Symptoms And Treatment Of Canine Lyme Disease

By Moses Wright

Canine lyme disease is caused by bacterial infection that is acquired through the bite of a tick. The name of the bacteria that causes Lyme disease is Borrelia burgdorferi.

Not all species of ticks can carry the bacteria that causes canine Lyme disease. Deer ticks are one species to take that most commonly causes Lyme disease infections. Deer ticks, being the size of a period on a printed page, are much smaller than the common dog ticks. Dogs can be bitten by dog ticks or deer ticks.

Dogs that become infected with canine Lyme disease develop severe joint pain. Dogs with Lyme disease will often limp especially with one front leg. Lyme disease can also cause lymph node swelling and of fever.

Symptoms of canine Lyme disease can begin within hours of being bitten by a tick that was carrying the bacteria. Dogs may develop severe joint pain that inhibits their ability to move.

Lyme disease can also negatively affect the dogs and nerve tissue and heart muscle. If the dog is treated promptly for canine Lyme disease, the risk of permanent damage decreases.

A veterinarian will diagnose Lyme disease based on the dog's symptoms and medical history. Lyme disease is usually treated with antibiotics. A pain reliever may prescribed by the veterinarian for the dog's joint pain.

Most dogs respond very well to treatment for canine Lyme disease and have no future problems or permanent damage from the Lyme disease. About five percent of dogs treated for Lyme disease will have continuing heart problems, joint pain, or neurological difficulties from the Lyme disease.

Joint pain, neurological difficulties, and heart problems are examples of signs of Lyme disease that may continue after treatment for some dogs. The Lyme disease may return after treatment in some cases.

Vaccinations for Lyme disease are available and can help prevent the disease. The vaccination is not one hundred percent effective. However, the vaccination is one of several possible preventative measures for canine Lyme disease.

Monthly flea and tick drops applied to the dog's skin are a common preventative measure against Lyme disease. The dogs skin and fur should be carefully check for ticks after the dog has been outside.

Dog owners who find ticks on their dogs should not panic, but promptly remove the tick with a tweezers. Not all of deer ticks carry Lyme disease, but the longer an infected tick is on a dog, the greater the risk of contracting Lyme disease. - 29953

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