Most Common Arthropod-borne Disease Lyme's Disease in dogs occurs with less frequency than in their human counterpart.
Good news for your dog, but not for us humans.
That being said, however, Lyme's disease is the most common arthropod-borne disease is the United States in both dogs and humans.
Briefly, the Lyme's disease infection occurs when an infected tick gets on its host, starts feeding on the blood of the host and in turn, little corkscrew spirochetes come up from the gut of the tick, into its mouth and then into its host.
These spirochetes carry the "ticket" to lyme disease.
They get into their host and travel through the blood stream, often attaching to different areas of the body, particularly joints in dogs.
Their corkscrew shape can actually allow them to burrow into the body tissue, much like a screw going into a board.
This action can be quite troublesome and is why often times, pain may not stay in one joint, but travel to different ones, back and forth even in the same day.
Symptoms Of Lyme's In Dogs Lyme's disease in dogs is usually less severe than what often occurs in humans.
Dogs generally manifest with a limp, sore foot or leg.
An enlarged lymph node may be present nearest the sore leg.
Dogs may have a fever.
They may exhibit a decreased appetite and be listlessness.
Generally, no "bulls-eye" rash.
Dogs with Lyme's disease statistically have fewer incidences of developing heart, kidney and neurological issues, that which are much more common in humans with Lyme disease.
Sometimes the limp will only last a couple days, then reoccur again.
This may be related to the spirochetes moving.
Complication Risks Lyme's disease in a dog is treated with an antibiotic initially just like its human counterpart.
If the limp reappears, another course of antibiotics may be advisable.
As you have probably figured out by now, Lyme's disease in dogs is generally less likely to occur, less devastating and responds to treatment better than in us humans.
That is not to say that serious complications cannot occur in your dog, as there is always that risk and joint pain can be quite debilitating.
What is worse for a dog with Lyme disease and increases the risk for complication is that the dog may not begin with a limp or sign of illness for 2-5 months after exposure.
Ways To Protect Your Best Friend So how do you protect your best friend? The best opportunity to prevent Lyme disease in dogs is to get the tick off within the first 12 hours.
If this is done, infection is not likely.
The problem with that is, as previously mentioned, that often the dog doesn't start with a limp until weeks to months after exposure.
Obviously, the best ways to protect your best friend are measures to prevent the tick from getting on your dog in the first place.
For areas not known to have a lot of ticks, it may be simply checking your dog if you have been out in the tall grass or weeds, especially legs and armpits as well as a good grooming when you get home.
In some areas of the country where tick populations are endemic, preventing tick exposure would be near impossible, but there are measures you can implement to decrease the risk.
The good news for your dog is that studies show that even though about 75% of dogs in endemic areas have been exposed to infected ticks, only about 5% get Lyme's disease.
It is much higher for humans, so be sure you are also taking precautions to protect yourself, your dog's best friend.
Lyme's disease can be very debilitating in humans and not a day at the beach for your dog.
Take precautions as best you can and protect you and your dog from Lyme's disease.
Good news for your dog, but not for us humans.
That being said, however, Lyme's disease is the most common arthropod-borne disease is the United States in both dogs and humans.
Briefly, the Lyme's disease infection occurs when an infected tick gets on its host, starts feeding on the blood of the host and in turn, little corkscrew spirochetes come up from the gut of the tick, into its mouth and then into its host.
These spirochetes carry the "ticket" to lyme disease.
They get into their host and travel through the blood stream, often attaching to different areas of the body, particularly joints in dogs.
Their corkscrew shape can actually allow them to burrow into the body tissue, much like a screw going into a board.
This action can be quite troublesome and is why often times, pain may not stay in one joint, but travel to different ones, back and forth even in the same day.
Symptoms Of Lyme's In Dogs Lyme's disease in dogs is usually less severe than what often occurs in humans.
Dogs generally manifest with a limp, sore foot or leg.
An enlarged lymph node may be present nearest the sore leg.
Dogs may have a fever.
They may exhibit a decreased appetite and be listlessness.
Generally, no "bulls-eye" rash.
Dogs with Lyme's disease statistically have fewer incidences of developing heart, kidney and neurological issues, that which are much more common in humans with Lyme disease.
Sometimes the limp will only last a couple days, then reoccur again.
This may be related to the spirochetes moving.
Complication Risks Lyme's disease in a dog is treated with an antibiotic initially just like its human counterpart.
If the limp reappears, another course of antibiotics may be advisable.
As you have probably figured out by now, Lyme's disease in dogs is generally less likely to occur, less devastating and responds to treatment better than in us humans.
That is not to say that serious complications cannot occur in your dog, as there is always that risk and joint pain can be quite debilitating.
What is worse for a dog with Lyme disease and increases the risk for complication is that the dog may not begin with a limp or sign of illness for 2-5 months after exposure.
Ways To Protect Your Best Friend So how do you protect your best friend? The best opportunity to prevent Lyme disease in dogs is to get the tick off within the first 12 hours.
If this is done, infection is not likely.
The problem with that is, as previously mentioned, that often the dog doesn't start with a limp until weeks to months after exposure.
Obviously, the best ways to protect your best friend are measures to prevent the tick from getting on your dog in the first place.
For areas not known to have a lot of ticks, it may be simply checking your dog if you have been out in the tall grass or weeds, especially legs and armpits as well as a good grooming when you get home.
In some areas of the country where tick populations are endemic, preventing tick exposure would be near impossible, but there are measures you can implement to decrease the risk.
- Decrease tick populations in and around your yard and property.
- Decrease deer and mice populations as much as possible.
- You may want to check with your local professional exterminator on safe chemical sprays you can use around your house/yard to keep mice away as well as the ticks.
- EcoHealth,Inc has a product called Damminix, which is permethrine treated cotton balls placed out where mice frolic.
They take the treated cotton back to their nests.
This does not kill the mice, but it will kill the tick that feeds on the mice, hence, decreasing tick populations.
The product is apparently safe for other animals and even approved by FDA to be so. - Tick checks after the dog has been out in tall grass or weeds.
I know this is difficult with hairy dogs, but using a magnifying glass and grooming tools can sometimes help.
Legs are usually less hairy and often where ticks first attach unless the dog was in very tall grass. - Daily grooming.
- If you do notice a limp of any sort, be sure to check all the legs real well with a magnifying glass and near a good light source.
- Using a tick collar at all times, being sure to change them per manufacturer direction on the box.
- Talk to your veterinarian about the Lyme's vaccine.
The good news for your dog is that studies show that even though about 75% of dogs in endemic areas have been exposed to infected ticks, only about 5% get Lyme's disease.
It is much higher for humans, so be sure you are also taking precautions to protect yourself, your dog's best friend.
Lyme's disease can be very debilitating in humans and not a day at the beach for your dog.
Take precautions as best you can and protect you and your dog from Lyme's disease.
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