Lyme disease is caused by a bacterium called Borrelia burgdorferi, which is transmitted to a host (in this case, a dog) through a tick's bite. Ticks can thrive in many different environments in North America and Europe. If your dog has been through a grassy field or a forested area, he may have picked up a tick. While the trademark "bulls eye" rash is an easy indicator in humans, it does not show up on animals, which may make this disease more difficult to diagnose in dogs. Common symptoms include: Neck pain Muscle spasms Pain and sensitivity to touch Lethargy Signs of fever Lyme disease cannot be treated without proper veterinary care. Your veterinarian will be able to give you the antibiotics your pet needs to fight the disease and start feeling better. Some of the more commonly prescribed antibiotics are doxycycline, tetracycline and amoxicillin. Your dog will most likely need to take antibiotics every day for around one month. Your vet may recommend extending or shortening the treatment length. Follow your veterinarian's advice and ask questions if you're unsure of how or when to administer antibiotics. Dogs who frequent wooded or grassy areas should be checked for ticks often. To check a dog for ticks, run through the following list: Run your fingers over the entire length of your dog's body. Check hard-to-see places like armpits, between toes, and behind ears. Look for bumps or raised spots. Any time you find a raised spot, pull the fur apart to inspect the bump. Use a magnifying glass if you need to. If you see a tiny spot with eight legs, it is most likely a tick. It's important to act fast, as ticks can transmit disease to their hosts within 24 hours of contact. To safely remove a tick from your dog: Use a clean pair of tweezers to grasp the tick's head, as close to your dog's skin as possible. You may wish to wear disposable gloves to reduce the likelihood of infection to yourself. Pull the tick straight out of the skin. If the tick breaks apart, be sure to remove any pieces left behind, as these may also transmit Lyme disease.

Summary: Identify the symptoms of Lyme disease. Administer antibiotics. Check your dog often for ticks. Remove ticks whenever you find one.

When you first bring your new puppy home, it is a good idea to keep him within the confines of just one or two rooms at first. Common choices include the kitchen, laundry room, or den. This allows your puppy to explore while keeping him safe. It also makes it easier for you to keep track of your puppy and clean up after him. If allowed to wander the house freely, a puppy may feel overwhelmed and confused by all the new scents and sounds. Puppies are more likely to soil an area again after they have an accident in the house, so it is good to keep a close watch on him so that you can take him to go potty when he needs to go. You can puppy-proof the area that you have chosen for your puppy by cleaning it well, removing any wires or other items the puppy may chew, removing ornaments or anything the puppy may bump into or break. Also, make sure that you remove anything from this area you don't want soiled, chewed or scratched. Keep in mind that puppies will chew anything, electrical cables are no exception. Make sure they are out of your puppy's reach. Place all hazardous substances out of your puppy's reach. This includes cleaning products, medications, vitamins, plants, cat litter boxes, tobacco products, garbage, and anything else that your puppy may try to eat. Crate training is a powerful method to train your puppy, but it is not required. If you do decide to crate train your puppy, choose a crate the puppy can stand up in and lie down with his legs extended. Make sure that there is a soft bed inside the crate as well. The idea of crate training is to teach the puppy that the crate is his safe place, kind of like a wild dog's den. Keep in mind that the crate should never be used as a punishment or a prison. It should be a place where the dog goes willingly for a time-out and where you know he is safe when you aren't with him. Wire crates are ideal because the dog can see everything around him. This helps him to feel more secure. Choose bedding that is machine washable and that your puppy can snuggle into. Get at least two sets of bedding. That way one set can be in the wash while the other set is in use. Make sure your puppy is raised slightly off the ground in his bed, so he avoids draughts at floor level. Even if you will be taking your puppy outside to a toilet spot, it is also a good idea to provide him with a place to relieve himself indoors in case of an emergency. Puppy pads are useful for this - they are like a large flat, absorbent cloth that you can just throw away. You can also use newspaper but it is slightly less absorbent, so there is a greater chance that you will end up with some urine on the floor. It is also a good idea to get some disposable gloves, a disposable kitchen towel, and some disinfectant spray (enzymatic - not ammonia or bleach based) for cleaning up messes. Some dog trainers also recommend getting a timer, and setting it to go off every half hour. Then, every time the timer goes off, take your puppy out for a toilet break.

Summary: Create an area in your house just for the puppy. Make your puppy's area safe. Choose a crate for your puppy. Purchase bedding to help your dog sleep comfortably. Buy equipment for potty training.

Some rides will have seats available for you to sit in before getting on the ride. These are mostly to make sure you will fit properly, but trying them out can be a good way to get more comfortable with what you are doing. The best way to face your fear is to push past it and get on board. You've come this far. You've learned about the ride, relaxed yourself, stood in line, and now you are here. Get in the seat, let the attendant strap you in, and get ready to roll. Most rides will have some type of "grab bar" or other restraint that's meant to help hold you into the ride. It might make you feel more secure to grab hold of the restraint. It won't actually make you any safer, but can be a pleasant reminder that something is there to hold you in. When the ride takes off, you will be tempted to squeeze your eyes shut until it's over. Don't do that. Instead, let your eyes guide you along the track, watching what comes next. Being able to see what follows will help make you feel more in control of what's coming. Once you've gone on the ride, great. Now get back in line and go again. Going on rides more often helps habituate you to it, and will make you even more comfortable as you go along.
Summary: Try out the seats. Get on the ride. Hold on to the bar. Keep your eyes open. Go a second time.