DR. WALLACE: I like visiting one of my friends who has a horse and an equestrian trail behind her house.

However, my father has warned me to stay away from my friend and her horse, because I could be infected with Lyme disease by that horse. Could this be true? Her horse seems pretty healthy to me, and just for the record, my father has been known to exaggerate things in the past. — Not Worried, but My Father Apparently Is, via email

NOT WORRIED, BUT MY FATHER APPARENTLY IS: Lyme disease is an infection caused by the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi. This spiral-shaped bacterium is most commonly spread by a tick bite. The disease takes its name from Lyme, Connecticut. This is where the illness was first identified in the United States in 1975.

Lyme disease can affect both humans and horses, but horses cannot transmit Lyme disease directly to humans. However, a tick on your friend's horse could potentially transmit it to you.

Your friend likely grooms her horse regularly and inspects the horse to be sure there are no ticks attached, and that there are no overt signs of Lyme disease infection in the horse.

Here are details about Lyme disease, courtesy or our friends at Johns Hopkins Medicine:

—There are over 300,000 estimated new cases of Lyme disease in the United States each year.

—The symptoms of Lyme disease depend on how long the infection has been present in the body. The first sign of Lyme disease is often an expanding round or oval red "bull's-eye" rash.

—If left untreated, people may develop neurological symptoms and heart problems, and have an approximately 60% chance of developing Lyme arthritis.

I'M STUCK WITH 'MR. HANDSOME'

DR. WALLACE: I'm dating a new guy this year at my high school and he's beyond attractive, so nearly every other girl who's a friend of mine has been congratulating me or telling me how awesome we look together.

For a few weeks, everything seemed great, but now that I'm getting to know him better, his personality is unsavory in many critical ways. I won't bother you with the details but let's just say that I already don't see a long-term future with this guy in any way.

My problem I that I'm hesitant to dump him since that will send shock waves across my circle of friends. What can I do? — Stuck With Mr. Handsome, via email

STUCK WITH MR. HANDSOME: For goodness' sake, you're talking about your life, not the lives of your friends! My advice is to dump him immediately and never look back.

Then, when you're asked about your reasons for doing this, simply state that the two of you are not a good match for reasons you'd prefer not to disclose. Tell everyone that you wish him well and that you know there's a better fit out there for you.

Every day you spend in a relationship that you know is doomed is a day wasted in my opinion, especially for young people like you who are simply dating and not married. Move on to greener pastures; they are out there for you. Don't spend another day in his briar patch.

Dr. Robert Wallace welcomes questions from readers. Although he is unable to reply to all of them individually, he will answer as many as possible in this column. Email him at [email protected]. To find out more about Dr. Robert Wallace and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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