Lyme Disease in Dogs: Signs, Symptoms, & Treatment

Not many people are familiar with Lyme disease, and the harm that it can cause. For many pet owners, it is not something they worry about, because only five percent of the dogs suffer from the terrible disease.  In most occurrences, the dog is diagnosed positive for the antibodies. If your canine friend displays signs of Lyme disease then you should have them checked. The most common sign for a pet owner is to see their pet limp. Once your pet starts limping without any physical damage, this may be an indication of Lyme disease.

The name Lyme comes from Old Lyme, Connecticut. A city where this disease was first reported and described by the medical community.  The disease itself has been around for much longer, but most people could not specify it. The prevalence of this illness in humans and dogs continued to increase every year. Since there is no vaccine yet, there is no ultimate cure for this condition. This is because the symptoms of this disease are rather inconsistent and the organism that causes it is entirely difficult to detect. Solving the Lyme disease history was like putting the missing pieces of the puzzle together to find some type of correlation. 

Today, we have a better understanding of this condition. Doctors know that the cause of Lyme disease comes from bacteria. The name of this bacterium is “Borrelia” in scientific terminology from the Borrelia genus of bacteria. The more graceful name of this disease is Lyme Borreliosis. The species, “Borrelia Burgdorferi” has been the culprit for Lyme disease in the past. 

However, as time progressed, experts found other species that cause the disease apart from the “Borrelia Burgdorferi” In a much broader sense, you can refer to the rest of the diseases as, “Borrelia Burgdorferi”.  This bacterium thrives in the northern hemisphere, and on moderate climate. Furthermore, the only natural way this bacteria enters your bloodstream is by ticks. 

Another name for Lyme disease is Lyme Nephropathy and is usually fatal for a dog since it affects the dog’s kidneys. To be certain, you cannot tell whether the kidney disease symptom has a close relation to Lyme since experts have conducted enough experiments to reproduce the effects. The exact process and mechanism by which Lyme damages the kidneys and causes kidney failure do not have a complete understanding within the scientific community. 

Some people claim that this kidney damage is not a result of the disease, instead, it is also a faulty immunity  response of the dog. Moreover, some people believe that Lyme disease is also responsible for cardiac-related conditions in dogs.  Lyme disease will also lead to damage to the dog’s lymph nodes, muscles, eyes, kidneys, brain, and heart. 

Thus, Lyme disease can also be a result of kidney failure. Fortunately, these diseases are very rare in dogs. When you talk about symptoms, you have to consider that Lyme disease symptoms can take months and years to develop after infection. Once you start noticing the signs of infections in dogs, you will begin to experience them face a range of different symptoms.

While it is healthy to bring your dog out often to play, keeping them indoors most of the time is still the best way to avoid ticks. After a fun walk outside, thoroughly check them for any signs of ticks or itching as the longer a tick stays attached to your dog, the higher risk of developing a disease. Ticks attach to grass, shrubs, etc. and latch on to nearby animals so it would be best to maintain a clean environment to avoid harboring ticks.

The drastic increase in tick population in the recent years has put four-legged canines in a vulnerable situation. Lyme disease presents an incredible risk for dogs. Veterinarians have much to say about this disease and shed great light on Lyme disease and what it means for pets. 

Veterinarians stress the importance of getting treatment before the bacteria multiplies in the specific bite region and gradually to the rest of the body. In dogs, the joints and limbs are one of the most common places where the bacteria can travel. When the disease spreads to the joints, it may result in permanent damage such as arthritis in the bones, which will lead to your dog limping. 

This is why veterinarians stress that checkups, when the symptoms are just starting to set, are vital for effective treatment. Limping is a very non-specific symptom of Lyme disease, and can be a cause of many different illnesses and injuries.  Therefore, limping does not exactly show that your dog has Lyme disease. However, if your dog is displaying other symptoms along with limping, then you should go to the veterinarian for a thorough check up.

Dogs are more resilient against Lyme disease than other animals. According to an experimental study, only a few percentage of pet dogs that test positive for this disease develop symptoms. Dog Lyme disease can also result in intermittent arthritis, similar to humans, and rarely results in a kidney infection. Other symptoms include:

All of these symptoms are indicative of a tick bite.

One of the biggest symptoms includes lameness. Lameness results in the abnormal movement of the animal.  According to a veterinarian, lameness is most commonly present in horses. It is the neurological dysfunction of the pet, due to infection, that you can also call  a nervous system disease.  

If your dog is walking awkwardly and has a disproportionate stance, this is a sign of lameness and possible Lyme infection. Your dog will also likely develop a high temperature, due to a fever and a loss in appetite which will lead to  weight loss. If any of these signs of illness are evident in your dog, then you must consult a veterinarian. 

Lyme disease is becoming common and one of the complications of the disease is inflammation in the joints and legs that becomes more painful when pressure is exerted. Because of this, dogs tend to limp instead of walk normally.

Diagnosing your dog for Lyme disease requires the veterinarian to run an antibody test. This test takes a closer look at the body’s immunity. The response of the immune system is measurable by the test. The experts can see whether the antibody for Lyme disease is present for making a correct diagnosis. 

This will show that the dog’s body has been fighting the disease. If the blood reports show a high volume of antibodies then your veterinarian can make a diagnosis. Once the experts confirm the presence of the infection, they will then start the treatment. Fortunately, the treatment of Lyme disease is straightforward and includes taking antibiotics and painkillers. Unfortunately, there is no vaccine available. Scientists continue to work on developing a vaccine to prevent Lyme disease. 

Lyme disease in dogs can possibly affect their mood and happiness. CBD can be instrumental for the pet owners, as well as the pet. There is anecdotal evidence that suggest CBD is an amazing holistic solution that ca improve your dog’s overall mood and increase their appetite. The increase in appetite is important because Lyme disease in dogs doe the exact opposite which is reducing their appetite. 

CBD is one of the best options for dogs who are limping. A veterinarian  will also agree that it can help with Lyme disease as a source of comfort for dogs. Giving your canine a CBD treat when they test positive for Lyme disease is beneficial. If your canine companion is limping, the first thing a vet would do is search for an injury or anything that is causing your dog to limp. CBD is a holistic, remedial solution to limping. However, before adding CBD oil to their diet, consult the vet so that you can mitigate the risks and non-fatal side effects that may apply to some breeds. 

Lyme disease in dogs is a dreadful illness that causes plenty of suffering for the dog. Thankfully, modern medicine and holistic treatments are advancing to make the lives of our pets better. 

It will last as long as the inflammation stays in their system. 

Recovery can take as little as three days and they can show improvement within a day. 

Yes, a tick that is host to the infectious bacteria will possible disrupt the furry companions normal walking stance.

The disease can change your dog’s life. Their susceptibility to microbes increases, along with the possibility of kidney disease.