks tend to live in tall grass, so certain locations, such as the cabin or parts of the countryside, can make dogs more susceptible to bites," Adelman said.

Though not exhaustive, Adelman cites three approximate stages of treating the disease in dogs.

"Firstly, if owners want to be as proactive as possible, then I would suggest giving them a vaccine. This consists of two shots, which are delivered between 10 and 14 days apart," he said.

"Next up, I’d recommend buying a flea or tick collar, although these won’t be 100% effective. Also, it’s good to brush your dog on a daily basis. I’m amazed at how many people find this so tiresome, but it’s takes such a small amount of effort."

Finally, if the dog has already contracted the disease, Adelman says the symptoms can be readily treated.

"They usually respond to treatment quickly. There are very limited side-effects and the cost is relatively low. Rarely have I seen dogs that don’t respond to treatment," Adelman said.

A national expert said that Manitoba is, according to research, a hotbed for Lyme disease compared to other parts of Canada.

"It’s well known that Manitoba is an endemic area for the disease, especially in the southern sections of the province," said Jim Wilson, president of Canadian Lyme Disease Foundation.

A study by IDEXX Laboratories, which analyzed data from 2007 to 2008, found 224 positive cases of Lyme disease in dogs in Winnipeg alone — more than any other Canadian city.

However, it too early to know how 2010 compares to previous years.

For more information, email doc@homevet.ca or call 488-1164.

simon.fuller@canstarnews.com