How To Treat A Dog With Lyme Disease

Introduction

Although Lyme disease in dogs has a reputation for being frightening, it’s usually straightforward to treat. A combination of antibiotics and painkillers are almost always effective at clearing up the disease. As for the ticks themselves, there are a variety of products designed to prevent ticks from latching on to your dog in the first place. If you live in an area where Lyme disease is common, ask your veterinarian about these options next time you schedule an appointment.

No one wants to think about their dog having Lyme disease.

No one wants to think about their dog having Lyme disease. It’s not like they have any control over where they happen to be at the time a tick bites them. The ticks are so small, and they can live in the grass on your lawn or in your bushes. Even if you don’t notice them crawling around on you, it could still happen that your dog would get bitten by one while playing outside in the yard with you. They aren’t always red or brown, either; some of them look almost like tiny spiders!

You also need to know that dogs aren’t the only pets who can get Lyme disease — cats can contract it as well! So if you live in an area where there is high risk for ticks carrying this parasite (like New Jersey), make sure all of your pets are protected from ticks by using products like Frontline Plus for Cats (or Dogs).

But dogs can get the illness, too, and it’s something you need to be familiar with.

Lyme disease is a serious condition that can affect both people and their pets. The most common type of Lyme disease in dogs is Borrelia burgdorferi infection (also called canine Lyme), which is caused by a tick bite that transmits bacteria into your dog. In severe cases, the illness can cause neurological problems or kidney failure. Early-stage symptoms can be similar to other ailments so it’s important to know what to look out for.

If you suspect your dog has canine Lyme disease:

Contact your vet immediately so they can begin treatment as soon as possible!
Look out for symptoms like lethargy, joint pain, fever and loss of appetite – these could indicate a bacterial infection such as Lyme disease

To help educate pet owners, the AKC Canine Health Foundation (CHF) has launched an initiative called Be The Face of Lyme Disease in Dogs.

The AKC Canine Health Foundation (CHF) has launched an initiative called Be The Face of Lyme Disease in Dogs. The campaign aims to raise awareness about canine Lyme disease symptoms, treatment options and prevention education.

Lyme disease in dogs is a serious illness and requires treatment with antibiotics for several weeks. Too often, pet owners are unaware that their dog has Lyme disease or that it can be treated successfully with antibiotics.

The campaign aims to raise awareness about canine Lyme disease symptoms, treatment options and prevention education.

People are more aware of Lyme disease now than ever before. The CDC estimates that up to 300,000 people contract the disease each year, and that an additional 10-20% of cases go undiagnosed. This means there are likely thousands—if not tens of thousands—of dogs who suffer from Lyme disease every year as well.

The campaign aims to raise awareness about canine Lyme disease symptoms, treatment options and prevention education. Here’s what you need to know about this issue:

In 2006, a study conducted by Purdue University found that 13 percent of dogs in the United States were infected with the bacteria responsible for Lyme disease.

In 2006, a study conducted by Purdue University found that 13 percent of dogs in the United States were infected with the bacteria responsible for Lyme disease. However, only about 10 to 20 percent of infected dogs will ever show symptoms. The reason for this discrepancy is likely due to the fact that it takes time for an infection to develop or become noticeable and not all ticks carry the bacteria.

While most ticks are very small—no larger than a pinhead—they’re also abundant throughout North America and hard to spot because they blend in well with their surroundings. They can also be difficult to avoid since they tend to attach themselves where we don’t notice them: under our clothes and on our faces (through hair), inside our ears while we sleep (or while we’re being groomed), inside our boots when we walk through tall grasses or woods without checking ourselves first.<

“Canine Lyme disease is a very serious condition that can affect dogs located across the U.S.,” said Dr. Diane Brown, DVM, PhD, DACVIM and CHF Chief Scientific Officer.

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection caused by the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi. It can affect dogs located across the U.S., including in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, where it’s been found to be endemic (common).

Symptoms of Lyme disease in dogs include fever, lethargy, loss of appetite, joint pain and swelling, lameness or stiffness when walking or running; swelling of the lymph nodes around your dog’s head or neck; swollen testicles; sensitivity to touch on his skin; and redness/itching around his eyes.

If you think your dog may have contracted Lyme disease he should be seen by a veterinarian immediately so he can begin treatment right away—this is the only way for him to recover fully from this serious condition!

A dog with Lyme disease might have joint pain and swelling, a fever and swollen lymph nodes.

If your dog has been exposed to Lyme disease and has not received treatment, symptoms may develop within one or two months. A dog with Lyme disease might have joint pain and swelling, a fever and swollen lymph nodes. If left untreated, neurological problems can develop in some animals.

Joint pain/swelling: Dogs experience lameness (limping), stiffness or reluctance to move around.
Fever: The temperature of your dog’s body rises above 101 degrees Fahrenheit for several days in a row.
Swollen lymph nodes: Your veterinarian will be able to feel the enlarged lymph nodes when examining your pet for other signs of illness such as muscle weakness, lethargy or fever.

It is possible for a dog to have no symptoms at all — or it can show symptoms that resemble other illnesses.

A dog may appear tired and lethargic, but that could be caused by other illnesses as well.
A dog with Lyme disease might have fever and joint pain, which sounds like arthritis or rheumatism.
Dogs with Lyme disease often have swollen lymph nodes in their neck, armpits, groin and behind their front legs (the “cranial” area). In contrast, a dog with Canine Distemper Virus will often have enlarged lymph nodes along the back of its head and neck (the “cervical” area).

“A key early indicator is lameness that shifts from limb to limb,” Brown told The Huffington Post via email.

“A key early indicator is lameness that shifts from limb to limb,” Brown told HuffPost via email.

“This is an important symptom because it can be confused with other conditions like arthritis and hip dysplasia, but the shifting lameness is very characteristic of Lyme disease.”

Other symptoms include lethargy, lack of appetite, fever and joint pain. The disease can affect dogs located across the U.S., so it’s important to know how to recognize when your dog may be infected with Lyme.

She also noted that lethargy or lack of appetite are other common clinical signs.

If your dog is lethargic or doesn’t eat, it’s time to worry. “Lack of appetite is one of the most common clinical signs seen in dogs with Lyme disease,” says Dr. Hickson. “In addition to that, lethargy may be accompanied by fever, joint pain and swelling, swollen lymph nodes (glands), and weight loss.”

Unfortunately, diagnosing this disease can be difficult: the symptoms often mimic other diseases that affect dogs—especially when those symptoms are mild or intermittent—and many veterinarians don’t know how to properly test for Lyme disease. However, there are effective treatments available from your veterinarian if you suspect that your pooch has contracted the illness; these may include antibiotics or other medications depending on what type of Lyme-related condition they’re facing.

Unfortunately, there’s no standard test for diagnosing Lyme disease in dogs — and some test results can be falsely positive or false negative.

Unfortunately, there’s no standard test for diagnosing Lyme disease in dogs — and some test results can be falsely positive or false negative. If a dog has tested positive for Lyme disease, it doesn’t necessarily mean he does have the illness. But if he tests negative for Lyme disease despite having symptoms that are typical of the condition, then you should take him to a vet immediately.

Dogs can have no symptoms at all or symptoms that resemble other illnesses such as heartworm or poison ivy. If your pet is displaying any of these signs and you live in an area where ticks are prevalent during warm months (which is most areas), talk to your vet about what could be causing them and whether they’re connected with one another.

Conclusion

Hopefully, this article helped you understand how to treat a dog with Lyme disease. If you have questions or concerns about your dog’s health, please contact your veterinarian immediately.