As a responsible dog owner, you want your dog to be happy, healthy, and active. But in many places in the world, there lurks a silent threat you may not always see, such as Lyme disease. Lyme disease is an infection caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi that is transmitted by ticks. Lyme disease can affect dogs’ joints, kidneys and overall quality of life. In this article, we are going to cover everything you need to know, how it happens, ways to see early signs, prevention and treatment, practical tips and information beyond the basics.
What is Lyme disease in dogs?
Lyme disease is a tick-borne infection. An infected tick (most often a deer tick such as Ixodes scapularis or Ixodes pacificus) bites and stays on long enough to transmit the bacterium into its bloodstream, where the bacterium will migrate to joints, kidneys or other tissues (CVPM, 2020).
It’s important to note that many dogs may test positive and not show signs, but the infection can create severe health issues for dogs, especially if not treated (Kleszynski, 2024).
How Do Dogs Get Lyme Disease?
- Before a dog can be infected, the tick must bite the dog and remain attached for at least 24 hours, although it can take longer (Kleszynski, 2024b).
- Ticks are found in tall grass and wooded or brushy areas, in leaf litter, etc.
- Dogs that frequently spend time outdoors, especially in endemic areas, are at increased risk.
Important: Dogs do not directly transmit Lyme disease to people, but the same tick that bites the dog can also bite you, so protecting your dog will also protect your household (Vogt, 2021).
Typical Signs and Symptoms of Lyme Disease
Knowing the signs/symptoms to watch for may make a big difference. The following are common signs, but the variability in tick-borne diseases makes this a real challenge:
- Sudden or shifting leg impairment, for example, one leg today, a different leg tomorrow.
- Swollen joint(s), stiffness, reluctance to move or jump.
- Fever, decreased appetite, lethargy (Kleszynski, 2024c).
- In serious cases: increased thirst/urination, weight loss, vomiting, or kidney problems (Kleszynski, 2024c).
- Some dogs may test positive for Lyme disease, but show no clinical signs.
This makes treatment challenging!
The Importance of Prompt Recognition
- If recognised early, there is usually a good prognosis but, If you did not notice the infection, you may be left with chronic joint damage or even kidney (potentially fatal) disease like dogs.
Once damage to the kidneys (due to protein-losing nephropathy) occurs, the management of this circumstance becomes complex.
Treatment is often the most effective when instituted quickly. That means you and the vet will have to react to suspicion when the dog seems ill, rather than waiting for everything to be obvious.
How Do You Diagnose It?
Diagnosis typically involves:
- Possibility of recent tick exposure + signs of disease.
- Blood tests that search for antibodies (e.g., SNAP 4Dx test) (Kleszynski, 2024c).
Further evaluation, if kidney damage is suspected (urinalysis, protein in urine, kidney function tests)
- A Negative antibody test does not exclude disease; either time of testing or a dog never mounting a strong antibody response can both have negative results.
- Seropositivity (positive antibody test) does not necessarily indicate clinical disease, which complicates the decision to treat.
Rehabilitation Approaches
Upon your veterinarian diagnosing Lyme disease:
- The typical and preferred antibiotic is Doxycycline (about ~10 mg/kg once a day for ~30 days), although sometimes alternatives are warranted (CVPM, 2020c).
- If noticeable lameness is present, pain relief and joint support may be prescribed.
- Canines with severe renal involvement may require hospitalisation, nursing care, special diets, and consistent follow-up care.
- Following a diagnosis and treatment, dogs can stay seropositive for months or years, so a determination of response should be based on the resolution of clinical signs, not because the test became negative.
- Whether or not to treat dogs that are seropositive (positive for possible past infection) but asymptomatic for Lyme disease is a debated topic; the veterinarian will evaluate the geographic risk, the predisposition of the breed, and the cost/benefit ratio.
