Lyme disease is a tick-borne bacterial infection that can cause lameness, fever and kidney damage in dogs. If you live in Cantabria, an endemic area, it is essential to know its symptoms and how to prevent it. Have you found a tick on your dog? Call us for emergencies at 942 51 00 66.
If you are interested in other transmissible diseases that affect dogs and humans, we recommend reading our article on rabies causes symptoms and prevention.
Summary of Borrelia symptoms in dogs
| Main Symptom | Frequency Level |
|---|---|
| Intermittent lameness (Joint inflammation) |
Very common |
| High fever | Common |
| Apathy and lethargy | Common |
| Loss of appetite | Common |
| Joint pain | Common |
| Kidney damage or failure | Advanced cases |
What is Lyme disease and how do dogs catch it?
Lyme disease, also known as canine borreliosis, is a condition caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, a spirochete that reaches its host through the bite of ticks (specifically those of the genus Ixodes) that previously absorbed the bacterium from another infected host.
This first host may be a wild animal (such as deer), rodents (such as rats), domestic animals and even humans. Later, when your dog comes into contact with a surface where an infected tick is located, it attaches to its body and then bites it, thus transmitting the bacterium into its system.
Where and when is Lyme disease infection most common in dogs?
Since the means of infection by which the bacterium that causes the disease reaches your dog is through the bite of ticks, the time of year when Lyme disease infection is most common is during the warm months, as these are the months that increase the proliferation of these external parasites.
In addition, ticks are usually found in earthy, vegetated habitats, which includes home yards, parks, woods and any other site where plants and soil are present, without the space needing to be very large or the volume of vegetation very high.
Symptoms of Lyme disease
Lyme disease presents symptoms of different kinds since it affects various systems of the host's body, and it can take from weeks to months to appear. However, this diversity and possible delay of symptoms do not reduce the seriousness of the disease, which, if not treated during its early stages, can cause permanent damage and even the death of the dog.
Among the symptoms that appear, the following are some of the most common and the first to manifest regularly, although this does not always happen this way, and the appearance of just one of them may still mean the disease is present:
- Lameness: this is the most common symptom of the presence of Lyme disease, and it is caused by inflammation of the joints. It can be prolonged or intermittent (lasting only a few days, but then returning after a few weeks) and, when it returns, it does not always appear in the same leg; it may even appear in more than one leg at a time.
- Fever
- Arthritis and joint deformation
- Lack of appetite and depression: these are usually caused by the discomfort produced by the disease.
- Sensitivity to touch
- Muscle and joint pain
- Inflammation and irritation in the bite area
- Kidney problems: this symptom can progress and turn into kidney failure that produces vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, increased thirst and urination, lack of appetite, and fluid accumulation in the abdomen and tissues.
- Inflammation of the heart: this symptom is rare, but it can occur in severe cases.
- Problems in the central nervous system: like the previous one, this is a rare symptom that appears in severe cases.
How is Lyme disease diagnosed?
To achieve a definitive diagnosis of the disease, it is necessary for your dog's veterinarian to perform a blood test and a urine test. The vet may also consider it necessary to perform other studies such as X-rays, ultrasounds, and the extraction of fluid from the inflamed joints, among others, which will allow them to assess the state of the disease in order to provide the most appropriate treatment.
We also advise that when you go to your veterinarian, you explain in detail everything related to your furry friend, including all possible information about their activities (routine and non-routine) over the past few weeks. This will allow the professional to assess more accurately the possible causes of the symptoms their patient is presenting.
“Ticks transmit more than you'd think. Good prevention against them avoids diseases such as Lyme.”
How is Lyme disease treated?
Once the diagnosis is confirmed, the treatment will depend on the severity of the condition your dog presents, as well as the organs and systems affected. Initially, the treatment will require antibiotics to fight the bacterium, in addition to complete rest for your dog.
Depending on the degree of discomfort the patient presents, the veterinarian may also prescribe a painkiller for the pain, but under no circumstances should you give them medications that have not been prescribed for this condition or authorized by the veterinarian, as this could worsen the disease. Therefore, if your companion is already being medicated for another condition they have, you must notify the veterinarian from the start so they can advise you whether or not to continue with that medication.
Can my dog give me Lyme disease?
Dogs do not directly transmit Lyme disease to humans, but the infected ticks your dog carries can indeed bite you. Regular deworming of your pet protects the whole family.
How do I prevent my dog from catching Lyme disease?
