Lyme Disease in Dogs

Named after Lyme, Connecticut, Lyme disease is an infectious illness transmitted by ticks that can affect dogs as well as people. It's present in every part of the U.S. but is most common in California, Wisconsin, Minnesota and eastern coastal states. Although the disease can also infect horses, cats and cattle, it's most common target is dogs.

  1. Cause

    • The deer tick is the most common carrier of Lyme disease in the upper Midwest and Northeast. In the West, the common carrier is the western black-legged tick. Although ticks can transmit the disease, they are not the cause. Lyme disease is caused by bacteria called borrelia burgdorferi. If a tick feeds on an animal that is infected with borrelia burgdorferi, the tick becomes infected itself and can transmit the disease to other animals it feeds on.

    Symptoms

    • Symptoms of Lyme disease in dogs may not appear for two to five months after infection and can include high fever, lameness, swollen joints, swollen lymph nodes, loss of appetite and lethargy. Some dogs may even develop kidney disease, heart trouble or nervous system problems. In people, Lyme disease causes a red, circular rash, but this is not seen in infected dogs.

    Treatment

    • Treatment of Lyme disease in dogs consists of using antibiotics, the most common of which are doxycycline or amoxicillin. Treatment must be administered for 14 days or longer, depending on the persistence of the infection. Dogs usually demonstrate improvement within the first 48 hours, but in some cases Lyme disease may be a chronic condition. However, many infected dogs respond quickly and satisfactorily to treatment.

    Prevention

    • To help prevent Lyme disease, avoid woods, brush, tall grass and other areas with high tick populations. Use preventative collars, sprays and once-a-month topical tick treatments on your dog. But if he is bitten by a tick, do not panic, as there is little chance the disease will be transmitted if the tick is removed within 48 hours of attachment. Another way to prevent Lyme disease in dogs is through vaccination.

    Considerations

    • There is controversy regarding whether dogs should be vaccinated for Lyme disease. Some people argue that the vaccinations are ineffective and could cause kidney problems. Although vaccinated dogs are less likely to become infected, some still contract Lyme disease. It is recommended to vaccinate your dog only if you live in an area where Lyme disease is a problem.