Lyme Disease and Your Dog: What You Need to Know
By Jenny Lelwica Buttaccio
One summer, Meg Kiihne was trail running along the hills of a Midwestern trail with her dog – a chocolate lab/shepherd mix named Leski. Having lived in The Midwest for several years, Kiihne knew to keep a watchful eye out for ticks. She dressed in clothing that would make it easier for her to spot one if it were on her. But finding a tiny tick on her dog’s thick, black coat proved to be more of a challenge. Despite being vigilant, she never saw any ticks on Leski.
Approximately seven months later, Kiihne noticed her dog was no longer eating, was disinterested in play, and lethargic. “Leski was around 65 pounds and lost seven pounds within a week,” she describes. “Suddenly, she wouldn’t get up for me, and I had to call someone to help me take her to the vet.”
Testing revealed Leski had contracted Lyme disease and a second tick-borne infection called ehrlichia, but the specific dates the infections were contracted remain unknown. The veterinarian promptly placed Leski on antibiotics, though Kiihne doesn’t recall which ones. “The vet said he had never seen a dog so sick,” Kiihne says. “But Leski's recovery was really smooth. She showed improvements within 24 hours, and was fully back to running within 3 days.” Several years after Leski’s brush with Lyme disease, she continued to live a full life (and was often mistaken for dogs four or five years younger) well into her golden years.
Thankfully, Leski’s Lyme story featured a happy ending. However, this isn’t the case for every dog that contracts Lyme disease. In some circumstances, your beloved pet could face life-altering or life-threatening health problems for tick-borne diseases. Here’s what you need to know to keep your pet safe throughout the year.
A Recap of Lyme Disease
Lyme disease is caused by a spiral-shaped bacteria, called Borrelia burgdorferi, and it’s transmitted to humans, dogs, horses, and other animals through the bite of an infected tick, according to the The American Kennel Club (AKC). Once the bacteria enters the bloodstream, it can disperse throughout a dog's body, affecting organs, joints, and other tissues.
Dogs are more likely to be infected with Lyme disease in the Midwest and Northeast, but any type of wooded area, tall grass, or plant life is a potential habitat for ticks as well. Also, it’s important to acknowledge some environments remain hospitable to ticks year-round, particularly in areas where winter temperatures remain above freezing.
Red-Flag Signs a Dog Has Been Infected with Lyme Disease
Sometimes, signs may appear within a few days or weeks. But other times, they take months or years to develop. Lyme disease may also be found incidentally on routine screening tests.
When the illness presents itself, you may notice symptoms in your pet such as lameness, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, and weight loss. Additionally, fever, loss of appetite, and joint swelling are also symptoms of Lyme disease, the American Veterinary Medical Foundation (AVMF) says. In severe cases, some dogs may develop cardiac arrhythmias or kidney failure.
Lyme Disease Diagnosis and Treatment in Dogs
Most veterinarian clinics stock a supply of SNAP tests (testing that only takes a few minutes) for heartworm disease, Lyme, and two other tick-borne diseases – Anaplasmosis and Ehrlichiosis. Additionally, vets can also send blood to labs to look for antibodies or PCR tests to look for DNA of certain microbes. If a dog is infected with Lyme or another tick-borne disease, they will likely require antibiotics, like doxycycline, for 28 days. In some cases, they could need a longer course of medication.
No tests exist to demonstrate effectively that Lyme has been eradicated. For some dogs, Lyme disease can lead to chronic conditions like arthritis, renal disease, endocarditis, anemia, and possibly, autoimmune diseases. Following treatment for Lyme disease, it’s important to keep a close eye on your canine companion, and let your vet know of any changes in your pet’s health.
Pet Lyme Disease Prevention Strategies
To keep your pet as safe as possible, use monthly flea and tick prevention throughout the year. Consult your veterinarian for the one that’s right for your pet. There are a lot of options on the market, and some work better than others. Also, have your yard treated if you’ve seen ticks. Keep wildlife off your property as much as possible, and don't feed deer or other wild animals. Stay diligent, and perform tick checks on your pets after walks and hikes. If you find a tick, promptly remove it with a pair of fine-pointed tweezers. Early removal may reduce your pet’s risk of contracting tick-borne diseases.
If you have additional questions about Lyme disease and your pet, contact your local veterinarian for more assistance. You may also choose to have your tick tested for possible microbes through a lab, including IGeneX, TickReport, or for identification at INHS Medical Entomology Program at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
References:
Lyme Disease: A Pet Owner's Guide. American Veterinary Medical Association website. https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/pet-owners/petcare/lyme-disease-pet-owners-guide
Lyme Disease in Dogs: Symptoms, Tests, Treatment, and Prevention. American Kennel Club website. https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/lyme-disease-in-dogs/
