The most commonplace tick-borne disorder within the u.s.a. is Lyme ailment. It can be transmitted to humans and animals, but it’s most often found in dogs. The earlier you catch and treat a case of Lyme Disease, the better your chances are for an excellent recovery. However if left untreated, Lyme disorder can lead to life-threatening complications inclusive of arthritis or heart problems that don’t reply well to treatment. So, the answer to the question, “Is Lyme disease fatal to a dog?” depends on various factors.
Lyme disease in dogs, in general, is not fatal because it is detectable and can be treated. However, there are many cases of dogs contracting Lyme disease but not showing typical symptoms. These symptoms include fever, lethargy (a lack of energy), loss of appetite, swollen joints, lameness (limping) or an enlarged lymph node(s) that may last for several weeks. I am getting ahead of myself here, but let me assure you that this is the complete guide on the subject of Lyme disease in dogs. I have covered all the common questions people ask about it, such as:
- What is Lyme disease?
- Can lyme disease cause low platelet count?
- When do Lyme disease symptoms appear in dogs?
- Will Lyme disease kill a dog?
- What ticks cause Lyme disease in dogs?
- What causes Lyme disease in dogs?
- What do I do if my dog has Lyme disease?
- what’s theremedy for puppies with Lyme sickness?
- What’s the best way to prevent Lyme disease in dogs?
And many more. . .
So, let’s begin with the first and the most straightforward question.
What is Lyme Disease in Dogs?
Lyme disease in dogs is a bacterial infection caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. It can be transmitted to humans and animals via a bite from an infected black-legged tick (Ixodes scapularis). Lyme Disease was named after the towns of Lyme and Old Lyme, Connecticut, where ticks with this bacterium were first discovered in 1975.
Ticks (and other insects) pick up the bacteria when they feed on infected mice and deer. Once a tick becomes infected, it transfers the bacteria to its human or animal hosts during an additional feeding session. So remember, if you’re out in nature, check yourself and your pets for ticks so this doesn’t happen to anyone.
How common is Lyme disease in dogs?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that Lyme disease is the most commonly reported tick-borne illness in the United States. The CDC also says, “Each year, more than 30,000 cases of Lyme disease are reported nationwide. However, this is thought to represent only 10 to 20 percent of all actual cases.”
In addition, stray, feral and wild animals can contract Lyme disease. It’s estimated that the infection rate in these animals is about 10 to 20 percent.
It’s important to note here that ticks are tiny. They are so small that you could easily miss them on your pet or yourself until they become engorged with blood after their meal. So, if you find a tick bite of your pet or of yourself, please do not hesitate to go to the doctor and get tested for Lyme disease. So, the answer to the question, “is Lyme disease common in dogs?” is “Yes.”
Symptoms of Lyme Disease in a Dog
When talking about symptoms of a dog having Lyme disease, there is a difference between symptoms and signs. Symptoms of your dog having Lyme disease are the things that we feel, and signs are the things we see. So, in this case, I will first talk about the common signs of Lyme disease in dogs.
Visible Signs of a Dog with Lyme Disease
The classic visible sign of a dog with Lyme disease is what you see on humans: an Erythema Migrans or EM rash, also known as the bulls-eye rash. This rash appears around four days after Lyme infection and may look like a bull’s eye. It starts as a small red spot at the tick bite site that expands to form a red ring around the spot. The ring has a clear center that may be lighter or darker than the normal skin tone.
An EM rash should not be confused with other types of rashes your dog might have, such as hives. If you think this type of rash is present on your pet, please consult your vet.
Common Symptoms of Lyme Disease in Dogs
The not unusual symptoms will depend on the level of Lyme sickness a dog is in. for instance, assume a tick has been feeding on your canine for an extended time frame. if so, this may have greater serious long-term outcomes on his/her fitness than if he/she had been to be fast bitten and eliminated by way of a tick. if you assume you’ve got located a tick chew on your canine, take away it and smooth the place right away.Â
Here are some of the common symptoms of Lyme disease in dogs:
- Fever
- Swollen lymph nodes (swelling below the jaw or near the groin)
- Loss of appetite and weight loss
- Lameness (more specifically on one leg) due to swollen joints
- Joint pain
Early Symptoms of Lyme Disease in Dogs
The visible and common symptoms of Lyme disease in dogs will vary depending on the stage of infection. The early stages can be mistaken for other canine diseases such as arthritis or a sudden onset of paralysis. If you are noticing any of the following symptoms in your dog, please consult your vet right away:
- Loss of bladder or bowel control
- Swelling around the eye due to an infected nerve
- Back pain that causes a hunched back or other strange posture changes
Late Symptoms of Lyme Disease in Dogs
If Lyme disease is left untreated, it can become severe. Some late symptoms include neurological problems and severe joint pain. These symptoms may occur months after the initial infection. So, if you have missed any early signs mentioned previously, it’s essential to know what to look for now. It’s also vital that you get veterinary care immediately when seeing these types of symptoms listed below:
- Severe joint pain
- Stiffness in the legs
- A wandering eye with strabismus
- Loss of muscle tone or paralysis
Treatment for Lyme disease in Dogs
By learning the early symptoms of Lyme disease, you can help your vet treat your pet. Symptoms can be treated depending on their severity and how soon they are caught. Your dog may be given pain medication to manage his/her joint pain if it becomes severe. Antibiotics used to treat Lyme disease in dogs to fight off any secondary bacterial infections that might appear due to weakened immunity caused by Lyme. Or steroids (glucocorticoids) for inflammation (mainly around the joints).
