While most dogs respond to antibiotic treatment and make a full recovery from Lyme disease once diagnosed by a veterinarian, some canines suffer from repeated episodes of infection throughout their lives. Chronic infections are rare in dogs and still are not fully understood by researchers. Remnants of the Lyme bacteria linger inside of the body after treatment. Some researchers suggest that the bacteria cannot be removed completely with treatment, while other scientists believe that a complete cure is possible, according to VCA Animal Hospitals.
Some studies suggest that prompt treatment reduces the chances of a recurring infection of Lyme disease. Declining health and immune system function also may allow latent bacteria to produce fresh symptoms during the months or years after the initial infection. Chronic Lyme is a serious condition in humans. Fortunately, most relapsing infections in canines respond to antibiotic treatment, according to Companion Animal Parasite Council. Standard symptoms of a recurring infection include depressed energy levels, diminished appetite and joint pain. Blood tests following treatment may offer your vet some insight on the scope of your dogs recovery, but a relapse in symptoms is the only way to confirm if your dog has a chronic infection or not.
Dogs are more resistant to Lyme disease than humans. Most dogs in high-risk regions, like New England and the mid-Atlantic states, are exposed to the bacteria, but only a fraction develop an active infection during their lifetime. Infected canines may show signs of illness within weeks, but some dont develop visible symptoms for several months. This makes prompt detection and treatment difficult, as you may not notice any strange behavior from your furry friend until the infection is fully underway. Joint pain, lameness and other symptoms may emerge and fade periodically. While some dogs recover from active infections spontaneously, the subsiding of symptoms does not necessarily mean your dogs infection is gone.
Some diseases only strike once, leaving survivors immune to the pathogen in the future. This is not the case with Lyme disease. Even if your pet recovers from the infection, the antibodies produced by his immune system diminish over time. Current vaccines only protect against a certain strain of the bacteria, and are not foolproof in reducing the risk of an active infection, according to the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. Your dogs Lyme disease can resurface in the form of a new infection, which is why owners in high-risk areas should take measures to keep parasites off of their pets.
Quentin Coleman has written for various publications, including All Pet News and Safe to Work Australia. He spent more tan 10 years nursing kittens, treating sick animals and domesticating semi-feral cats for a local animal shelter. He graduated from the University of Delaware with a bachelors degree in journalism.
How can I prevent my dog from getting Lyme disease?
The key to prevention is keeping your dog from being exposed to ticks. Ticks are found in grassy, wooded, and sandy areas. They find their way onto an animal by climbing to the top of a leaf, blade of grass, or short trees, especially cedar trees. Here they wait until their sensors detect an approaching animal on which to crawl or drop. Keeping animals from thick underbrush reduces their exposure to ticks. Dogs should be kept on trails when walked near wooded or tall grass areas. Vaccination against Lyme disease is recommended for pets that live in endemic areas or that travel to areas where Lyme disease is prevalent.
There are also several products available that can help to kill these ticks and prevent disease transmission. Some products are available over the counter, while others are only available through your veterinarian. There are effective monthly preventatives that are typically applied to the skin at the back of the neck and represent a convenient method of control for these external parasites. This includes Frontline Plus® (only available in the USA) and Advantix®. In recent years, the topical Bravecto® has been developed and lasts for 3 months when applied topically. Additionally, there are chewable products such as Nexgard® and Simparica® that are given monthly or chewable Bravecto® which is given every 3 months. Your veterinarian will make specific recommendations to keep your pet parasite free.
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Lyme disease, also known as Lyme borreliosis, is a bacterial illness that can be transmitted to humans, dogs, and other animals by certain species of ticks. It is caused by the spiral-shaped bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi that is carried inside a tick and gets into a dog or person’s bloodstream through a tick bite. Once in the bloodstream, the bacteria can travel to different parts of the body and cause problems in specific organs or locations, such as joints, as well as overall illness.
Given the seriousness of Lyme disease, it’s important to be aware of tick prevention and treatment for dogs.
The ticks that carry Lyme disease are especially likely to be found in tall grasses, thick brush, marshes, and woods — waiting to latch onto your dog when he passes by. A tick can transmit the disease once it has been attached to a dog for 24 to 48 hours.
First named when a number of cases occurred in Lyme, Connecticut, in 1975, the disease can be hard to detect and can cause serious, ongoing health problems in both dogs and people.
Lyme disease happens in every state, but infection risks vary. Over 95% of cases are from the Northeast, the Upper Midwest, and the Pacific coast, although with recent changes in deforestation, migrating deer, and bird populations, percentage rates in these areas are constantly changing.
A small number of cases crop up each year along the West Coast, especially Northern California. In Canada, Lyme-positive dogs are found mostly in southern Ontario and southern Manitoba. A smaller number of cases are reported each year in Southern Quebec and the Maritime Provinces.
Lyme disease in the dog. Dr. Dan explains Lyme disease
Lyme disease, also known as Lyme borreliosis, is a bacterial illness that can be transmitted to humans, dogs, and other animals by certain species of ticks. It is caused by the spiral-shaped bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi that is carried inside a tick and gets into a dog or person’s bloodstream through a tick bite. Once in the bloodstream, the bacteria can travel to different parts of the body and cause problems in specific organs or locations, such as joints, as well as overall illness.
Given the seriousness of Lyme disease, it’s important to be aware of tick prevention and treatment for dogs.
The ticks that carry Lyme disease are especially likely to be found in tall grasses, thick brush, marshes, and woods — waiting to latch onto your dog when he passes by. A tick can transmit the disease once it has been attached to a dog for 24 to 48 hours.
First named when a number of cases occurred in Lyme, Connecticut, in 1975, the disease can be hard to detect and can cause serious, ongoing health problems in both dogs and people.
Lyme disease happens in every state, but infection risks vary. Over 95% of cases are from the Northeast, the Upper Midwest, and the Pacific coast, although with recent changes in deforestation, migrating deer, and bird populations, percentage rates in these areas are constantly changing.
A small number of cases crop up each year along the West Coast, especially Northern California. In Canada, Lyme-positive dogs are found mostly in southern Ontario and southern Manitoba. A smaller number of cases are reported each year in Southern Quebec and the Maritime Provinces.