How Is Canine Lyme Disease Treated And Prevented
Because Lyme disease is a bacterial infection, it can be treated with antibiotics, once an animal has been examined and tested positive. The antibiotic of choice for canines is doxycycline. Treatment lasts for up to 4 weeks.
The Cabbagetown Pet Clinic offers a comprehensive Cabbagetown Care Program, which includes a canine Lyme vaccination. This is the only way to assure dogs in endemic and expansion areas, such as Toronto, are protected.
How To Tell If Your Dog Has Lyme Disease
When I took Tenor in for his annual shots today, I learned something new. Our veterinarian said that he now uses the latest & greatest Heartworm test. And this one now tests for Lyme Disease in addition to testing for the presence of Heartworms!
Thats how I found out that our dog does not have Lyme Disease today.
So, you may want to check with your vet to see if they offer the Heartworm test that also checks for Lyme Disease especially if your dog gets a lot of tick bites.
In order to treat a dog for Lyme Disease, the dog must be showing symptoms. The primary way that Lyme Disease presents itself in dogs is in the legs and joints. If your dog suddenly cannot walk properly and it appears that the pain is in more than one leg, then your dog may have Lyme Disease. It is not until those particular symptoms are present that a dog can begin treatment for Lyme Disease.
And yes, Lyme Disease can be treated successfully in dogs, and they can go on to live a long and healthy life!
Did You Know? They say that it takes 48 hours of attachment for a tick to give a dog Lyme Disease. Thats reason enough to always check your dog for ticks any time hes been in tick-infested places. And continue checking for next 2 days, as well. You cant be too sure.
What Can I Do To Protect My Pet Against Lyme Disease
You can help protect your pet from becoming infected with Lyme disease by:
Also Check: Can Lyme Disease Cause Headaches
About My Own Lyme Disease
For the longest time, Jim and I used products with DEET to prevent tick bites and ultimately lessen our chances of getting the dreaded Lyme Disease. It wasnt until recently that Jim and I discovered a better alternative to DEET. Its called Permethrin. Ever since we started using it last summer, we havent had another tick on our clothes or our bodies. Not one.
Unfortunately, that doesnt make me feel better about the fact that I got infected with Lyme Disease from a tick bite that I got more than 6 months ago possibly as long as 2 years ago.
The truth is Jim and I actually get dozens of tick bites each year at least 10 each year for the past 7 years that weve lived in Tennessee. And that doesnt include the multitude of tick bites I received when I lived in other states: Florida, New York, and Texas.
For the record, there is currently no reliable vaccine for humans against Lyme Disease.
Impawtant Stuff To Know About Lyme Disease In Dogs
Lyme disease has become increasingly common in humans, and as a result, many pet owners have become concerned about Lyme disease in dogs. While this tick-borne illness is serious, it doesnt have to be a deadly one for our canine companions. That said, dog owners still need to be quite vigilant and responsible about taking proper precautions to prevent and treat Lyme disease in their pets. Heres everything you need to know about Lyme disease in dogs so you can stay informed and prepared.
Also Check: East Lyme Family And Cosmetic Dentistry
Everything You Need To Know About Lyme Disease In Dogs
To keep the lights on, we receive affiliate commissions via some of our links. Our review process.
Lyme disease is a fairly common illness in dogs, just as it is in humans. And cases continue to rise in both species every year. Despite widely available preventative measures for dogs, the Companion Animal Parasite Council reported that confirmed cases in the U.S. rose over 43% between 2017 and 2021.
Heres everything you need to know about spotting the symptoms, preventing, diagnosing, and treating this expensive tick-borne illness. Symptoms can take months to develop so its important to keep an eye on your pup long after a tick bite.
How To Tell If Dog Has Lyme Disease
CEDARCREST Animal Hospital also gives the C-6 quantitative antibody test during annual physical exams, for dogs that enjoy outdoor play. Since Lyme disease
People often dont know when they have gotten Lyme disease. One tell-tale sign is a than a poppy seed much smaller than the common dog tick. âThats one of the reasons we encourage people
What are the signs that your dog has Lyme disease · Swollen or painful joints · General weakness · Fever · Lethargy · Loss of appetite · Kidney problems.
