By JIMMY LAWTON

CANTON -- One in five pets tested at the Canton Animal Clinic this year have Lyme disease, according to Veterinarian Dr. Lisa Bancroft.

Bancroft said deer ticks, which carry the disease, have become much more prominent in St. Lawrence County over the past decade.

"We are down a bit from last year when 23 percent tested positive for Lyme disease, but we have been right around 20 percent for the last three years," she said.

Bancroft said around 80 percent of dogs diagnosed with Lyme disease suffer from joint pain, but roughly 20 percent experience kidney problems, which are often fatal.

"About 20 percent of dogs that get it do not survive. It's a confounding disease. I think a lot of people don't realize how bad it is for the animal," she said.

And the problem will likely get worse.

Bancroft said a variety of ticks have invaded the North Country in recent years. And while deer ticks are known for carrying Lyme disease, she said the Lone Star tick, which originated from Texas, has also brought Rocky Mountain spotted fever into the area.

"Ticks have migrated into the area. We didn't seen a lot of Lyme disease cases until about seven years ago," she said.

Bancroft said cats, dogs and horses are all susceptible to infection.

She said other animals may be affected by the disease but aren't usually tested for it. She said increased tick populations may be related to the warmer winters experienced in the North Country.

Bancroft said ticks used to be considered a seasonal phenomenon, but the number of infections in January was actually higher than it was in June this year.

Bancroft recommended annual blood tests for pets to ensure they are not carrying Lyme disease. She said many people think their pet is safe because it does not spend time in the woods, but the reality is ticks can be just about anywhere.

"It's not about where your dogs go. It's about where the ticks go," she said.

Bancroft said vaccinations are available for dogs, and topical treatments and collars are available for both dogs and cats. While neither can completely prevent a pet from contracting Lyme disease, both methods can reduce chances of infection by more than 80 percent.

"Nothing is ever 100 percent," she said.

Bancroft said more information about Lyme disease and preventative care can be found at www.cantonanimalclinic.com