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Canine Lyme Disease
What is Lyme disease?
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection called Borrelia Burgdorferi
transmitted from deer ticks.
How does my dog become infected with this disease?
The tick attaches itself to your dog and feeds off of them. As a result, the
bacterium is transmitted into the host. The tick has to be attached for 48
hours in order to transmit the disease.
What are the symptoms of Lyme Disease?
Some patients do not show any signs of having Lyme disease but others will
have lameness, fever, lethargy, and anorexia. Sometimes the signs can be vague.
How does Lyme Disease affect my dog's health?
Lyme disease can be a serious disease in some patients. Lyme disease can cause kidney failure, cardiac disease, and neurologic disease.
How do you test for this disease?
The first way to screen for the disease is to perform a 4DX Elisa test. This is a test that should be performed annually, and screens for heartworms, ehrlichosis, lyme disease and anaplasmosis. Ehrlichosis and anaplasmosis are tick borne diseases as well.
If your dog is positive, we would recommend checking protein levels in their urine to determine if they are having protein loss indicative of decreased kidney function. There is also a titer test that can be done to quantitatively measure bacteria level.
How can this disease be prevented?
Daily inspection and removal of ticks is the first way to prevent tick borne diseases. Monthly topical flea and tick preventative such as Frontline Plus is recommended year round. Vaccinating your dog for Lyme disease is also helpful in preventing this disease.
How do you treat this illness?
Usually treatment includes a month long course of antibiotics. Some patients with sever infection require hospitalization for treatment.
Is this a human health concern?
Lyme disease can occur in people. However, it cannot be transmitted directly form your pet. It requires a tick to bite you for transmission of Lyme disease. Since ticks have the ability to jump from dogs to humans, year round flea and tick preventative is advised.
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