What are the symptoms of Lyme disease? Dogs can display several forms of Lyme disease, but the most common symptoms are lameness, swollen lymph nodes, joint swelling, fatigue, and loss of appetite. In addition, serious kidney complications have been associated with Lyme disease in dogs.
It can take time for your dog to show signs
Dogs with Lyme disease can experience an array of signs, including joint pain, swelling and fever. Dogs may not show signs of illness for weeks or months after an infected tick bites them – and many dogs that are infected never show signs of illness.
Can my dog recover from Lyme disease? If you are able to detect the disease early, symptoms should disappear within the first 3 days of your pup's treatment. However, while treatment is usually very effective at eliminating signs of Lyme disease, dogs with Lyme disease can remain positive for the rest of their lives.
When do clinical signs of Lyme disease occur? Only 5-10% of infected animals are expected to show clinical signs of Lyme disease. They typically occur at the chronic disease stage and as early as 2-5 months after infection. Clinical signs can also develop much later.
If Lyme disease is left untreated it can lead to damage in the kidneys, nervous system, and heart. Lyme disease affecting the kidneys is the second most common syndrome in dogs and is generally fatal. Facial paralysis and seizure disorders have been reported in the disease form affecting the nervous system.
The first and most obvious symptom of Lyme disease is a localized rash that begins as a pink or red circle that expands over time and may become several inches or larger. It may appear from 3 to 30 days after the bite occurred. Some people may have a single circle, while others may have many.
Stage 1, or early localized Lyme disease, occurs within one month of the tick bite. You may have an expanding, circular red rash (erythema migrans), and/or flu-like symptoms. Some people do not have symptoms. Stage 2, or early disseminated infection, can develop days to weeks after you become infected.
NexGard chews are FDA-approved to prevent Lyme infections. They kill black-legged ticks quickly, before the infection can be transmitted.
Many dogs affected with Lyme disease are taken to a veterinarian because they seem to be experiencing generalized pain and have stopped eating. Affected dogs have been described as if they were walking on eggshells. Often these pets have high fevers. Dogs may also begin limping.
And now for your sigh of relief: Yes, Lyme disease in dogs can be cured if the treatment is applied in time. That's why it's super important to take your dog for a checkup if you suspect they were bitten by a tick, even if they don't show any active symptoms.
When clinical signs are present in dogs, fever, loss of appetite, painful or swollen joints, lameness that comes and goes, swollen lymph nodes and lethargy may be seen. If Lyme disease is left untreated, it can lead to damage in the kidneys, nervous system and heart.
It is estimated that 50% of dogs are infected with borrelia burgdorferi in endemic disease areas. Nearly 75% of unvaccinated dogs in endemic areas will eventually test positive, and each year some will develop Lyme disease. Dogs are 50 to 100 times more likely than humans to come in contact with infected ticks.
Dogs with lameness, swollen joints, and fever are suspected of having Lyme disease. However, other diseases may also cause these symptoms. There are a few blood tests that may be used for confirmation. The first is an antibody test, that your veterinarian can perform in the clinic setting using a special test kit.
A hallmark symptom of Lyme disease is a red rash, known as erythema migrans (EM). The rash starts as a small red spot at the site of the tick bite and expands over a period of days or weeks, forming a circular- or oval-shaped rash.
Chronic Lyme disease, for instance, has symptoms very similar to those of several other chronic illnesses, such as juvenile idiopathic arthritis, fibromyalgia, and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome. Multiple sclerosis and arthritis also have symptoms similar to Lyme disease.
The 3 stages of Lyme disease. If you contract the Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria and don't get antibiotic treatment, the infection will not go away.
Lyme disease rash
People with Lyme disease might get a bull's-eye rash. The rash gradually spreads over a period of days. Early symptoms of Lyme disease usually happen within 3 to 30 days after a tick bite.
Ticks can attach to any part of the human body but are often found in hard-to-see areas such as the groin, armpits, and scalp. In most cases, the tick must be attached for 36 to 48 hours or more before the Lyme disease bacterium can be transmitted.
A doctor will test your blood for antibodies that are trying to fight the bacteria in your blood. One of these tests is called the ELISA test, and you'll often have a second test called the Western blot test to confirm you have Lyme disease. To treat Lyme disease, you may need to take antibiotics for up to a month.
Many veterinarians use a SNAP test to diagnose Lyme disease. The SNAP test requires only a small amount of blood and a few minutes to perform. Sometimes additional laboratory testing is recommended. Vaccination and careful tick control measures can help protect dogs from Lyme disease.
Treatment Options
Unfortunately, there are no home remedies for Lyme disease. The disease can be difficult to treat, and even after a prolonged antibiotic course, symptoms can recur.
Medication: Doxycycline is the antibiotic of choice for treating Lyme disease. Other antibiotic options include amoxicillin and erythromycin. If your dog is very uncomfortable, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory (e.g., carprofen or deracoxib) may also be given.