Lyme Disease and Dogs: Symptoms and Prevention

Lyme Disease is caused by a corkscrew-shaped bacteria (Borrelia burgdorferi) carried by ticks, and is transmitted most commonly through the bite of deer ticks and black-legged ticks.  Deer ticks are common near the East Coast, and black-legged ticks near the West Coast. In the United States, Canine Lyme Disease is prevalent in the Northeastern states from Maine to Maryland,  and also in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Oregon and Northern California.

In most areas of the U.S.,  April to November is commonly known as “tick season”, but keep in mind that infection can happen any time of the year.

Lyme Disease Symptoms in Dogs:

• Swollen or hot joints.


• Joint pain or tenderness. Symptoms are similar to (can mimic) arthritis.


• Poor appetite.


• Less active or playful.


• Limping- can set in as little as a 3 hours following an infection.


• Pain in one or both legs. The pain can also shift from one leg to another.


• A fever of 102 degrees or higher.


• Fatigue.


• Swollen lymph nodes.

When to see your vet:

• If your dog is not arthritic and you notice a sudden change in your dog’s mobility, especially after being in the woods/tick-borne areas, take your dog to the vet immediately.


• If you see any suspicious ticks, and your dog has symptoms listed above.

Prevention:

• The degree of necessary prevention depends upon exposure risk for Lyme disease.


•  Make screening for Lyme Disease a vital component of your dog’s annual vet exam.


• Vaccinations (early for puppies and boosters for adult dogs ) are the best protection.


• Groom your dog with as fine-a-toothed comb as possible. Detecting and removing ticks as early as possible will help to minimize the risk of Lyme Disease.


• Use tick prevention and tick-killing products to reduce your pet’s risk.

Other things to know:

• The symptoms of Lyme disease can mimic symptoms of other diseases, but the infection progresses very quickly in canines.


• Lyme disease can be managed easily if it is diagnosed on time.


• If untreated, symptoms might disappear, but may return weeks or months later.


• Some dogs are affected with the disease for over a year before showing symptoms. By this time, the disease may be quite widespread.

Have a great summer and enjoy the outdoors!!!

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