Can a tick bite cause liver damage in dogs? Let’s Explore

Is Lyme Disease in Dogs Contagious?

As your mind starts racing between different questions and concerns, you begin to wonder, “Is Lyme disease in dogs contagious?”While this condition can affect humans as well, the actual infection cannot be transmitted from one source to another.

The only way Lyme disease can be spread from dog to human is if an infected tick that is living on the dog transfers over to the human. If your dog is playing in an outdoor area that is infested with infected ticks, it is possible that he can bring these specimens inside the house and transfer them to you.

In order to prevent this from happening, make sure you are constantly checking your dog for any ticks that may be hiding within his coat. If you do spot a tick, use gloves to remove the specimen to prevent it from biting you as well. If you are concerned about your dog bringing ticks into your home or yard, try using a tick control product recommended by your veterinarian.

Symptoms of Lyme Disease in Dogs

As with other tick-borne infections, the common symptoms for Lyme disease can be very general, which means diagnosing the source can be quite difficult. Dogs suffering an infection from Lyme disease will experience recurrent lameness in either one or multiple limbs.

Other common symptoms of Lyme disease include:

In severe cases, Lyme disease can cause liver damage, heart complications, kidney failure, or other issues in the nervous system. In order to prevent permanent damage from occurring, make sure to treat the infection as soon as possible.

What other symptoms should I look for?

The hallmark symptoms of most tick-borne illnesses include lethargy, fever, vomiting, swelling around joints, and lameness. Other signs can include:

  • Muscle pain
  • Seizures
  • Swelling in limbs
  • Depression
  • Fatigue
  • Weight loss
  • Discharge from eyes or nose
  • Diarrhea
  • Skin lesions
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