Adapted From :- http://www.healthypets.in/
Today's Tip :- What is Lyme Disease In Dogs?
Transmitted through the bite of a tick, Borrelia burgdorferi is the scientific name of the bacteria that causes Lyme Disease. These microscopic bacteria are a type called spirochete... they have a coiled or cork-screw appearance under the microscope. The disease is actually named after the town in Connecticut where an early outbreak was first described... Lyme, Connecticut. (Remember, ticks don't cause the disease, they merely harbor and transmit the bacteria that cause the disease.) And being fussy little bacteria, not just any ol' genus of tick will do as a carrier. At least three known species of ticks can transmit Lyme Disease. However, the great majority of Lyme Disease transmissions are due to the bite of a very tiny tick commonly called the Deer Tick, or Black-legged Tick. See the image on the right. Reference for the identification of this tick is at (http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/urban/medical/deer_tick.htm).
Its scientific name is Ixodes (pronounced eye-zod-ease) scapularis. Lyme Disease in dogs has been reported in every state but certain geographical areas are much more likely to harbor bacteria-carrying ticks than others. To see close-up images of a different specie of tick (that does not usually transmit Lyme Disease) feeding on a dog, view here
Many dogs, such as the Brittany Spaniel in the video above, will seemingly develop Lyme Disease signs within a matter of hours. The dog in the video was normal one day, a little quiet and less energetic the next, and by the third day was so full of joint pain that the owner had to carry the dog in to the animal hospital. Interestingly, although not apparent in this case, in over 75 percent of affected dogs the worst limp will be in one front leg; close observation, though, reveals multiple joint tenderness
Signs of Lyme Disease in Dog?
Of the hundreds of cases of canine Lyme Disease that I have seen, over 90 percent of canine patients were admitted with signs of limping (usually one foreleg), lymph node swelling in the affected limb, and a
temperature of 103 degrees (101 to 102.5 degrees is normal). The limping usually progresses over three to four days from mild and barely noticeable to complete disuse of the painful leg. Once the dog starts to be affected by the bacteria, Lyme Disease can progress from a mild discomfort to the stage where a dog will be in such joint and muscle pain it will refuse to move; it is not uncommon for an owner to have to carry a sick dog into the animal hospital. Over the span of two or three days a dog can progress from normal to completely unable to walk due to generalized joint pain. In addition to joint damage, the bacteria can affect the dog's heart muscle and nerve tissue. If the disease is diagnosed in time, treatment can cure the dog before permanent joint or nerve damage occurs. Certain antibiotics, such as the Tetracyclines, are very helpful in eliminating the disease.
Generally, the diagnosis of Lyme Disease is based upon clinical signs and history. For example, if a dog ran or played normally a few days ago, has had no signs of trauma or previous arthritic discomfort, and now displays tenderness upon palpation of the affected limb and has a mild fever and swollen lymph nodes, I'm going to seriously consider Lyme Disease as a possible diagnosis.
On the other hand, just as in human medicine, Lyme Disease is called "The Great Imitator" because it has often been mistakenly diagnosed when another disorder is present, such as an autoimmune disease, lymph tissue cancer, Blastomycosis, or septicemia. Just as vexing is the fact that at times other similar-appearing diseases are diagnosed when the culprit is actually Lyme Disease. There are published reports of Lyme Disease being misdiagnosed and over diagnosed in human medicine.
Prevention of Lyme Disease in Dogs
There are three Lyme vaccines approved for use in dogs. Keep in mind, though, that no vaccine for humans or canines will be 100% effective and protective against the disease. As with any vaccine there are a number of variables that can impact each individual's response to a vaccine. Think of vaccination for Lyme Disease as one tool you can use to decrease your dog's chances of contracting the disease. For helpful information on the advisability of vaccinating your dog, contact a vaccine manufacturer or discuss this disease with your veterinarian
The first and most obvious technique to assist in prevention is to keep the tick population to a minimum. There are safe and effective insecticides that can be used in the dog's usual environment (e. g., a 50-foot radius around the dog house). In addition, there are new chemical agents that you apply once a month to small areas of the dog's skin; thereafter, the agent spreads over the dog's body via the oil on its skin and kills ticks before they get a chance to inject the bacteria into the dog via the tick's saliva. One of the most commonly used anti-tick
Humans should wear clothing that covers as much skin as possible to prevent the ticks from contacting the skin. And the use of light-colored clothing will make observation of the dark-colored tick easier. Other hints: Avoid fields and grassy areas; apply repellents according to directions; and examine yourself closely for ticks after a day in the field. We live in a diverse, intricate and ever-changing natural world. It is full of challenges, always prompting us to better understand diseases and vectors, predator and prey, life cycles and evolution. The bacteria that causes Lyme Disease has found a niche in this natural world and will share the planet with us for a long time. The challenge is to learn all we can about it!
