Canine Lyme Disease Symptoms

Canine Lyme disease is an acute medical condition found in dogs. It affects a dog’s heart, kidneys and joints. Find out more about canine Lyme disease and other facts of the disorder.

Lyme disease got its name from the city Lyme, Connecticut. Here, the first outbreak of this diseases was monitored. A bacteria 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 Lyme disease. According to research, Lyme disease in dogs is found to be transmitted through the bite of a deer tick or a black-legged tick. Canine Lyme disease symptoms usually occur within a period of two to five months of the dog being bitten by a tick. A brief description of canine Lyme disease symptoms has been described below. Treatment and prevention of the disease have also been briefly touched upon.

Signs and Symptoms of Lyme Disease

Limping (usually one fore leg) has been found to be one of the prominent canine Lyme disease symptoms in dogs. 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”.

Canine Lyme disease symptoms are also characterized by arthritis. Swelling of the joints is observed in dogs. There is 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 aren’t 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 is another symptom that is observed in dogs due to canine Lyme disease. This symptom is characterized by decreased production of urine in the body. It is also evident 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 oedema.

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 manner that it refrains from any kind of movement. That is the reason why we see maximum 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 of time (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 dog’s body in more than one way.

Prevention of Canine Lyme Disease

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 against canine Lyme disease are also available to protect your dogs from contracting the disease. However, re-vaccinations are a must to keep your dogs’ health problems a bay.

Treatment for Canine Lyme Disease

Since Lyme disease is caused due to a bacteria, treatment involves use of appropriate 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.

Occurrence of any signs or symptoms that are different than the normal dog behavior requires immediate attention. Consult a veterinarian at the slightest hint of any of the canine Lyme disease symptoms mentioned above. Not only these symptoms but any kind of unusual symptoms in your pets must never be overlooked. As a responsible owner, you are the only one who can feel and think for your mute but adorable pet dogs!