Prevention (Your Best Approach)
Prevention is always best to stay ahead of Lyme Disease; here’s a well-rounded approach:
1. Tick control products throughout the year
- Use a veterinarian-approved tick prevention (topical, collar, chewable) that provides coverage for the Ixodes tick species.
- Depending on your geographic area (or even travel), some areas would benefit from year-round protection because ticks are occasionally active throughout most of the year.
2. Avoid tick areas and/or perform tick checks
Post-walk checks on canines in the yard or the woods, or any time you have walked without a leash or on a long flex leash, you should perform a tick check, especially if you or the dog walked.
What this Means to Dog Owners in Non-Endemic Areas
Even if you live in an area that is not currently endemic for Lyme Disease, there are some considerations worth thinking about:
- Increased geographic range of ticks (and tick-transmitted diseases). Due to factors such as climate change, movement of wildlife, and human development, areas previously unaffected by Lyme Disease may be a higher risk.
- If you travel with your dog, especially to wooded, grassy areas with an abundance of ticks, please take the same precautions!
- Use an integrated tick control protocol always (e.g., don’t say “We’ll see if we see a tick and decide what to do then.”).
- Effective prevention and treatment of advanced disease are less costly than treatment of advanced disease.
No dog is 100% “safe” if ever exposed; the chance that any dog may expose any dog if they were to gain access to a tick is a real risk since tracking tick exposures in field dogs is not realistic, hence awareness is key.
A Real Scenario: Detecting Early Signs
Juliet lives in a semi-rural area with her 4-year-old Labrador, Max. One evening, she notices that Max is limping on his right front leg. By morning, he is walking around normally. Over the next several weeks, this happens again… sometimes it is his left back leg, sometimes it is his right front leg. She recalls having a few outside adventures in heavily populated, overgrown areas, but wonders whether she should call the veterinarian.
Juliet’s concern prompted the veterinarian to do an inquiry Lyme Disease test… and it was?
quickly through tall grass or brush.
Conclusion and Suggestions
- Lyme disease in dogs is serious, but it’s also largely preventable if you act proactively.
- Here is your checklist:
- Use tick prevention products all year round for your location and your dog.
- Keep your landscaping and any shrubs or trails you are walking on to a minimum to reduce exposure to ticks.
- Make sure to do a tick check after outdoor play or walks.
- Ask your veterinarian about the Lyme vaccine, especially if you are in or travelling to an endemic area.
- If you ever start to notice unexplained limping, fever, not eating or any of the understated signs listed above or anything that just doesn’t look right, call your veterinarian. Getting an early diagnosis and treatment will help your dog’s outcome.
- By following these prevention and simple attention techniques, you can quite literally save your dog from what could be a substantial problem. The right focus on the prevention aspect and working with your veterinary practitioner will allow you both to enjoy a safe, active, and happy life together.
References
CVPM, S.W., RVT (2020). Lyme Disease in Dogs: Signs and Prevention. [online] Today’s Veterinary Practice. Available at: https://todaysveterinarypractice.com/parasitology/lyme-disease/.
CVPM, S.W., RVT (2020c). Lyme Disease in Dogs: Signs and Prevention. [online] Today’s Veterinary Practice. Available at: https://todaysveterinarypractice.com/parasitology/lyme-disease/.
Kleszynski, B. (2024). Lyme Disease in Dogs. [online] www.petmd.com. Available at: https://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/infectious-parasitic/lyme-disease-dogs.
Kleszynski, B. (2024b). Lyme Disease in Dogs. [online] www.petmd.com. Available at: https://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/infectious-parasitic/lyme-disease-dogs.
Kleszynski, B. (2024c). Lyme Disease in Dogs. [online] www.petmd.com. Available at: https://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/infectious-parasitic/lyme-disease-dogs.
Vogt, N.A. (2021). Lyme Borreliosis in Animals. [online] MSD Veterinary Manual. Available at: https://www.msdvetmanual.com/infectious-diseases/lyme-borreliosis/lyme-borreliosis-in-animals.
