Learn what top veterinarians have to say about Lyme disease in dogs
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Certain species of ticks are the carriers of infectious diseases. Lyme is a bacterial disease caused by a certain species known as Deer ticks. It can be transmitted to dogs, other animals, and humans. It is also called Lyme Borreliosis.Â
Lyme disease was named after the Lyme town of New London, Connecticut, where many cases with these symptoms were identified in 1975. Since then, it has been identified all over the world.
A red rash at the spot of a tick bite, which appears after a week, is the most common sign of this disease. But there are some other signs as well.
Grassy or wooded areas and the areas near rivers, oceans, lakes, and forests are home to Deer ticks. In these areas, more dogs are infected with Lyme disease. Timely detection of this disease is not easy, hence there lies the danger of severe health damage to dogs. Prevention is the best cure in this case.Â
Effects Of Lyme Disease:
- If Lyme disease is not treated in a timely manner, it can damage the nervous system, kidneys, and heart.
- If the disease damages the nervous system, facial paralysis, and seizure may happen.
- Lyme disease can damage the kidneys which can prove to be fatal.
- In rare cases, this disease affects the heart.
Symptoms Of Lyme Disease In Dogs:
Some dogs do not show symptoms of Lyme disease despite contracting it. That said, in most cases, the signs become apparent in 2 to 5 months after the tick bite.
Following are the common symptoms of Lyme disease in dogs:
- Joint Swelling: It’s a severe symptom of Lyme disease. It is also known as Lyme Arthritis. It includes swelling and severe pain in joints and can be a sign of early-to-late stage attack of Lyme disease.
- Lameness: Because of inflammation of joints, the dogs suffer from periodic lameness. The lameness goes for 3-4 days but recurs afterward.Â
- Decreased Activity: It is also a sign of Lyme disease, though a hard one to spot.
- Fever: The fever can last up to two weeks, but it becomes fatal if the case is serious and left untreated.Â
- Loss of Appetite: It is a generic symptom which can be due to multiple diseases, along with Lyme disease.
- Swollen Lymph Nodes: The nodes can increase 3 -10 times in size because of Lyme disease. This symptom is the result of an infection in humans and dogs. Diagnosis is needed to know whether it is the result of Lyme disease or due to any other medical symptom.Â
- Lethargy: Lethargy, exhaustion, tiredness are the earliest symptoms of Lyme disease.Â
Treatment For Lyme Disease In Dogs:
- You can prevent Lyme disease with proper vaccination. However, it does not protect wholly against Lyme disease. But if the risk of getting an infection is high, it still is worth it.
- One of the best treatments and protection against Lyme disease is the Simparica Trio. It’s a chewable FDA approved tablet. Give your puppy a single dose once a month. It will offer protection against heartworm disease, ticks, fleas, roundworms and hookworms, and Lyme disease.
- Antibiotics are also recommended for treating this disease, which should be taken for at least four weeks. In most cases, they do the work, and symptoms are resolved. But if the infection persists, then the second round of treatment and therapies are needed.
If your dog shows any of Lyme disease’s symptoms mentioned above, avail urgent care of Autumn Trails and Veterinary Center located in Charlottesville, VA.