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Lyme Disease in Dogs |
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What is Lyme Disease in Pets?
The best way to avoid problems is to prevent them. Do a daily inspection of your pet's skin and hair, paying special attention to the areas around the collar, ears, and the armpits. Comb the hair apart so that you can look closely at the skin. The daily grooming will also help with matts and skin infections. Lyme disease is not common in cats. Removing the tick The old approach was to burn the tick, or swab it with alcohol in an attempt to get it to loosen its grip, but that isn't necessary. You can spray the tick with a tick/flea product and the tick will usually back out and fall off in a few minutes. If you don't have any handy, you can pull it. Wear gloves or use tweezers to grip the tick right at the skin surface and pull the tick straight out. Try to get as much of the tick as possible, as parts left behind may cause infection at the location of the bite. When you remove the tick from your pet, be careful not to touch the mouth parts. After removal, wash the area with soap and water. How can I tell if my pet has lyme Disease?
Some pets are naturally enthusiastic and easily forget that they ache, therefore, it may be more difficult to tell when they hurt. If a pet is brought in that hasn't shown any signs of arthritis and is limping, with a slightly elevated fever and swollen joints, we consider lyme disease. If the lameness comes and goes, it's another indication. Sometimes, the lymph nodes may be swollen. The speed with which the disease progresses is also an indication. It takes a couple of months before the disease shows symptoms, then the pain may intensify quickly over 2 or 3 days, going from barely limping to joints that are swollen, hot and extremely painful. Some dogs become so painful, they may refuse to move or eat and the owner will have to carry them into the office. It may then disappear and come back a few weeks later. What is the Treatment? Treatment with antibiotics needs to start promptly, before lymes disease can damage the heart and leave permanent joint and muscle damage. It may take nearly a month of treatment and the disease may relapse. If left untreated, there may be permanent damage to the joints. Prevention is the best treatment. Your veterinarian has a once-a-month topical medication that can be placed on the skin, between the shoulder blades, to prevent ticks. There is also a vaccine available that will help to protect dogs from infection, if they are at high risk. Give your pet regular grooming. It provides your pet with attention and lets you check them for ticks and fleas.
If you have any questions regarding lymes disease or other common ailments of pets, please feel free to give us a call at 309-685-4707. References:
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Lyme disease is caused by a tick borne spirochete - 
The second fall, they molt into adults and feed on larger mammals before mating, laying eggs and dying. The larger ticks are easier to find than the nymphs; but, because of their longer exposure to infection from rodents and deer, are more likely to carry the disease. Helpfully, it does take nearly 24 hours for the spirochete to be transmitted through the bite wound, so you have time to get them off.
If your pet has become infected, the bacteria invade the connective tissue around and in the joints and cause inflammation. It may spread into the nervous system and affect the heart. It may take between 2 to 5 months for the symptoms to start showing, and they aren't as obvious as in humans. Your pet can't tell you that he's a little achy today, he only shows it with limping, tenderness and a general malaise.
Whenever you and your pet come home from the fields and woods, check for ticks. They may also be living in the grass and bushes around your yard. Consider treating it, but be careful with pesticides around your pet. Always follow instructions on the bag or bottle.