As soon as temperatures consistently rise above seven degrees, the less-than-loved ticks awaken from their winter slumber. These tiny bloodsuckers are not just annoying, but can also carry diseases such as Lyme disease. While it's the most frequently diagnosed illness related to a tick bite in humans, our four-legged friends can also fall victim to it. But how does Lyme disease manifest in dogs, and how can it be treated?
Ticks can transmit the bacteria that cause Lyme disease.
How Dangerous is Lyme Disease in Dogs?
The good news first: Although dogs often get infected with the bacteria that cause Lyme disease (Borrelia), they rarely develop symptoms. In most cases, the bacteria stay within the skin of the dog and trigger the formation of antibodies.
However, if your feline friend’s immune system is weakened by other infections, the bacteria can spread throughout the body.
Symptoms: What Are the Key Signs of Illness?
If your dog develops Lyme disease, symptoms typically appear two to five months after the infection. A redness of the skin at the bite site can show immediately, but this is rare and usually disappears within a week.
Unfortunately, the symptoms of Lyme disease in dogs are relatively non-specific. Key signs include:
- Joint inflammation and lameness (usually starting at the joint closest to the bite site)
- Fever
- Loss of appetite
- Weakness
- Swelling of the lymph nodes
Particularly in Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers and Bernese Mountain Dogs, kidney inflammation can also occur.
Diagnosis: How Can Lyme Disease Be Confirmed in Dogs?
Diagnosing Lyme disease in dogs involves piecing together several factors. If your vet suspects an infection based on the dog’s history (tick bite) and clinical symptoms, there are various ways to confirm it. The “gold standard” is a combination of two tests that detect the presence of antibodies (ELISA and Western Blot).
However, detecting antibodies doesn’t necessarily mean your feline friend is actually ill. Therefore, a skin biopsy near the bite site might be required to directly identify the pathogen. If this test is positive, the diagnosis is confirmed.
Treatment: What Are the Treatment Options?
Treating Lyme disease in dogs involves using various antibiotics for about four weeks. Often, there is a noticeable improvement in symptoms shortly after starting treatment.
However, the bacteria are often not completely eradicated. If the Lyme disease is already chronic, treatment success is rare, or relapses may occur. In such cases, vets may also use anti-inflammatory drugs to alleviate the symptoms.
Prognosis: What Are the Chances of Recovery from Lyme Disease?
As with many other conditions, the sooner you have your dog treated, the better the chances of recovery. If the infection has become chronic, relapses may occur repeatedly.
Causes: How Does the Disease Develop?
Borrelia are spiral-shaped bacteria transmitted by the tick species Ixodes ricinus (the common castor bean tick). The pathogens are located in the tick’s gut and migrate to its salivary glands during a blood meal, taking 16 to 24 hours. The bacteria are then transferred to the dog.
The bacteria multiply at the bite site and later spread through the connective tissue. In some dogs, the bacteria move from the skin to other tissues and joints, causing symptoms there.
Lyme disease is also known as “Lyme disease”. This term originates from the town of Lyme in Connecticut, USA, where the disease was first described in humans in 1975.
Prevention: How Can I Prevent Lyme Disease in Dogs?
Prevention is better than cure: for preventing Lyme disease, good tick prophylaxis is best for your dog.
Effective options include spot-on preparations, collars or sprays. Ensure your dog is adequately protected against ticks even in mild temperatures (above seven degrees Celsius) and repeat the treatment regularly.
Vaccination Against Lyme Disease
Since 1999, a vaccine against Lyme disease has been available for dogs. However, because the vaccine doesn’t protect against all types of Borrelia, its effectiveness remains controversial.
The vaccine cannot cure an existing Borrelia infection. If a tick has bitten your dog before the first vaccination – possible from the age of twelve weeks – an infection should be ruled out first.
