Lyme Disease Levels in Dogs

Lyme disease is caused when a tick infected with Borrelia burgdorferi---a form of bacteria---bites a dog and infects it. Dogs are at greater risk than humans of contracting Lyme disease as they're more likely to be outdoors and come in contact with ticks. There are multiple symptoms associated with Lyme disease with signs at different levels or stages of the disease's progression.

  1. Joint Soreness

    • The first stage of Lyme disease is generally joint soreness. In many cases, joint soreness takes the appearance of arthritis. For this reason, Lyme disease often is missed diagnosed in pets. Lyme disease also can take several months from the time the bite occurred for symptoms to appear in the dog. The joint soreness is generally localized. The front limbs also are usually more prone to joint soreness.

    Fever and Swollen Lymph Nodes

    • As the disease progresses, the dog may develop a fever and her lymph nodes may begin to swell. The fever is a sign an infection has started to attack the dog's systems. A dog's fever runs between 103 and 105 degrees. In addition, the lymph nodes underneath the dog's body can swell and appear as raised areas or bumps below the dog's skin.

    Lameness

    • Lameness is the culmination of joint soreness and swollen lymph nodes that put so much pressure on the dog's limb that it's no longer able to function. Although lameness is localized at first, it can spread to other limbs over time as the disease spreads through the body and even switch from one limb to another.

    Loss of Appetite and Depression

    • Loss of appetite occurs as the dog becomes sicker and as the disease invades other systems, such as the intestinal organs and nervous system. A dog with severe joint pain and lameness is usually unable to function normally and may become depressed. At this stage, he may be unwilling to move.

    Kidney Problems, Nervous Disorders and Heart Disease

    • The final stage of the disease is usually when it spreads to the kidneys, nervous system and heart. When left untreated, the dog may experience renal failure causing frequent and sudden urination, as well as other neurological and heart problems.