The transmission of Borrelia burgdorferi in dogs has been documented only in Colombia in the department of Córdoba and Antioquia . The following is a description of a patient with lyme disease
those who have Lyme disease may also experience joint pain. If you have symptoms after removing a tick, its important to seek medical care. Tell the provider if you have developed a rash
Lyme disease in dogs is a bacterial illness thatâs carried and spread by ticks. It can result in symptoms such as high fever, lameness, and swollen joints.
Summer skin rashes from poison ivy, the sun and the heat and the most serious rash that accompanies lyme disease for Disease Control and Prevention, so you can still have the infection
You May Like: Signs Of Lyme Disease In Cats
Don’t Miss: Best Lab For Lyme Disease Testing
Kidney Damage Caused By Lyme Disease
More serious complications, although uncommon, include:
- Damage to the kidneys
- Rarely, heart or nervous system disease 1,2
Lyme disease sometimes leads to glomerulonephritisthe inflammation and accompanying dysfunction of the kidney’s glomeruli .
Eventually, kidney failure may set in as the dog begins to exhibit signs such as vomiting, diarrhea, lack of appetite, weight loss, increased urination and thirst, and abnormal fluid buildups that can appear as swollen limbs.
Is There A Lyme Disease Vaccine For Dogs Can All Dogs Take The Vaccine
There are 4 Lyme vaccines available in the United States for dogs. Lyme vaccination is considered a lifestyle vaccine, i.e. not all dogs need it, and the decision to vaccinate is an individual one and is not for all dogs.
The Lyme vaccine works by sterilizing the bacteria in the gut of the tick, preventing transmission of bacteria to the dog if they are ever exposed. Lyme vaccines appear to prevent illness in 60%86% dogs that are vaccinated, but not consistently in all dogs, and not for a very long duration of immunity.To ensure the vaccine provides optimum protection Dr. Wooten notes, your dog will receive two initial injections of the vaccine, two-four weeks apart, and then either annual or biannual boosters to maintain immunity.
While most dogs are tolerant of the Lyme disease vaccine, all dogs are different and may need another form of prevention. According to an article in Todays Veterinary Practice, Golden Retrievers should not receive the Lyme vaccine because of a genetic predisposition to develop Lyme nephritis, an inflammatory kidney disease. Fortunately, if proper tick prevention is utilized, vaccination should not be necessary. However, your veterinarian will help you determine the best form of Lyme disease prevention based on your dogs age, breed, size, any potential pre-existing conditions, and their overall health.
Recommended Reading: Does Lyme Disease Cause Headaches
How To Treat Lyme Disease In Dogs
If you think your dog has Lyme disease, you should take your dog to the vet immediately. The vet will conduct a blood test to see if your dog tests positive for Lyme disease. If positive, your vet will prescribe antibiotics to help eliminate the bacteria from your dogs bloodstream.
Treatment is a long process, and sometimes your vet will have to alter the prescribed antibiotic because the bacteria can become immune to certain medications.
Be sure to follow your vets instructions with administering any medication to your dog. Most antibiotics require the full course of medication to ensure the infection clears from the dogs system.
For Animals That Have Not Been Vaccinated Can Osp A Values Be Positive How Should This Be Interpreted
Antibodies to OspA have previously been interpreted as markers for vaccination. Non-vaccinated animals usually have low values for antibodies to OspA, while vaccinated animals develop these antibodies. OspA antibodies have been shown to protect from infection with B. burgdorferi.
However, there is accumulating evidence that antibodies to OspA can occur without vaccination. First, residual OspA is present on the bacterial surface at the time of transmission to an animal. This causes a low and transient OspA antibody response early after infection. Second, antibodies to OspA have also been associated with treatment-resistant Lyme arthritis and with development of autoimmunity in human patients. Similarly, OspA antibodies in non-vaccinated dogs or horses can be considered as markers of chronicity and disease severity.