To prevent Lyme disease infection, it is necessary to reduce the chances that the ticks that transmit the bacterium will lodge on your dog. This is achieved by following the external deworming schedule with pipettes and repellent collars.
In addition, when we go out to areas such as the countryside, gardens, etc., we should check our faithful friend's body afterwards, making sure there are no ticks present and, if there are, going to an expert who can remove them immediately, since the longer they remain on the body, the greater the chances of infection.
Assess each case with your vet; the right treatment depends on each animal's age, weight, health status and history.
How can I tell if my dog has Lyme disease?
The most typical sign is intermittent lameness that shifts from one leg to another: it appears for a few days, goes away and comes back, without always affecting the same limb. If you notice this pattern, especially in an area with ticks, confirmation comes from a blood test assessed by the veterinarian.
Beyond lameness, it is worth watching for other signs that usually accompany the disease and that, on their own, are easy to overlook: bouts of fever, apathy or low energy, loss of appetite and some sensitivity to touch. None of these signs is exclusive to borreliosis, so the diagnosis is never based only on what you observe at home, but on the professional's assessment together with whatever tests they consider appropriate.
Make a note of when the symptoms started, whether your dog has been in countryside or vegetated areas and whether you have removed any tick in the previous weeks. That information greatly helps the veterinarian interpret the picture and decide which tests to request.
How long does Lyme disease take to appear?
The incubation period varies. In general terms, signs may take from several weeks to a few months to appear after the bite of an infected tick. This explains why many families do not connect the lameness or fever with an episode that happened some time ago.
During that interval, the dog may show no apparent sign even though the bacterium is already present in its body. That is why the absence of immediate symptoms after finding a tick does not mean there is no risk: the sensible thing is to stay watchful over the following weeks and consult at any change in your dog's condition.
How long does Lyme disease treatment last?
Treatment is based on an antibiotic for several weeks, always under veterinary prescription. Doxycycline is, by way of example, one of the antibiotics commonly used in these cases, although the specific choice, the duration and the schedule depend on the veterinarian's judgement and the condition of each animal.
A key point is to complete the whole course of treatment even if your dog seems to have recovered earlier: stopping it on your own may allow the infection not to clear up fully. Along with the antibiotic, the veterinarian usually recommends rest and, if there is pain, may consider measures for the joint discomfort. Never give medications on your own initiative.
Complications if it is not treated in time
When the disease is not detected and treated early, it can progress and affect other organs. The complication that causes most concern is possible kidney involvement, which in advanced cases may lead to serious kidney problems. This is precisely why early detection is so important: the sooner the condition is identified and treatment begun, the lower the risk of damage that can be hard to reverse.
This is the underlying reason why it is unwise to play down lameness that comes and goes, or repeated episodes of fever or low energy in a dog that frequents tick-prone areas. When in doubt, a timely consultation is always the best decision.
The vaccine and prevention of Lyme disease
The basis of prevention is avoiding the tick bite. That means keeping external antiparasitics up to date (pipettes and repellent collars) according to the schedule your veterinarian indicates, and checking your dog's body after every walk in the countryside, gardens or vegetated areas, removing any tick you find as soon as possible.
As for the vaccine, its suitability should be assessed individually with your veterinarian, based on the area, the dog's lifestyle and its level of exposure. It is the professional who can advise you on the prevention options most appropriate for your particular case.
Frequently asked questions
What are the first symptoms of Lyme disease in dogs?
The most common symptom, and one of the first to appear, is lameness caused by inflammation of the joints, which can be intermittent and shift from one leg to another. Fever, loss of appetite, joint pain and apathy are also common. Symptoms can take from weeks to months to appear.
How is Lyme disease diagnosed?
The vet usually performs a blood test and a urine test, and may consider other studies necessary, such as X-rays, ultrasounds or the extraction of fluid from inflamed joints. It helps to explain your dog's activities over the past few weeks in detail.
Can my dog give me Lyme disease?
Dogs do not directly transmit Lyme disease to people, but the infected ticks your dog carries can bite you. That is why regular external deworming protects the whole family.
If you detect symptoms of Lyme disease in your dog, come quickly to Clínica Veterinaria Somo in Cantabria
Have you found a tick on your dog or do you notice any of these symptoms of canine borreliosis? Do not risk the health of your companion or your home. At Clínica Veterinaria Somo in Cantabria we have an emergency medical team prepared to diagnose and treat Borrelia effectively. Call us immediately at 942 51 00 66 or visit us for emergencies at calle Isla de Mouro 7, Somo.
