Taking your furry companion out on a daily walk is a non-negotiable since it helps them be happy and healthy; however, it is just as important to check your pup for ticks to reduce the risk of Lyme disease. This is one canine disease that is found in all states of the USA.
In this blog, we will understand what Lyme disease in dogs looks like, the symptoms to watch for, and the best ways to protect your furry companion.
What is Lyme Disease?
Lyme disease in your pet is a tricky illness carried by ticks, caused by a spiral-shaped bacterium called Borrelia burgdorferi. It doesn’t just affect dogs — humans and other animals can get it too.
Now here’s the thing about ticks: they can’t fly or jump. Instead, they play the waiting game. They hang out in tall grass or bushes, just waiting for your dog to stroll by. The moment your pup brushes past, they latch on and crawl around until they find a cozy spot to bite.
Once attached, the tick feeds on your dog’s blood and passes those harmful bacteria straight into the bloodstream. From there, the infection can spread to major organs and systems — the kidneys, heart, joints, limbs, and even the nervous system — leading to a wide range of health issues over time.
Here’s the surprising part: many dogs exposed to Lyme disease never actually get sick. They carry the bacteria without showing any obvious signs at all. But don’t let that fool you — the longer Lyme disease in dogs goes undiagnosed, the harder it becomes to treat. Early detection really makes a difference in protecting your pup.
Causes of Lyme Disease in Dogs
Infected Tick
The primary cause of this disease is the bite of an infected black-legged tick (deer tick). Not all ticks carry the bacteria, but the ones that can transmit the infection when feeding.
Environmental Exposure
Puppers who spend more time in grassy, wooded, or bushy areas are more at risk because ticks thrive in such places. Even suburban backyards with tall grass or wildlife where deer and rodents reside can harbor ticks.
Symptoms of Lyme Disease in Dogs
Lyme disease in dogs is often asymptomatic, which means our furry friends are able to carry the infection without showing signs until a major health condition progresses and worsens. Some of the common Lyme disease symptoms are:
- Fever
- Limping
- Sensitivity to touch
- Swollen or stiff joints
- Fatigue
- Loss of appetite
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Breathing problems
- Discomfort
Lyme disease isn’t always just about stiff joints or a tired pup. If it hangs around long enough, it can sneak into some pretty important places in your dog’s body.
Kidney
Take the kidneys, for example. They can get inflamed and scarred, a problem vets call Lyme nephritis. It sounds fancy, but what you’d probably notice at home is your dog throwing up, dropping weight without trying, or guzzling water and needing to pee a lot more than usual.
Nervous System
Every once in a while, the infection even gets into the nervous system. That’s rare, but when it happens, it’s scary stuff — seizures, a face that suddenly droops on one side, or your pup just acting… off. Like they’re not quite themselves.
Heart
And then there’s the heart. Yep, Lyme can mess with that, too. The condition is called Lyme carditis. Basically, it throws the heartbeat out of whack, and in extreme cases, dogs can even collapse out of the blue.
So, if you ever see anything like this going on, don’t wait and see. Get your dog checked. The sooner Lyme disease in your pet is caught, the better the outcome — and the less scary it gets.
Treatment & Prevention Options for Your Dog
Typically, the treatment of Lyme disease in dogs relies on a month-long course of antibiotics. Dogs with associated complications may require a prolonged antibiotic therapy.
The most effective defence against Lyme disease in dogs is a consistent, year-round tick prevention treatment. Your vet can choose the best preventative option for your hound based on their lifestyle, age, weight and condition. The most common options include:
Oral treatments
Chewables are usually vets’ first line of treatment because they directly target the cause of infection, ticks carrying the bacteria (Borrelia burgdorferi).
Early and consistent use of oral treatments like Nexgard Spectra and Bravecto provides a reliable safety net for your furry friend. Their primary goal is to kill parasites like ticks as soon as they bite and prevent them from reinfesting your fur baby.
Topical Spot-ons
Liquid-based preventative topical spot-ons like Frontline Plus or Bravecto Topical are directly applied to the dog’s skin, in between the dog’s shoulder blades, attacking black-legged ticks when they come in contact.
Tick collars
Tick collars are one of the most convenient pet care products for pups who avoid oral treatments or do not tolerate topicals. Collars like Seresto safeguard our furry companions from Lyme disease by repelling these pesky parasites and killing them as soon as they come into contact, before they even spread or transmit the infection.
How to Protect Your Dog from Lyme Disease
As a pet parent, to protect your paw baby from Lyme disease, you should opt for a multi-pronged approach that includes:
- Preventative treatment
- Daily tick checks
- Vaccination; if you and your pet live in a high-risk area
- Managing your yard
An infected tick demands to feed on the host for at least 24 to 48 hours, so prompt removal of these nasty parasites is highly recommended.
On a Final Note
You really don’t want your dog getting sick out of the blue because of something like Lyme disease. It can turn serious fast. The best thing you can do is stay on top of it — pull off those nasty little ticks when you spot them, keep your pup on a regular preventative, and honestly, just stay consistent. It’s not complicated, but it goes a long way in keeping your furry buddy healthy, happy, and with you for years to come.
