You’re probably familiar with the fact that ticks can carry diseases that affect us and our fur babies. But do you know what signs and symptoms to look for or how Lyme is treated in our pets? If not, then you’ve come to the right place. Now is the perfect time to learn all about Lyme disease. 

One note—while both dogs and cats can be affected by Lyme disease, the infection is rarely found in cats. It’s a more common health issue in dogs. So, this article will focus on dogs and Lyme disease. 

What is Lyme Disease? 

Lyme disease is one of the most common illnesses caused by ticks. Did you know that a tick has to be infected with the disease itself, before it can transmit the infection to you or your pet? It’s true. Ticks must first become infected with a bacterium called Borrelia burgdorferi, which is a gram-negative spirochete. (A “spirochete” is a type of bacteria). Once a tick becomes infected, they then pass the disease on to the human or animal they bite. 

Ticks of all types can be infected with Lyme disease, but the most common culprits are the deer ticks (also known as black-legged ticks). Deer ticks are commonly found across in the eastern parts of the US, as well as in the Midwest. Deer ticks are also found in Canada. 

When your dog is bitten by a tick, the bacteria begins to run through the blood stream, eventually coming to many parts of the body. 

Signs & Symptoms of Lyme Disease in Dogs

Lyme disease can cause any number of symptoms including: 

• Fever
• Loss of appetite
• Reduced energy and/or depression
• Lameness (that can shift from one leg to another, be intermittent and recurring)
• General stiffness and discomfort
• Pain
• Swollen joints
• Kidney problems (symptoms include vomiting, lethargy, anorexia, weight loss)
• Enlarged lymph nodes
• Walking on eggshells (walking stiffly with back arched)
• Sensitive to touch
• Difficulty breathing
• Heart disease
• Nervous system disease

Lameness may cause your dog to walk as if he’s “walking on eggshells,” which means that he’s uncomfortable and may be experiencing pain as he moves around. You may also notice that your canine companion may be lame in one leg for a few days, and then it appears to improve. Or the lameness may transfer to another leg. After the lameness appears to have improved, it can recur days or weeks later.

Lyme can also cause extensive damage to a dog’s kidneys and health issue called glomerulonephritis. This is inflammation of the kidneys that can cause the organs to not work correctly. It can eventually lead to kidney failure. 

Some Dogs Experience Delayed Illness

It’s important to note that a dog may not display symptoms of Lyme until as long as a year after the initial tick bite. This is a problem, because over the course of that year, the infection can have time to cause health issues throughout the body. 

This is another reason we urge every pet parent to be familiar with their dog’s daily behavior, normal routine, and overall health. Paying attention to your pet’s wellbeing every day can alert you to problems sooner, even if a dog doesn’t show symptoms of being ill with Lyme until a year after being infected. 

The sooner you notice something’s wrong and get your fur baby to the vet, the sooner the vet can diagnose and treat the health problem. This could save your dog’s life, not only with Lyme, but other conditions, as well. 

Diagnosis and Treatment of Lyme Disease in Dogs

At the vet’s, they will ask you about the medical history of your dog. They may ask when you first noticed symptoms, what the symptoms were, and more. Then the vet will perform a physical exam of your fur baby, checking for signs of pain, swollen joints, and other issues. When this is done, the vet may then order some tests to check your dog for Lyme and other health problems. The tests may include: 

• Blood chemistry tests
• CBC (complete blood cell count)
• Urinalysis (to check kidney function, etc.)
• Fecal exam
• X-rays
• Specific tests for Lyme
• Fluid may be drawn from joints that are showing problems; the fluid will be analyzed

Two specific tests for Lyme are the C6 Test and the Quant C6 Test. The C6 test looks to see if your canine companion has antibodies that could be an indication he has an active Lyme infection. Antibodies can be found about 3-5 weeks after a tick bite; however, if your dog was bitten months before, he may show negative results for antibodies to Lyme. This doesn’t mean he’s not infected. This why the second test is often required. 

If there’s still a question in the vet’s mind about a possible Lyme infection, they may run additional tests such as the PCR (polymerase chain reaction), ELISA (enzyme-lined immunosorbent assay), and more. 

Treatment of Lyme Disease in Dogs

If your fur baby is diagnosed with Lyme disease, then the usual treatment is 4 weeks of doxycycline. This medication is an antibiotic. The vet may also prescribe an anti-inflammatory pain medication if your pup is experiencing pain and stiffness. 

In some dogs, the 4 weeks of treatment is enough to clear up the infection completely. However, in other dogs, the infection may remain for the rest of the dog’s life. In this case, the vet may choose to prescribe the antibiotic as a daily medication, or only when symptoms recur. This depends on many factors, so the necessary long-term treatment of your dog may vary. 

If your fur baby is prescribed antibiotics, then it is extremely important to administer the medication exactly as prescribed by the vet. Missing doses or giving it at the wrong time can cause problems and may not get rid of the infection. 

Lyme Disease Prevention

The best prevention is keeping your dog away from areas with long grass, shrubs and underbrush. Another great way is to check your fur baby for ticks once a day, then remove them properly. You can also ask your vet about prescription flea and tick medications that keep fleas and ticks off your dog and kills these pests when they’re on the dog. In some areas, there are Lyme vaccines available, too, but you’ll need to check with your vet on whether or not this may be an option for your dog. 

Remember that Lyme and other tick diseases are year-round threats to your dog’s health. Be sure to check your pup for ticks every day and remove them as soon as possible with a method the vet has shown you. 

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