Lyme disease is just one of the illnesses
that ticks can transmit to dogs, but it is an important one, particularly
in the northeastern U.S., northern mid-Atlantic region, upper Midwest
and the northern California coast. Lyme disease is not limited
to dogs. It can affect people and other animals as well.
It is important to note, however, that people cannot contract the disease
directly from dogs; they must be bitten by an infected tick.
What Are The Symptoms of Lyme Disease
Infection with the bacteria Borrelia
burgdorferi causes Lyme disease. These bacteria are transmitted
from one animal to another through the bites of particular types of
ticks (e.g., deer or Ixodes ticks). The ticks usually pick
up the bacteria from infected wildlife such as deer and rodents.
An infected tick needs to be attached to a susceptible animal for at
least 48 hours for transmission of the bacteria to occur.
Many dogs that are bitten by infected
ticks do not become stick, but if Lyme disease does develop, the following
symptoms are typical:
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Fever
- Painful joints and muscles
- A limp that may shift from
one leg to another or disappear entirely only to return later
- Reluctance to move
- With longstanding infections,
kidney disease is possible
- The "bulls-eye" rash
that commonly affects people with Lyme disease is not frequently seen
in dogs.
The ticks that carry Lyme disease are
very small, and symptoms often develop long after a dog has been bitten.
Therefore, even if you have not noticed ticks on your pet recently,
he may still have Lyme disease.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Lyme disease is not the only cause
of limping, fever and swollen lymph nodes in dogs, so your veterinarian
will need to run blood work that looks for exposure to Borrelia
bacteria and perform other diagnostic tests to rule out conditions that
cause similar symptoms.
If Lyme disease is diagnosed early
enough, a two or three week course of a certain type of antibiotic,
most often one called doxycycline, will usually lower bacterial numbers to the
point where dogs no longer show any signs of the disease. Small
numbers of bacteria do still remain in the dog's body so future kidney
disease is still possible.
Prevention
The best way to protect your dog from
Lyme disease is to use an effective tick control pet medication. Frontline Plus, K9
Advantix or a Preventic collar are all good choices. If you
find a tick on your pet, remove it promptly using a pair of tweezers
or tick
pliers. Grasp the
tick as close to the skin as possible and pull it free, making sure
to remove the imbedded mouthparts as well. Flush the tick down
the toilet and wash your hands and equipment thoroughly.
A preventative Lyme vaccine is available
for dogs that are at extremely high risk for the disease. Talk
to your veterinarian if you live or are planning to travel to a part
of the country where Lyme disease is prevalent.
The above is provided for information purposes only and should not be used for the diagnosis or treatment of any condition.
This information does not cover all possible variables, conditions, reactions, or risks relating to any topic, medication, or product and should not
be considered complete. Certain product or medications may have risks and you should always consult your local veterinarian concerning the treatment of
your pet. Any trademarks are the property of their respective owners.