Lyme Disease
Lyme disease is a disease caused by a spiral-shaped bacterium, Borrelia burgdorferi.
The disease in people begins with fatigue, headache, and often a characteristic rash. If left untreated, the disease may progress to include cardiac, neurological, and arthritic signs.
Diseased dogs will often only show arthritic signs, which may occur with fatigue and reluctance to eat.
Lyme disease was initially described in people, but the organism has been found in many wild animals. Horses, cows, and cats may harbor the bacteria, but the dog is most commonly infected.
Transmission Of Lyme Disease:
The disease is transmitted by the bite of a tick.
Some biting insects have been found carrying the organism, but they are not considered as major transmitters of the disease.
There is no evidence that you can get the disease from your dog, but your dog could bring infected ticks into your yard or house.
Most of the signs of Lyme disease are reported in the spring to fall, when tick populations are the highest.
Lyme disease appears to have a worldwide distribution. Cases have been reported in at least 30 of the United States, but 86% of these cases originated in only 7 states. The areas with highest activity are the northeastern seaboard, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and northern California.
Symptoms Of Lyme Disease:
Lyme disease in dogs has various symptoms, not all of which affect every dog that has Lyme disease. Symptoms include:
- fatigue,
- loss of appetite,
- joint pain,
- swollen joins,
- lethargy,
- and limping.
In the later stages of disease, the kidneys may also be affected.
In rare cases, neurological and/or cardiac signs may be seen, but this is much more common in people affected with Lyme disease than in dogs.
Diagnosis Of Lyme Disease:
Lyme disease is diagnosed through a thorough examination by your dog's veterinarian, followed by blood testing.
Specific blood tests (antibody tests) are available to test for Lyme disease.
Your dog's veterinarian may advise a routine blood screen on your dog as well, to assess your dog's overall health and to check for evidence of organ damage.
Your dog's veterinarian may also advise radiographs (x-rays) of any affected joints to check for evidence of arthritic or other types of changes which can cause similar symptoms.
A positive antibody test for Lyme disease only shows that your dog has been exposed to the organism at some point in time. It does not mean that your dog is currently infected. The test is performed to help evaluate clinical signs where the disease could be a possibility.
Often a diagnosis of Lyme disease cannot be made until a response is seen from treatment of the disease.
Many dogs that are exposed to the organism will test positive, but never develop signs. It is currently estimated that as many as 40% (4 out of every 10 dogs) have been exposed to Lyme disease and will test positive to the disease. However, only about 5% (5 out of every 100) of these positive dogs will ever show signs of the disease.
Your dog may be harmed by the presence of the Lyme disease organism in his/her body over long periods of time.
The immune system is constantly active in its attempt to remove the invading organism and over the years these complexes of antibodies may deposit in the kidney and cause damage. Your dog's veterinarian may recommend that your dog be regularly screened for evidence of protein loss in the urine if your dog has tested positive for Lyme disease.
If protein loss is detected, your dog may require treatment for kidney disease.
Treatment Of Lyme Disease:
The disease is readily treated with antibiotics.
The earlier in the course of the disease treatment is begun, the better the chance for complete cure.
Your dog's veterinarian may advise antibiotic therapy for as long as 2-4 weeks, or longer.
Your dog may appear well after only a couple of days of medication, but it is important to continue giving the drug for the full time period or your dog may become ill again.
As noted above, if protein loss through the urine is detected, your dog may need to be treated for kidney disease as well as receiving antibiotics.
Occasionally, in the latter stages of the disease, there may be irreversible damage to organ systems such as the kidneys.
Prevention Of Lyme Disease:
When you and your dog venture into areas that may be infested with ticks, you should take precautions to avoid infection with Lyme disease or other tick-transmitted diseases.
Apply repellents to yourself, and regularly use flea and tick insecticides on your dog.
Check yourself and your dog for attached ticks, and remove them with tweezers. Do not crush ticks between your fingers, or you could become infected.
A vaccine is now available for this disease. Your veterinarian will help you evaluate your dog’s risk for Lyme disease and decide whether there is a need for vaccination.
