Lyme disease can infect both people and dogs, but most dogs have no signs of illness at all. Anita kaot Vitty images
Summer brings many great elements such as barbecues, beach days and later sunsets – but that also means a widely despised time: the beginning of the tick season.
Small parasites can be very problematic in many parts of the country. Some pose a risk of Lyme disease-a tick-borne disease that can infect both humans and animals, including dogs.
“Almost 90% of Lyme disease cases in humans and dogs occur in the northeastern US, while the remaining 10% of cases occur in the middle of the West, and the upper mid -western territory is Minnesota, Wisconsin … and then in northern California there is a small percentage, but the overall spatial distribution of the disease.” Veterinary medicine in California.
“Lyme disease is caused by bacterium Borrelia Burgdorferi … Dogs are infected when biting a mite where the body is worn,” said dr. Michael Stone, a veterinarian and associate clinical professor at Cummings Veterinary Medicine at Massachusetts Veterinary Medicine School.
Not all ticks are carriers of the disease. In the northeast and in the Middle West, deer mites are carriers; According to Sykes, in California, Western black leg mites convey the disease.
It doesn’t matter, you always find a mite on yourself, on your pet or in your home. While people can highlight any symptoms they have when they find a tick, the same cannot be said for dogs. Even more worrying is “most dogs when they are infected, there are no signs,” Sykes said.
Dogs can create antibodies to bacteria without symptoms, she added.
“And when veterinarians regularly check dogs … With tests containing a Lyme disease test, receiving positive results does not mean that your dog is ill with Lyme disease. It simply means that your dog has been affected by Borrelia and has created antibodies to Borrelia, but this is not a reason to treat,” said Sych.
In some cases, dogs may experience problems with Lyme disease. Here are signs:
They usually appear and behave badly.
According to Sykes, it takes at least a month for any signs of Lyme disease to appear in the dog (if they have signs at all). “Dogs who have signs may have non -specific features such as fever and reduced appetite,” Sykes explained.
They can also be tired than normal and less active than usual, she said.
However, simply because your dog has these signs, this does not automatically mean that they are suffering from Lyme disease. Many problems, from cough cough to dog flu to gastrointestinal clogging, can cause these problems.
In any case, it is a good idea to agree with a veterinarian if your pet shows any misconduct. Many cases of Lyme disease have treatments for dogs, Sykes noted.
Slender and swollen joints can also occur.
A Lyme disease infected with a dog may suffer from a slender one or more legs, Stone said. Specifically, as in humans, as well as people, Lyme disease in dogs can cause arthritis, Sykes noted.
“Small limbs’ joints … ignited, and that causes mercy and sometimes swelling of those joints,” Sykes explained. “And so these dogs are infected, they look almost as they walk on egg shells because they hurt each joint.” Their sadness in this case may move from one leg to the other, she added.
In rare cases, dogs may have kidney complications.
In a small percentage of dogs, especially retriever breeds, can lead to a serious kidney complication called lime nephritis, Sykes said. “It is an acute renal injury, renal failure and protein loss in the urine is very difficult to treat,” she said.
Signs of this rare condition include vomiting, more frequent urination and weight loss, according to Cornell University Veterinary Medicine College. “And we really want to avoid the most effort to prevent Lyme disease,” Sykes added.
If you have Lyme disease in your kitten, it means that they bring infected ticks to your home, so it is also important to protect yourself. Goodboy Picture Company via Getty Images
Fortunately, there are many ways to protect your dog from Lyme disease.
“My main recommendation is the prevention of ticks,” Stone said. “There are many effective products from your veterinarian.”
Sykes added that many preventive products are destroyed by ticks within 24 hours of your puppy attachment. (Usually the mite should be attached for at least 24 hours before it can spread Lima.)
“So you can use preventive products and they will not be 100%, especially in places where you have a lot of ticks … They will reduce the possibility of transmission,” Sykes noted.
There are both prescription and over -the -counter wording, added Stone, “But some products are more effective than others.”
Lyme vaccination and preventive pill, along with tick prevention collars and secondary sheets, are possible. As mentioned above, these preventive products do not mean that the tick will not end for your dog. If you find a mite on your puppy, you can remove it yourself using tweezers.
He said to talk to a veterinarian to find out the best medicines for your puppy. And if your dog is infected, your veterinarian can also help determine the best treatment.
If your dog is diagnosed with Lyme disease, you should also consider your health.
“If your dog is diagnosed with Lyme disease or even if your dog has only a positive result of the study … This means that your dog is exposed and your household is also at risk of infecting and affecting,” Sykes said.
Check for ticks and remember the signs of people Lyme disease, including joint pain, fever, chills, rigid neck and headaches, says Penn Medicine. Taurus eye rash There is also a common red flag.
Although it is important to check your dogs for ticks after walks, it is also important to check yourself. Sykes noted that wearing protective clothing can also help ticks attach your skin.
Lyme disease can be serious for both dogs and humans, so it is very important that both you and your pet will remain protected.