How Can Dogs Get Lyme Disease
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. It can affect people and animals.
It is transmitted to people through the bite of infected ticks. Ticks that carry Lyme disease are usually found in wooded and grassy areas, but they can also be found in your yard or garden if you live in an area where Lyme disease is common.
In dogs, signs of Lyme disease may include fever, lethargy, muscle pain or stiffness, lameness, and lack of appetite for several days to weeks.
How do I know if my dog has Lyme disease?
What are the symptoms of Lyme disease? Dogs can display several forms of Lyme disease, but the most common symptoms are lameness, swollen lymph nodes, joint swelling, fatigue, and loss of appetite. In addition, serious kidney complications have been associated with Lyme disease in dogs.[1]
Will my dog be okay if he has Lyme disease?
If your dog is displaying symptoms of Lyme disease, contact your vet to schedule an examination. Left untreated, signs of Lyme disease in dogs can progress to kidney failure and even be fatal in severe cases. Serious neurological impacts and cardiac effects may also take place due to untreated Lyme disease.[2]
What are the 3 stages of Lyme disease in dogs?
Localized: This stage occurs within several days of the tick bite. Disseminated: This stage occurs within weeks of a tick bite. Persistent: Late infection may occur within months to years after the initial tick bite.[3]
Can dog get Lyme disease if vaccinated?
Lyme disease vaccines do not cause Lyme disease, and they do not prevent disease development in dogs already infected. It is important to know that both types of vaccines are only about 80% effective in preventing Lyme disease. In other words, about 20% of vaccinated dogs can still become infected with Lyme disease.[4]
How long can a dog live with lymes?
Dogs with Lyme nephritis have a poor prognosis. Many will not survive even with aggressive treatment. Dogs that survive the first month of treatment will generally have a good survival rate of an average of 400 days.[5]
What happens if my dog tests positive for Lyme?
Dogs with Lyme disease tend to get sick very acutely. They are normal one evening and then seem to become ill over- night. They will refuse to eat, run a fever, and generally have joint pain in multiple joints. The wrist joints are the most commonly affected joints, though any joint can become inflamed.[6]
How quickly does Lyme disease affect dogs?
What are the symptoms of Lyme disease in dogs? Even if your dog has Lyme disease, you may not notice. Just one in ten affected dogs show any symptoms and when they do, it might be after a two to six-month incubation period.[7]
How much does it cost to treat a dog for Lyme disease?
Treatment Costs You will need to pay the veterinary examination fee, which ranges from $40 – $100, depending on your location. In addition, blood tests usually run about $80. Antibiotics should also be taken into consideration – in some areas, a 14-day supply of these medications can cost about $400 or even more.[8]
What are the chances of a dog getting Lyme disease from a tick?
Lyme disease in dogs is one of the most common tick-transmitted diseases in the world, but it only causes symptoms in 5-10% of affected dogs.[9]
What do vets give dogs for Lyme disease?
The antibiotic of choice is doxycycline, followed by amoxicillin, then azithromycin. Treatment lasts for 4 weeks. Occasionally, the initial infection will recur, or the pet will become re-infected by being bitten by another infected tick.[10]
How do vets check for Lyme disease?
Many veterinarians use a SNAP test to diagnose Lyme disease. The SNAP test requires only a small amount of blood and a few minutes to perform. Sometimes additional laboratory testing is recommended. Vaccination and careful tick control measures can help protect dogs from Lyme disease.[11]
Does Lyme disease go away?
Although most cases of Lyme disease can be cured with a 2- to 4-week course of oral antibiotics, patients can sometimes have symptoms of pain, fatigue, or difficulty thinking that last for more than 6 months after they finish treatment. This condition is called ”Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome” (PTLDS).[12]
