A new study from the University of Georgia suggests that more than one in five shelter dogs are infected with heartworms or had been exposed to Lyme disease.
Previous studies from UGA have shown that areas where more dogs have Lyme disease also have higher rates of human infection.
Due to climate change, the ticks and mosquitoes carrying the diseases are expanding their geographic range that could potentially put more people and their pets at risk.
Both diseases can easily be avoided by veterinary care and the use of flea, tick and heartworm preventative medications.
