Dealing with Lyme disease

August 21st, 2008

Oh, those pesky little ticks. It seems as though they can cause a variety of problems for our favorite companions. Although flea and tick prevention is ideal, sometimes the pesky insect will slip passed our care. Lyme disease is easily treated; but, the ease of treatment should not deter you from thinking of it as an urgent situation. If you suspect your pooch is having problems, then you should see your veterinarian as soon as possible.

Lyme disease has been found in most areas of the United States; although, it is most commonly found in the northeastern region. The disease is transmitted by a deer tick which affixes itself to the host’s body. Many mammals, including humans, can contract the disease, but it is more common for dogs to be exposed. Once the tick attaches itself to your pooch, it takes about two days for the dog to become infected. Often, a pooch experiencing arthritic pain or inflamed joints may have been exposed to a Lyme disease host. Other symptoms include fever, loss of appetite, swollen lymph nodes, and lameness. When left untreated, kidney damage is the most common effect of Lyme disease. If your pooch is exhibiting any of these symptoms, then you should take him to see your veterinarian. Even if the symptoms are not caused by the disease, they are signals of a problem.

There are tests that your veterinarian can perform to detect the presence of Lyme disease. If your pet has had a previous vaccination against the disease, then it is a bit more difficult to distinguish between the vaccine and the actual infection. For instance, your dog may test positive because of his encounter with the vaccine or an infected tick, but he may not actually be infected with the disease. However, there are fairly new tests that can distinguish between the two. Often, if a veterinarian suspects Lyme disease but the tests are inconclusive, he or she will go ahead and start a treatment plan. After only one or two days of inexpensive treatment there are noticeable signs of improvement, so a treatment program can actually confirm the presence of the illness. Or, the medication is treating some other bacteria which are causing the discomfort. Either way, it’s a win-win situation for your pet.

Most often, an antibiotic is used for two to four weeks to treat the disease. The antibiotics are affordable, so there is no reason not to start treatment immediately. As mentioned before, your will see improvements in your dog’s health a couple of days after starting the antibiotics. It is unlikely that the bacteria will be completely removed from your pooch’s system. Instead, your veterinarian is looking to achieve a state of balance where your dog’s immune system is able to overcome the infection. No matter how much better your dog seems to feel, you should treat the medication like any other antibiotic; do not stop dosage until your veterinarian tells you to. Stopping the antibiotic before it has had time to eradicate the problem is almost a sure way for Lyme disease to recur.

Prevention of Lyme disease is the best bet for keeping your pooch healthy. Many areas of the country do not recommend a vaccination if they are not known to have a high infection rate. Determining whether your pet should have a vaccination is between you and your veterinarian. Other ways to prevent the contraction of the disease is with a regular flea and tick prevention program. Keeping the ticks off your pet is a sure way to keep the disease away from your pet. If you spend time in a place where the disease is present or if you spend time in areas where your pet can attract ticks, then check your pet for ticks each day. Removing the tick before it has a chance to infect your pet is another way to keep your pooch healthy.

Lyme disease is not necessarily a life-threatening situation, but it should be handled in a timely manner. The disease is transmitted by the deer tick, which is most commonly found in the northeaster United States. If your pet seems to be experiencing muscle and joint pain, has a fever, or has a lack of appetite, then visit your veterinarian immediately. Although prevention is ideal, there are successful treatment methods that your veterinarian can prescribe.

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Entry Filed under: Pet Health

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