Lyme Disease in Dogs

By

Dr. Brenda TaddeoSully Animal Hospital5095 Westfields BlvdCentrevile VA 20121

What is Lyme Disease?

• A spirochete (bacteria) species of the Borrelia burgdorferi group isTransmitted by the Tick.

• Two main ticks that can transmit lyme disease to the dog is DEER TICK and the Westerin BLACK LEGGED TICK

• The tick transmits lyme dz by taking a blood meal and be attached for 18hrs

Transmisson

• By the Deer tick and westerin blacklegged tick –• Not just the deer tick – many people believe it is

only by the deer tick.• Ticks don’t just transmit lyme disease, dogs can

also get rocky mtn spotted fever, ehrlichia, anaplasmosis

• Zoonotic – Means When Humans get sick from a disease they caught from a bug or other animal. ( Lyme disease is by the Tick) NOT THE DOG.

WWW.Dogsandticks.com

• Great site to show you the prevelance in your area and about tick borne diseases– jus type your zip code in

DEER TICK/Black leg tick vs Western Black legged tickBoth Transmitts Lyme disease and ANAPLASMOSISTicks and Coinfection – Can carry more then one disease

Cats can get lyme disease. (We do not see it very often in cats)

Signs of Lyme Disease

• Three Catagories– 1) sub-clinical – No signs but have been exposed• CDC reports that 95% of dogs do not have symptoms

– 2) Clinical – • Limping, Fever, lethargy, (no Skin rash or bulleyes),

While a “bull’s eye” rash at the site of the tick bite is common with human Lyme disease infection, dogs have no such indicator.

– 3) Severe clinic infection -Lyme Nephritis - severe and fatal kidney failure

Symptoms and Types

In general, symptoms in dogs are difficult to detect and may not appear until several months after infection

Lyme Disease

• There’s simply no way for pet owners to tell if a tick is carrying disease or not, and it only takes one tick bite to infect your dog. Owners may not even seen a tick on there dog

• What’s common among all vector-borne disease, however, is that symptoms can be vague and difficult to recognize. Or can mimick each other. (anaplasmosis)

Clinical Signs

• Kidney disease appears to be more prevalent in Labrador retrievers, golden retrievers, and Bernese Mountain dogs

• Often many pet owners don’t know their dog is suffering from a debilitating tick disease until it’s too lat

How do we DiagnosisLyme Disease?

• Veterinary Clinic 4dx plus snap test– Can tell you with in 10mins a positive antibody to

Lyme, erhlichia, anaplasmosis, or heartworm disease

– Test for tick borne diseases yearly, at clinical signs occur or if you noticed a tick on your dog then a 4dx test being done 3 weeks to 3 months after exposure.

4dx test

Blood sent to a specific Lab

To confirm if they have a true active infection of lyme disease

May have to do this more expensive test after doing a 4dx test to confirm lyme active infection

Other test may need to be done if Lyme Positive – Cbc, Chemistry panel, and Urinalysis

Veterinary C6 Test

Treatment

1) Doxycycline – Is the main treatment and done for 30days. For all stages of doxycycline2) Some of our more severe cases may need to be hospitalized, with Fluids, and supportive care3) Side effects – upset stomach

How do we protect Pets?

• Lyme Vaccine – works as long as given and up dated yearly• Many products work – It depends on how fast the tick is

killed that matters. – Topical – Tick products, like frontline, parastar, vectra 3d, advantix– Oral products Like Bravecto and Nexgard– Collar – Seresto– Most products work by killing the tick, many if any repel the tick

• Use it Year round – our Winters are not cold enough and long enough to kill ticks

Protecting your pet continued

Check them over by using a baby cloth to run over face and feet to knock off any ticks

Using a tick key – never use your hands – always were gloves

Home protection for pets and Humanswww.backyardbugpatrol.com

Good internet sites to visit

• www.dogsandticks.com• www.Pethealthnetwork.com• www.VeterinaryPartner.com

Great sources of Good Veterinary Advice vs Dr. Google

Any Questions!