You May Like: Lyme Disease What Is It
What Causes Lyme Disease In Dogs
Dogs contract Lyme disease through the bite of infected ticks. These ticks contain the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi, which is a type of organism known as a spirochete.
Common Causes
There are at least four species of ticks in the world known to carry Lyme disease:
-
Ixodes pacificus
-
Ixodes persulcatus
In the United States, the most common source of transmission is the Deer Tick or Black-Legged Tick, scientifically known as Ixodes pacificus on the West Coast and Ixodes scapularis on the East Coast. In Europe, the Ixodes ricinus and Ixodes persulcatus ticks carry Lyme disease.
These ticks are tiny, which can make them hard to see or feel on your dog, and all stages of the tick can carry and spread the disease, although adult ticks tend to be the most infectious. It typically takes 24 to 48 hours after attaching to a host for the tick to spread the Lyme-causing bacteria, although transmission of disease can sometimes occur much more rapidly.
Certain areas are more prone to ticks than others. Wooded or grassy areas and areas with large tick populations pose the highest risk of infection. Ticks tend to be most active in the spring and fall when they are actively seeking hosts, which increases the risk of Lyme transmission. However, recent evidence indicates that ticks are also active in winter, as long as the temperature is above freezing.
Lyme Disease: A Pet Owner’s Guide
Lyme disease is an illness that affects both animals and humans what is known as a zoonotic disease and is the most commonly reported vector-borne illness in the United States, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . Transmitted through tick bites, the disease can be difficult to detect and can cause serious and recurring health problems. Therefore, it is best to prevent infection by taking appropriate measures to prevent tick bites and, for dogs, possibly vaccinating against the disease.
The bacterium that causes Lyme disease a worm-like, spiral-shaped bacterium called Borrelia burgdorferi is carried and transmitted primarily by the tiny black-legged tick known as the deer tick. Deer ticks are found in forests or grassy, wooded, marshy areas near rivers, lakes or oceans. People or animals may be bitten by deer ticks during outdoor activities such as hiking or camping, or even while spending time in their back yards.
Named after numerous cases were identified in Lyme, Conn., in 1975, the disease has since been reported in humans and animals across the United States and around the world. Within the U.S., it appears primarily in specific areas including the southern New England states eastern Mid-Atlantic states the upper Midwest, particularly Wisconsin and Minnesota and on the West Coast, particularly northern California. The CDC maintains a map detailing confirmed cases of Lyme disease throughout the years.
Also Check: How To Get Energy With Lyme Disease
What Is Lyme Disease
The name Lyme comes from Old Lyme, Connecticut. A city where this disease was first reported and described by the medical community. The disease itself has been around for much longer, but most people could not specify it. The prevalence of this illness in humans and dogs continued to increase every year. Since there is no vaccine yet, there is no ultimate cure for this condition.
This is because the symptoms of this disease are rather inconsistent and the organism that causes it is entirely difficult to detect. Solving the Lyme disease history was like putting the missing pieces of the puzzle together to find some type of correlation.
Today, we have a better understanding of this condition. Doctors know that the cause of Lyme disease comes from bacteria. The name of this bacterium is Borrelia in scientific terminology from the Borrelia genus of bacteria.
The more graceful name of this disease is Lyme Borreliosis. The species, Borrelia Burgdorferi has been the culprit for Lyme disease in the past. However, as time progressed, experts found other species that cause the disease apart from the Borrelia Burgdorferi
In a much broader sense, you can refer to the rest of the diseases as, Borrelia Burgdorferi. This bacterium thrives in the northern hemisphere, and in moderate climates. Furthermore, the only natural way this bacteria enters your bloodstream is by ticks.
Can My Dog Get Lyme Disease
This common tick-borne illness can also affect your pup. Know the signs and keep your best friend happy and healthy.
If you spend any time outdoors, make sure to protect yourselves and your pup from Lyme Disease.
