The bitter aftertaste of every nice walk in summer – the fear of ticks. The tick can not only be dangerous for us humans, our four-legged friends can also be infected with contagious diseases through their bite. One of these diseases is Lyme disease. We have summarized everything you should know about Lyme disease in dogs in this article.
Lyme disease in dogs – what is it?
Lyme disease is a disease transmitted by a tick bite. The disease is transmitted by bacteria known as Borrelia via the salivary glands of ticks. It already carries the bacteria inside itself. Not every region is a risk area. Here you should first find out whether this applies to your district. There are different types of Borrelia. Not every type is dangerous for the dog. In addition, the tick must first suck on its host for a period of 16 to 24 hours before the Borrelia are transmitted. That’s why you should examine your darling regularly when the tick season starts again.
If you want to pull the tick yourself, you have to make sure that the head comes out with it. Special tools can be used here to ensure that it does not get stuck. If you have never done this yourself, let a vet show you how to do it the first time. You should disinfect the bite immediately after removing the tick.
In principle, it is possible to have dogs vaccinated. Vaccination is especially recommended if dogs run a lot outdoors. You can have your dog vaccinated against the three main types. These are called:
- Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto
- Borrelia afzelii
- Borrelia garinii
What is Lyme disease in dogs?
Borreliosis in dogs is a dangerous infectious disease that is transmitted by tick bites. The causative agents of the disease are the so-called Borrelia bacteria.
How dangerous is Lyme disease?
Dogs are usually frequently infected with the pathogens. However, in the rarest of cases, an illness with symptoms occurs. The bacteria settle on the skin of the dogs. This leads to the formation of antibodies against the Borrelia. However, if your dog’s immune system is weakened by another disease, the pathogens can spread throughout the body.
What are the symptoms of Lyme disease in my dog?
Early detection and treatment of Lyme disease is particularly important. As soon as Lyme disease is suspected, your vet should definitely carry out a Lyme disease test. Initially, often for months, the disease is symptom-free. The blush, the well-known red ring around the tick bite, is often absent in dogs or is covered by the fur. Redness and swelling therefore always indicate an inflammation.
Symptoms, which can also appear months later, mainly affect the joints. Affected dogs may limp or have trouble getting up. The dog sometimes gets a high fever and has swollen lymph nodes. He also makes a sick, tired and unappetizing impression. For many dog owners it is difficult to attribute the symptoms to the tick bite months later. So, as always, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Other secondary symptoms can affect the heart and kidneys, but symptoms of paralysis in various parts of the body can also occur.
How do I recognize Lyme disease in dogs?
Unfortunately, Lyme disease can be symptom-free for months. Redness or swelling at the puncture site in the body always indicates an infection. The symptoms then often affect the joints. But high fever and swollen lymph nodes can also indicate Lyme disease. Infected dogs appear dull and sickly.
How and how often do dogs become infected with Lyme disease?
The main carriers of the pathogens are the so-called wood block and the hedgehog tick. The Borrelia are located in the gut of the tick. If she stings, the host’s blood rushes into the parasite. The pathogens break through the intestinal wall of the tick. They then enter the salivary gland. From there, the transmission to the dog takes place. However, this only happens after 16 to 24 hours. The pathogens migrate into the host and spread. They often affect the joints or organs.
How is Lyme disease diagnosed in my dog?
If you suspect Lyme disease, you should definitely consult a veterinarian. He can then order a blood test. If Borrelia is found in the blood of a dog, this does not necessarily mean that the dog also suffers from Lyme disease. However, the blood count and the symptoms associated with a tick bite are always important information for the veterinarian. However, there is never 100% certainty with a Lyme disease infection! Even if the symptoms, blood count and bite match, the tick could also have carried other pathogens that trigger the symptoms.
Successful treatment and therapy
Should your dog eventually fall ill with Lyme disease, whether because the tick bite was discovered too late or something else, you should always discuss the treatment and therapy with your trusted veterinarian. As a rule, a dog suffering from Lyme disease receives an antibiotic for therapy. In most cases, doxycycline or amoxicillin is prescribed here. In order to be able to combat the pathogens in the best possible way, you should start taking the antibiotics quickly. The duration of the intake is at least four weeks. It is imperative to follow the full duration of intake without a break to bring about a full recovery.
If your dog is suffering from severe symptoms, additional pain relievers and anti-inflammatory medications will be prescribed in most cases. This is individual for each dog.
Which antibiotic is used for Lyme disease in dogs?
In most cases, doxycycline or amoxicillin will be prescribed.
Healing History – When your dog will feel better
Improvement in symptoms should occur after the first few days. Antibiotics usually show a significant improvement in symptoms immediately after ingestion. Nevertheless, the duration of intake of four weeks should be observed. If your dog is still not feeling better after a while, definitely consult your veterinarian. If the worst comes to the worst, they can help out with changing the medication.
In many cases, the Borrelia are not completely eliminated. This is the case when Lyme disease has already become chronic. Then the treatment may not work or a relapse may occur. Here, the vet uses additional anti-inflammatories to alleviate the symptoms.
How much does a Lyme vaccination in dogs cost?
The vaccination against Lyme disease in dogs usually costs around $30.
Preventive measures – This is how you avoid Lyme disease in dogs
Better too soon than too late. To prevent Lyme disease in dogs, a good tick prophylaxis is suitable. Various preparations or sprays can be used here. An important measure are so-called antiparasitics. These are chemical substances designed to prevent the transmission of the pathogen by killing the tick on the dog’s skin. The ticks can crawl around on the dog’s fur, but die at the latest when they suck blood.
But tick collars also show their effect over a longer period of time. Since the ticks wake up from their rigid state at temperatures above 7 degrees Celsius, you should make sure that you start taking precautions even then. To ensure long-lasting protection, repeat the treatment regularly. Nevertheless, consult your veterinarian, because not every dog tolerates every preparation equally well.
Another option is vaccination against Lyme disease. Unfortunately, this vaccination does not work against all types of Borrelia. The vaccination must also be done before a tick bite or infection with Lyme disease. In retrospect, a vaccination can no longer do anything against the disease. The Standing Vaccination Committee for Veterinary Medicine only recommends vaccination in individual cases and in the case of heavily exposed dogs. The vaccination can be administered from the age of twelve weeks. The second vaccination takes place three to five weeks later, then your dog is basically immunized. If the basic immunization was not completed until spring, a booster vaccination should be carried out in autumn (four to six months later). Annual booster vaccinations maintain vaccination protection. In order to protect the dog from ticks as best as possible, the vaccination should take place annually before the start of the tick season. A vaccination usually costs about $30.
