Lyme disease is a tick-borne bacterial infection that can cause lameness, fever and kidney damage in dogs. If you live in Cantabria, an endemic area, it is essential to know its symptoms and how to prevent it. Have you found a tick on your dog? Call us for emergencies at 942 51 00 66.
If you are interested in other transmissible diseases that affect dogs and humans, we recommend reading our article on rabies causes symptoms and prevention.
Summary of Borrelia symptoms in dogs
| Main Symptom | Frequency Level |
|---|---|
| Intermittent lameness (Joint inflammation) |
Very common |
| High fever | Common |
| Apathy and lethargy | Common |
| Loss of appetite | Common |
| Joint pain | Common |
| Kidney damage or failure | Advanced cases |
What is Lyme disease and how do dogs catch it?
Lyme disease, also known as canine borreliosis, is a condition caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, a spirochete that reaches its host through the bite of ticks (specifically those of the genus Ixodes) that previously absorbed the bacterium from another infected host.
This first host may be a wild animal (such as deer), rodents (such as rats), domestic animals and even humans. Later, when your dog comes into contact with a surface where an infected tick is located, it attaches to its body and then bites it, thus transmitting the bacterium into its system.
Where and when is Lyme disease infection most common in dogs?
Since the means of infection by which the bacterium that causes the disease reaches your dog is through the bite of ticks, the time of year when Lyme disease infection is most common is during the warm months, as these are the months that increase the proliferation of these external parasites.
In addition, ticks are usually found in earthy, vegetated habitats, which includes home yards, parks, woods and any other site where plants and soil are present, without the space needing to be very large or the volume of vegetation very high.
Symptoms of Lyme disease
Lyme disease presents symptoms of different kinds since it affects various systems of the host's body, and it can take from weeks to months to appear. However, this diversity and possible delay of symptoms do not reduce the seriousness of the disease, which, if not treated during its early stages, can cause permanent damage and even the death of the dog.
Among the symptoms that appear, the following are some of the most common and the first to manifest regularly, although this does not always happen this way, and the appearance of just one of them may still mean the disease is present:
- Lameness: this is the most common symptom of the presence of Lyme disease, and it is caused by inflammation of the joints. It can be prolonged or intermittent (lasting only a few days, but then returning after a few weeks) and, when it returns, it does not always appear in the same leg; it may even appear in more than one leg at a time.
- Fever
- Arthritis and joint deformation
- Lack of appetite and depression: these are usually caused by the discomfort produced by the disease.
- Sensitivity to touch
- Muscle and joint pain
- Inflammation and irritation in the bite area
- Kidney problems: this symptom can progress and turn into kidney failure that produces vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, increased thirst and urination, lack of appetite, and fluid accumulation in the abdomen and tissues.
- Inflammation of the heart: this symptom is rare, but it can occur in severe cases.
- Problems in the central nervous system: like the previous one, this is a rare symptom that appears in severe cases.
How is Lyme disease diagnosed?
To achieve a definitive diagnosis of the disease, it is necessary for your dog's veterinarian to perform a blood test and a urine test. The vet may also consider it necessary to perform other studies such as X-rays, ultrasounds, and the extraction of fluid from the inflamed joints, among others, which will allow them to assess the state of the disease in order to provide the most appropriate treatment.
We also advise that when you go to your veterinarian, you explain in detail everything related to your furry friend, including all possible information about their activities (routine and non-routine) over the past few weeks. This will allow the professional to assess more accurately the possible causes of the symptoms their patient is presenting.
How is Lyme disease treated?
Once the diagnosis is confirmed, the treatment will depend on the severity of the condition your dog presents, as well as the organs and systems affected. Initially, the treatment will require antibiotics to fight the bacterium, in addition to complete rest for your dog.
Depending on the degree of discomfort the patient presents, the veterinarian may also prescribe a painkiller for the pain, but under no circumstances should you give them medications that have not been prescribed for this condition or authorized by the veterinarian, as this could worsen the disease. Therefore, if your companion is already being medicated for another condition they have, you must notify the veterinarian from the start so they can advise you whether or not to continue with that medication.
Can my dog give me Lyme disease?
Dogs do not directly transmit Lyme disease to humans, but the infected ticks your dog carries can indeed bite you. Regular deworming of your pet protects the whole family.
How do I prevent my dog from catching Lyme disease?
To prevent Lyme disease infection, it is necessary to reduce the chances that the ticks that transmit the bacterium will lodge on your dog. This is achieved by following the external deworming schedule with pipettes and repellent collars.
In addition, when we go out to areas such as the countryside, gardens, etc., we should check our faithful friend's body afterwards, making sure there are no ticks present and, if there are, going to an expert who can remove them immediately, since the longer they remain on the body, the greater the chances of infection.
If you detect symptoms of Lyme disease in your dog, come quickly to Clínica Veterinaria Somo in Cantabria
Have you found a tick on your dog or do you notice any of these symptoms of canine borreliosis? Do not risk the health of your companion or your home. At Clínica Veterinaria Somo in Cantabria we have an emergency medical team prepared to diagnose and treat Borrelia effectively. Call us immediately at 942 51 00 66 or visit us for emergencies at calle Isla de Mouro 7, Somo.
