Canine Lyme disease is a bacterial infection caused by the bite of a tick that as carrying the bacteria. Borrelia burgdorferi is the name of the bacteria that causes Lyme disease. Not all species of ticks can carry the Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria. Deer ticks are one the species of ticks that can transmit Lyme disease. Deer takes are extremely small and can be described as being less than the size of ahead of a pin. Dog ticks are larger, but cannot carry the Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria.
Severe joint pain is often the first sign of canine Lyme disease. This pain often causes a limp, especially in one of the dog’s front legs. Canine Lyme disease can cause fever and lymph node swelling.
If the canine Lyme diseases left untreated, the dog may develop so much joint pain that it will refuse to move. This can occur within a few days of infection.
Besides the joints, Lyme disease can also affect the dog’s heart muscle and nerve tissue. If the dog is promptly treated for Lyme disease by a veterinarian, the risk of permanent damage is minimized.
A veterinarian will diagnose Lyme disease based on the dog’s symptoms and medical history. Lyme disease is usually treated with antibiotics. A pain reliever may prescribed by the veterinarian for the dog’s joint pain.
Canine Lyme disease is highly treatable. Only about five percent of the dogs that have contracted Lyme disease and have been treated will continue to have symptoms or permanent damage after treatment.
Joint pain, neurological difficulties, and heart problems are examples of signs of Lyme disease that may continue after treatment for some dogs. The Lyme disease may return after treatment in some cases.
Vaccinations for Lyme disease are available and can help prevent the disease. The vaccination is not one hundred percent effective. However, the vaccination is one of several possible preventative measures for canine Lyme disease.
A preventative medicine such as flea and tick drops that are applied monthly reduce the dog’s risk of canine Lyme disease. Dog owners should check their dogs for ticks after the dogs have been outside, but being that takes are incredibly small they can be difficult to see.
If the dog owner finds a tick on their dog, the dog owner should not panic. Not all ticks carry the bacteria that causes Lyme disease. The tick should be removed with tweezers as soon as possible to reduce the risk of transmission of any disease-causing bacteria.