Lyme Disease is probably the most well-known tick-borne illness, for good reason: Carried by the black-legged tick , more than 200,000 cases of the disease are reported each year across the United States. Outdoorsy types are always on high alert to protect themselves from Lyme Disease but what about their pets? As it turns out, dogs can also contract Lyme Disease and it can be a serious medical concern when they do.
Get informed so you can care for your pet best. Lets take a look at what Lyme Disease is, its symptoms in dogs, and how you can protect them in the future.
Don’t Miss: How To Tell If A Tick Has Lyme Disease
The Best Protection Is Prevention
You may think of ticks as being prevalent in the woods, and thats true. Yet, they can even be in suburban backyards. Ticks prefer long grass and shrubbery so keep your grass cut short and shrubs trimmed back to minimize their hiding places.
For tick protection, your veterinarian may suggest a tablet that lasts 3 months called Bravecto. It kills fleas and ticks for 3 months. There are also monthly oral cheables such as credelio, or a topical Vectra 3D.
The best prevention is avoidance. Ticks are attached to grasses and shrubs and low hanging tree limbs. When humans and animals brush against these, the ticks will attach to hair and clothing. When these areas are wet, the ticks are much more likely to attach.
Youll also want to know that ticks can thrive year-round especially in warmer climates like the Southeast. Ask your veterinarian for their recommendations on tick protection.
Also, give your dog a thorough check when you come in after a walk especially, if your dog was near grass or shrubs where ticks like to hide. When it comes to your pet, ticks enjoy burrowing at the base of the tail, around the ears, and in between the paws.
We also carry a yearly vaccination protecting against Lyme disease if you know your dog enjoys going on hikes, or generally lives a lifestyle where their exposure may be higher.
Signs & Symptoms Of Lyme Disease In Dogs
The symptoms of Lyme disease vary. While many dogs infected with Lyme disease may not exhibit any symptoms, others may show severe signs, including:
-
Bruising or unexplained bleeding
Lameness, painful or swollen joints, fever, swollen lymph nodes, loss of appetite, and lethargy are the most common symptoms of Lyme disease in dogs and can range in severity. If left untreated, Lyme disease can lead to more serious symptoms, like damage to the kidney or the heart and nervous system.
Lyme disease commonly affects the kidneys more than the nervous system or heart. Unfortunately, it is often fatal. In cases of Lyme disease that affect the nervous system, seizure disorders and facial paralysis can occur.
Also Check: Lyme Disease Immune System Weakened
How Long Do Symptoms Take To Present Themselves
Like many medical conditions affecting dogs, Lyme disease isnt always apparent early on. In fact, it can take 2-5 months for your dog to begin showing symptoms of Lyme disease, and it may take even longer for some animals.
Another thing to keep in mind is that 5-10% of dogs who have Lyme disease dont actually show any signs of it.3 While you might notice behavioral changes and other symptoms that indicate your dog has Lyme disease, theres a good chance that you wont notice any symptoms at all. This is one of the reasons its so important to take your dog to the vet for a checkup every once in a while.
About Those Flea & Tick Preventatives
The good news is: It appears that those flea & tick preventatives that we spend so much money on each year really do appear to be working.
We use Frontline Plus. We have for years. In my opinion, K9 Advantix would be just as good at preventing Lyme Disease in dogs.
The best part about these tick preventatives: Even if a tick latches onto your dog, the tick will ingest the K9 Advantix or Frontline Plus that is in your dogs system. This will cause the tick to die, or at least stop biting and maybe even fall off. I can tell you that Ive actually found crusty old ticks buried deep in my dogs fur a few times.
This is evidence that:
- I missed a few ticks when I was searching his body for ticks and
- Those ticks froze in their tracks when they ingested the Frontline Plus in my dogs system.
But most times, ticks will not even latch onto your dogs skin if Frontline Plus or K9 Advantix has been applied within the last 30 days. Thats reason enough to keep your dog on Frontline Plus or K9 Advantix, dont you think?
Read Also: How To Test For Late Stage Lyme Disease