Canine Lyme Disease

Learn about canine lyme disease, so that you can spot the sign and symptoms in your dog.

Canine lyme disease is an communicable sickness carried by ticks. It is induced by a form of bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi. The infection is transmitted by deer ticks, and is more common in areas close to the east coast.

How Lyme Disease is Transmitted

As mentioned above Canine Lyme disease is transported by ticks. The infection disperses when the contaminated tick bites its host animal, whether that host be a canine, deer,  human or some other animal. But, the tick must feast from its carrier for forty-eight hours before the bacterium has enought time to circulate. If the tick gets unfixed earlier than forty-eight, then the bacteria can't circulate to the canine host.

As a matter of fact, research shows that canine's are not exceedingly susceptible to Lyme disease. Canine Lyme disease affects approximately 10 percent of canines exposed to B. burgodorferi.

Contaminated animals could present a danger to their families, however simply because their ticks could circulate the infection to humans in the home.

What are the Symptoms of Lyme Disease in Dogs

Canine Lyme disease generally occurs approximately 2 to 5 months following the exposure to the bacteria. Signs and symptoms of Lyme disease in canines are dissimilar from the symptoms of Lyme disease seen in humans. The more common symptoms of Lyme disease in canines are:

    * A fever of 103-105 degrees Farenheit
    * Sporadic lameness that might seem to move from one leg to another
    * Swelling of the joints and lymph glands
    * Lethargy
    * Loss of appetite

Complications of dog Lyme disease can include renal failure, heart disease and damage to the dog's nervous system.

Diagnosing and Treating Lyme Disease in Canines

A blood exam can diagnose Lyme disease in canines. But, a positive blood exam doesn't necessarily imply your animal has Lyme disease. The blood tests shows antibodies to the sickness. Many animals are exposed to the bacterium that induces Lyme disease, however manage to rid themselfs of it on their own; so, a positive exam implies simply that your animal has been exposed to B. burgodorferi.

In order to diagnose an active case of canine Lyme disease, your veterinarian has to rely on the outcomes of the blood exams, your animal's history of tick exposure, your animal's signs and symptoms and your animal's reaction to antibiotic drug treatment. Animals troubled by Lyme disease ought to respond to antibiotic treatment within forty-eight hours.

Veterinarians address Lyme disease with antibiotic drugs, such as tetracyclines or penicillin based drugs like amoxicillin. Treatment normally endures from fourteen to thirty days. Certain animals, however, might call for medicine for longer periods and, in uncommon instances, the infection becomes chronic.

Prevention of Lyme Disease in Canines

Lyme disease in canines may be prevented with the employment of a vaccine. Even animals who have already been in contact with the Lyme disease bacterium are still in danger of infection and ought to be immunised.

Containing ticks on your canine can do a lot in preventing canine Lyme disease. Apply a monthly topical flea and tick repellent to assure that your canine stays free of ticks. If you do not use such a product, check your canine every day for ticks. Remove ticks that you might find by smothering them with vegetable oil, then picking them off your canine with a pairs of tweezers, and putting them into a container of soapy water.

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