Lyme disease in dogs (also known as borreliosis) is a tick-borne disease with potentially long-lasting and severe consequences to your dog's health. Canine Lyme disease is transmitted via the deer tick, also known as the black-legged tick, a tiny dark-colored tick whose primary hosts are deer. Treatment can take anywhere from a month to longer, but early detection will speed up recovery.
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Diagnosis
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If you live in a heavily wooded area with a local deer population, be vigilant in checking for ticks on your dog and remove them immediately. There is a 48 hour window between when an infected tick lands and when it can transmit bacteria that cause Lyme disease, which gives you the opportunity to check your dog thoroughly for any insects. Not all tick bites are cause for alarm--the common American dog tick doesn't carry Lyme disease, but is difficult to distinguish from the deer tick. Your veterinarian is able to diagnose the presence of Lyme disease with a quick blood test. Dogs that test positive for Lyme are treated with an antibiotic.
Symptoms
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The first visible signs of Lyme disease may not show up for several weeks after the tick bite, and many of the symptoms have a cyclic pattern of flare-up and remission. Dogs with Lyme often develop a high fever that can run anywhere from 103 and 105 degrees F. Other symptoms include loss of interest in meals, loss of hair, skin discoloration, dehydration and lethargy. Dogs may also develop severe muscle pain or swollen lymph nodes, also known as lymphadenopathy.
Treatment
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The most frequently prescribed antibiotics for canine Lyme disease are doxycycline and amoxicillin. Treatments generally last three weeks to a month, although may last longer as needed. If antibiotic treatment ends prematurely before the full course is complete, symptoms may recur and result in long-term damage and slow recovery for your dog. The earlier the antibiotics are started, the better the chances of making a full recovery. Over-the-counter treatments like Permethrin or Amitraz are less reliable, although topical treatments like Frontline, Advantix and Bio-Spot have been shown to be effective. Treatments meant for flea control are not effective at treating tick bites or Lyme disease.
Prevention
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A vaccine for canine Lyme disease is available, but is recommended primarily for dogs and other animals that live in high-risk tick-heavy areas. The best prevention methods for Lyme disease in dogs are to prevent the tick bite itself with insect repellant collars, check frequently for tick bites and give baths to your dog using insecticidal shampoo. Wear rubber gloves when checking for ticks since Lyme disease can also be transmitted to humans.
Long-term Consequences
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If spotted early, treatment for Lyme disease in canines is generally very effective. However, if allowed to progress, Lyme disease could result in anything from a slight limp to total immobility. Additional long-term health consequences can include kidney damage or kidney failure, heart problems, neurological problems (seizures), chronic joint inflammation and arthritis and immune system problems. More rarely, canine Lyme disease can result in meningitis as well as Bell's palsy, which is a paralysis of the facial muscles usually localized to one side of the face.
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