Lyme disease has existed for a long period of time. The diseases date back to the 19 century where a bacteria “spirochete “was the main causative agent of Lyme disease. The disease is mainly transmitted via a carrier and in many regions, ticks are the perfect carriers. There are different types of tick carriers. Tick Ixodes scapularis is the main carrier in many regions. You should expect to find a higher Lyme dog disease cases in areas with a higher pet population.
Location of Lyme disease
The one million dollar question ringing into your mind is the perfect location as to where the disease is found. Geographically, the disease is more prominent in endemic areas. The endemic areas have the perfect conditions for the growth, transmission, and multiplication of the Lyme bacteria. The life cycle of a tick (Lyme disease carrier) determines the velocity at which Lyme disease will be transmitted. A factor to note is that for the Lyme disease to be transmitted, the carrier must get attached to the host at a given stage of the carrier development. Death or the removal of the tick within a period of 4 hours will cease the spread of the disease. While travelling to endemic places with your dog, ensure that your
Areas with a high pet population are more prone to lime disease than areas with a few pet populations. There are varied explanations for to explain the previous statement. The fact that there is a higher pet population in a given areas implies that there is a higher breeding for ticks. Beside pet population, Lyme disease is prominent in forested areas. Reforestation greatly determines the spread of Lyme disease.
Symptoms of Lyme disease in dogs
Lyme diseases symptoms in dogs occur after ticks bites. Dogs do not develop rashes or redness in the bite area. The previous statement shows how it is difficult to detect the Lyme disease symptoms in dogs. There is no quantifiable period but the immune system of your dog will be a great determinant on the period at which the Lyme disease symptoms will occur. Most dogs will show varied symptoms of the disease. Some of the common symptoms include Fever, swelling of the joints and lymph nodes, loss of appetite and lethargy. In extreme situations, some dog breeds will develop kidney diseases. Kidney malfunction caused by kidney disease may lead to the death of your dog.
Heart problems and nervous system problems are also symptoms of Lyme disease. You should not only bank on Lyme antibody test. It’s common that you may have positive Lyme antibody test results while your dog may be suffering from heart and nervous diseases. A good contingency plan is to carry out different types of checks on your dog on a regular basis to cease the spread of Lyme disease among other diseases while the disease is still in its infant stage.
Diagnosis of Lyme disease
Blood test aid in Lyme disease diagnosisthe blood tests aim at the detection of antibodies of the dog in response to any infection with B.burgdoferi bacteria. Constant exposure of a dog to the bacteria leads to the development of an immune system that contracts the Lyme dog disease infection
With the help of a C 6 antibody veterinary test, one may be able to differentiate between two types of antibodies. Firstly, antibodies developed as a result of constant exposure and antibodies developed as a result of immunization. A point to note is that the test will not differentiate between the exposure to Borrelia and real infection. Test results combination with other dog information will provide excellent dog diagnosis. Ticks exposure records and compatible clinical signs will be helpful in making good test diagnosis.
In the diagnosis dog Lyme disease, you need to have the following four criteria. Firstly, determine the history of the tick exposure and typical signs & symptoms. You can check on the decrease in the degree of activeness in your dog, the reaction of your dog against B.burgdorferi and the promptness of your dog to antibiotics
Lyme dog disease treatment
Treatment of the disease is through the administration of tetracycline or penicillin antibiotic. With the use of oral doxycycline or amoxicillin antibiotic, expect a decline in chronic dog infections. The administration of the antibiotics must be within a period of 14 to 30 days in order to clear the host organism in the Dog. Some dogs will require a larger administration period due to the nature of their immune system.
Prevention of lyme disease in dogs
The use of vaccination and control programs are among the many methods used in the prevention of the disease. A fact to note is that vaccination prevents a reinfection of the disease in previously infected dogs. The biological principle is that vaccination is to eradicate the favorable condition that favours the growth of the bacteria in dogs
On the market, there are whole kill vaccines like Lyme vax among many other types of vaccines. Some veterinary will advocate for the use of vaccines while others will not. A proper vaccination dosage should be started two weeks after conception. You will be required to give your dog two doses three weeks apart.
Prevention of Lyme disease can be actualized through tick control. It’s the cheapest method of preventing Lyme disease. Ticks are known to be carriers of multiple types of diseases. You will be required to stop the ticks from getting attached to your pet. Avoid areas with a high tick population. You can also use insecticides on your dog that will repel the attachment of the pet
The reduction of tick habitats in your home will be of great help in preventing Lyme disease. You will be required to keep the grass mowed, remove leaf litter and weeds at the edge of your lawn. When you detect your dog has been bitten by a tick, you will be required to remove the tick immediately preferably within 24 to 36 hours. By the use of clean tweezers, you can grasp the head and gently pull the tick straight out.