Lyme Disease Antibodies in Dogs
If your dog does not show any Lyme disease symptoms, but you found bull’s-eye rash on it, it can be due to the presence of antibodies against the bacteria. Although your dog doesn’t have Lyme disease at that moment, it has been exposed to the bacteria in the past, and it will remain for his/her lifetime. There’s no remedy available for this situation. So, if your vet believes that your dog needs antibiotics to treat Lyme disease in dogs, it should be tested further first.
Best Antibiotic for Lyme Disease in Dogs
There are several types of antibiotics that can be used to treat Lyme disease in dogs. These include doxycycline, amoxicillin, cefuroxime axetil, and azithromycin (Zithromax). Doxycycline is the most commonly recommended type of antibiotic because it has fewer side effects than others.
Best Lyme Disease Prevention for Dogs
The best way to prevent Lyme disease in dogs is by protecting them from tick bites. To do this, you will need to use a combination of tick repellents along with some other preventive measures such as
- Keep grassy areas away from your home so ticks don’t have anything dark or moist on which they can feed.
- When you and your dog come inside, check for ticks.
- If you can’t find any ticks on your dog, look under his/her ears and around the eyes and mouth area where it is more difficult to see them.
- Guardyourself with long sleeves, pants tucked into socks or boots, and a hat to save you getting bitten via ticks as nicely when you consider that Lyme sickness in dogs can also be transmitted from human contact.Â
Precautions You Need to Take if Your Dog is Exposed to Lyme Disease in Dogs
If your pet has been diagnosed with Lyme disease, there are precautions you need to take:
Keep it indoors so it won’t be exposed to ticks. Make sure there are no holes or spaces in the walls since this is a common way for ticks to enter your home.
Keep all of your dog’s vaccinations up to date by taking it to the vet every year for a check-up.
If you want, you can consider other ways to protect your dog from Lyme diseases, such as using collars that repel ticks and fleas. You should also watch out for anything that might harm your dog’s health, such as secondhand smoke and unnecessary medications or supplements (which can be toxic). Also, There are a lot of dog and other pet accessories you can acquire at any time from the Loobani shop.
Allergies in Dogs vs. Lyme Disease in Dogs Symptoms
whilst allergic reactions and Lyme disorder have some not unusual signs and symptoms, several key differences should decide whether or not or now not your canine has Lyme disorder.Â
Allergies
Hives and skin irritation due to contact with an allergen such as ticks, pollen, dust mites, certain medications or food.
Lyme disease
Symptoms include but are not limited to: fever, loss of appetite, lameness and joint pain. Unfortunately, it cannot be treated by a topical solution or a pill if it is caught early enough because antibiotics must be given intravenously through an IV drip. Â
Can a Dog Get Lyme Disease Even if Vaccinated?
As mentioned earlier, Lyme disease in dogs is caused by bacteria that live in infected ticks. This means that even if your dog has been vaccinated against Lyme disease, it can still get it from a tick bite because the vaccine does not always protect against all types of Lyme disease.
The vaccine might also motive facet results including swelling or fever in a few cases. So, talk to your vet about what’s best for your dog.
Can a Dog Get Lyme Disease from Another Dog?
If a dog is bitten or licked by an infected tick, there is a possibility that it could contract Lyme disease. While the disease cannot be spread through casual contact such as petting, it is possible for it to be transmitted through saliva, blood, or other body fluids. Suppose you are worried that your dog may have contracted Lyme disease from another dog. In that case, it is best to take it to the veterinarian for testing. This also means that the chances are higher for your dog to be infected if it has had any contact with other dogs who are carrying Lyme disease.
Can a dog Get Lyme sickness more Than once?
The answer to this question is yes. Dogs can get Lyme disease more than once. In fact, a dog can be infected with Lyme disease multiple times throughout its life. While there is no cure for Lyme disease, prompt treatment with antibiotics will usually clear up the infection. However, if not treated early enough, the bacteria that causes Lyme disease can spread to other parts of the body and cause health problems such as kidney damage. It is essential to get your dog tested for Lyme disease if you suspect that it may have been infected, even if your pet has been vaccinated against the disease.
Can a Dog Live a Normal Life with Lyme Disease?
When Lyme disease is caught in its early stages, it is treatable and can even be curable. However, if left untreated, Lyme disease can attack the joints and lead to chronic arthritis. It will also attack the heart and kidneys – potentially leading to death.
Early detection is vital when your dog displays Lyme disease symptoms. If caught before any damage is done, your dog can live an everyday life with Lyme disease. This means making regular visits to your veterinarian for yearly check-ups and regular flea control since ticks are easily transferred from host to host.
Not only that, but you should ensure that your garden or yard does not have any bogs or ponds where ticks may breed, as this could actually cause an increase in ticks in your area.
Can someone Get Lyme ailment from a dog?
Since Lyme disease is a bacterial infection and not a viral one, it cannot be passed from dog to human. However, the tick that carries Lyme disease can transfer it from its natural host (dog) to you. It is therefore important to check any ticks that might get onto you or anyone in close contact with your dog after they have been outdoors for any length of time.
How Exactly Does Lyme Disease Spread?
When an infected tick bites an animal, such as a dog, this bacteria enters their body and spreads throughout their bloodstream. Once inside the body, the immune system will try and fight off the infection and toxins, but if too much damage has already occurred, then there is no stopping the bacteria.
Bringing it Together!
Lyme disease in dogs is a bacterial infection that, if left untreated, can lead to chronic arthritis. Early detection is key when your dog displays Lyme disease symptoms. If caught before any damage is done, they will live an everyday life with Lyme Disease. This means making regular visits to the veterinarian for yearly check-ups as well as taking precautions against ticks by checking them on yourself after being outdoors or having someone else do it for you.
