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Canine Lyme Disease Symptoms

Lyme disease got its name from the city Lyme, Connecticut. Here, the first outbreak of this disease was monitored. A bacterium, called borrelia burgdorferi is responsible for this disease. This bacteria is transmitted by the bite of a tick. It is said that out of all the species of ticks, only three species are known to transmit this disease. According to research, Lyme disease in dogs is transmitted through the bite of a deer tick or a black-legged tick. Symptoms usually occur within a period of two to five months of the dog being bitten by a tick.

Signs and Symptoms of Lyme Disease in Dogs
Limping (usually one fore leg) has been found to be one of the prominent symptoms that indicate Lyme disease. This is caused by the swelling of lymph-nodes in the affected limb. This condition is termed as lymphadenopathy. Dogs also suffer from high fever (101 to 102.5 degrees) and anorexia. Anorexia is defined as "a prolonged eating disorder due to loss of appetite".

Lyme disease causes swelling of the joints, and a sudden occurrence of lameness in dogs and they tend to become lethargic. The effect or pain of lameness is seen to shift from one leg to another. The legs arent the only thing affected by the bacteria; the nervous system suffers as well. The dog may also experience a symptom known as myocarditis. This is a condition where the muscular tissue of the heart suffers inflammation. Glomerulonephritis could also be an indicative of canine Lyme disease. This symptom is characterized by decreased production of urine in the body. It is also clear by the presence of blood and protein in the urine. Glomerulonephritis is also characterized by swelling from excessive accumulation of watery fluid in cells, tissues, or serous cavities. This is known as edema.

There is a gradual rise in the degree of discomfort in dogs due to the disease. From a mild joint and muscle pain, the disease affects the animal in such a way that it refrains from any kind of movement. That is the reason we see most dogs being carried by their owners into a veterinary hospital.

The bacteria that triggers Lyme disease may remain dormant in some dogs for a certain period (for over a year in some cases). Then there will be a sudden outbreak of the symptoms of the disease. This is because of the fact that during the dormant period, the bacteria may have affected the dogs body in more than one way.

Prevention
The best method to protect your pets from this nasty disease is proper grooming. Regular dog grooming prevents infestation of ticks and other insects. A variety of products are available in the market for getting rid of ticks. Vaccinations are also available to protect your dogs from contracting the Lyme disease. However, re-vaccinations are a must to keep any health problems at bay.

Since Lyme disease is a bacterial infection, treatment involves use of antibiotics. The course of the treatment may vary in duration depending upon the severity of the disease. However, early diagnosis and treatment of the disease keeps matters from getting worse.

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Lyme Disease Vaccine for Dogs

Canine Lyme disease is a serious dog illness caused due to infection by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. This bacterium is passed on the dogs through deer tick bites. For successful transmission of the bacteria, the tick has to remain in the dogs skin for at least 1-2 days. As per studies conducted regarding Lyme disease in dogs, it is found that the bacterium is present in the ticks saliva, which is then passed to the dogs bloodstream during bites.

Some of the early Lyme disease symptoms in dogs are high fever, loss of appetite, swelling of the lymph nodes, inflammation of the joints, limping (especially the fore leg) and muscle. As the condition progresses, canine Lyme disease symptoms may include lethargy, lameness, anorexia and lack of body coordination. Very rarely, the infected pet may suffer from neurological disorders. Overall, Lyme disease affects the dogs behavior and activities.

Treatment for Dogs

The diagnosis of Lyme diseases in dogs is done by performing blood tests. For confirmation, the vet may examine the physical symptoms, medical history and the test results. Canine Lyme disease, if diagnosed in the early stages, can be treated effectively. The treatment of Lyme disease in dogs is essential in order to prevent severe health complications. Nevertheless, if the condition of canine Lyme disease is left untreated, there may be permanent damage to the nerves, joints, heart, kidney and other internal organs.

Conventional Lyme disease treatment options include antibiotics along with other medications for the management of symptoms. Effective treatment for Lyme disease in dogs can be achieved only after administering the full antibiotic course for about three to four weeks. Lyme disease vaccine for dogs is available, which helps to prevent recurrent infections by the bacterium.

Vaccine for Dogs

Speaking about the vaccine for dogs, there are basically three types of vaccines, which are approved for use in dogs. Such vaccines are effective for preventing Lyme disease. However, similar to other therapeutic formulations, it is to be noted that these medical formulations do not guarantee the prevention of Lyme disease in dogs. The response of the dog towards the vaccine and the overall health of the pet contribute a lot to complete protection against the disease.

The usage of the vaccine for dogs is very controversial. The immunity period after vaccination is short-term. Some medical studies have revealed that after the dog is vaccinated for Lyme disease, future bites by ticks that carry B. burgdorferi cause untreated Lyme disease symptoms. It is due to the fact that the bacteria undergo mutation after certain generations. Considering these complications, researches are ongoing to formulate Lyme disease vaccine for dogs that are effective for controlling mutated bacteria.

The decision whether the vaccine should be used or not depends on ones own opinion. For safety purposes, consult a qualified vet regarding the pros and cons of the vaccines prior to administering them on your pets. The chances of Lyme disease infestations in dogs can be minimized by controlling the population of deer ticks. The dog owner can make use of safe insecticides that are effective in killing ticks, especially in and around the environment. In addition, regular examination of the pet by a qualified veterinarian and awareness of the symptoms help in reducing the risk of Lyme disease infections in dogs.

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