One of the most prevalent tick-borne diseases in the world is Lyme disease in dogs, but only 5–10% of affected dogs experience symptoms. So some dogs may have it, but never show symptoms.
Lyme disease transmission in dogs has been documented in both the United States and Europe, but it is most common in the upper Midwestern, Atlantic, and Pacific coastal states.
However, the illness is escalating and becoming more widespread across the country. Here is some information on the causes, prevention, symptoms to watch out for, and available treatments for Lyme disease.
What is Lyme disease in dogs?
Lyme disease, also known as Lyme borreliosis, is a bacterial infection that infected ticks of certain species can spread to people, dogs, and other animals.
Ticks can’t fly or jump, so they approach their host by hiding on the tips of long grass or bushes and then snatching them up when your dog passes by. He then climbs up on his body in an attempt to find a place to bite.
When a dog or person is bitten by an infected tick carrying the spiral-shaped bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, the virus is transmitted through the bloodstream.
The bacteria can travel through the bloodstream to different parts of the body and cause issues with particular tissues or organs, including joints, as well as general illness. Once a tick has been attached to a dog for between 24 and 48 hours, the illness can be spread.
Signs of a Dog with Lyme Disease
If a dog has Lyme disease, they will usually start to exhibit a few common signs and symptoms. It’s crucial to keep in mind, though, that many canines who may harbor Lyme disease never exhibit any symptoms and the illness will not harm them. In actuality, only 5-10% of canines with Lyme disease will ever exhibit any overt symptoms.
But if your dog does start to exhibit symptoms of Lyme disease, you might start to notice your dog limping on one leg one day and then the other leg the next. This is brought on by joint inflammation, from which the pain frequently shifts. Additionally, your dogs might not be eating, they might be losing weight, they might urinate more frequently than usual, they might vomit, and they might have very loose stools.
In addition, although these conditions are extremely rare, your dog could walk with an arched back or appear to be very stiff, be sensitive to touch, be feverish or depressed, have breathing problems, have an abnormal heartbeat, or experience complications with their nervous system.
Additionally, your dog may appear to be acting differently from their usual, upbeat, and energetic self because they are constantly exhausted and lethargic.
If your dog has Lyme disease, you might notice some of these symptoms:
Other indications that your dog has Lyme disease are listed below:
Are certain breeds more or less prone to Lyme disease and its complications?
All dogs may contract Lyme disease after being bitten by an infected tick, according to Dr Muller notes that if they do contract Lyme disease, Golden Retrievers and Labrador Retrievers “might be more predisposed to kidney problems stemming from Lyme disease.” ”.
FAQ
Is Lyme disease lifelong in dogs?
After contracting Lyme disease, some dogs may also experience lifelong complications. However, most Lyme-infected dogs do well as long as you take them to the doctor and start them on antibiotics right away.
Can Lyme disease cause permanent damage in dogs?
Your dog’s joints may suffer long-term harm from untreated Lyme disease infections, such as chronic inflammation and arthritis. This is obviously painful for your dog. Lyme nephritis is the most terrifying potential long-term consequence of Lyme disease.
Can my dog be cured of Lyme disease?
Despite the fact that canine Lyme disease is treatable, Lyme disease in people frequently results in chronic symptoms like joint pain.
How do dogs recover from Lyme?
Since the Lyme spirochete is a bacterium, antibiotics can be used to treat it. Doxycycline is the preferred antibiotic, followed by amoxicillin and azithromycin. Treatment lasts for 4 weeks. Sometimes the initial infection returns, or the animal can get sick again by being bitten by another infected tick.