I'm in the studio with TV vet Emma Milne & Christina Tellefsen, a Veterinary Technical Adviser... the research Merial sponsored with The University of Bristol shows that there's been a fourfold increase in the prevalence of Lyme disease in the UK. What is Lyme disease? Well, it's a rather nasty number that transfers from animals to humans and causes chronic joint pain, depression and even impaired memory. Something best avoided, methinks.

This increase in Lyme disease has sparked serious calls for action - targeted specifically at pet owners. The disease is spread by infected ticks... (namely, horrible little things that bury into your skin! Urgh!) The tick will attach itself to whatever animal has walked through its field... this new companion will then be carried into your home, remain on the animal until it matures and eventually attach to a human. Since 2000, the number of cases of infected ticks on dogs has grown from just 300 to 1000 annual cases. So this is a good time for an awareness campaign.

So what can we do? Firstly, talk to your vet so you know how to best treat your animal should it get infected. Good spot-on treatments are good at treating ticks, but your vet will be able to give you more information. Secondly, regularly inspect your pets. First stage ticks are tiny - the size of a poppy seed. So check over your pet, and check yourself. Sometimes ticks are mistaken for spiders; both have 8 legs and both are gross! If you're concerned, go to your vet and ask them to have a look.

But fear not, pet owners - once discovered, treatment is easy and effective.