Lyme disease in dogs

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by Cheryl L. True

Lyme disease is named after the Connecticut town of Lyme where the disease was first discovered. One of the more common dog diseases, it has been seen in dogs in every part of the United States although it is more common in certain geographical areas, including California, New England and parts of the American South.

It is caused by cork-screw shaped bacteria called spirochetes which are transmitted through bites from ticks that have attached themselves to your dog's skin. The ticks, in turn, catch the bacteria from certain varieties of white mice.

An infected tick must remain stuck to your dog's skin for at least two days in order for the disease to take hold in your pet. Unfortunately, these ticks are very small and often difficult to detect

There are actually three different kinds of ticks that are carriers of Lyme disease, although the majority of cases are transmitted by the deer tick. Symptoms include limping, a higher than normal fever and swollen lymph nodes. A dog with Lyme disease may suffer only mild discomfort at first. But over a period of several days, it may be suffer intense pains in the joints that it will refuse to move.

One problem with diagnosing Lyme disease is that its symptoms closely resemble other diseases involving the dog's lymph tissue and its immune system. At the same time, dogs are sometimes mistakenly diagnosed with Lyme disease when the disorder is actually something else entirely.

However, time is of the essence if you suspect that your canine may be suffering from Lyme disease. If caught and treated early, your pet won't suffer any permanent damage. Left untreated for too long, the disorder can damage your dog's heart and muscle tissue and cause joint and nerve damage.

If you see symptoms that indicate Lyme disease in your previously healthy dog, go to your local pet hospital as quickly as possible for a diagnosis. The vet will give your dog a simple blood test to see if Lyme bacteria are present or not.

Unfortunately, the blood test by itself does not always give a definite answer and the veterinarian will also take into consideration your dog's health history and other symptoms. Treatment is usually with antibiotics which your dog must take for three to four weeks.

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About the Author:
Cheryl L. True is a Manila-based freelance writer who writes on a variety of topics.

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