Lyme Disease Rash On Dog: Symptoms & Prevent – Both humans and dogs are susceptible to a bacterial sickness known as Lyme disease. The sickness, which is transmitted by sure species of ticks, can create a number of health complications throughout the body, especially when left undiagnosed and untreated.
Identifying the symptoms of Lyme disease in dogs may be more complicated than with humans, although, due to the different ways the sickness might affect your pet’s health and produce symptoms. However identifying Lyme disease is crucial to getting your dog efficient treatment for this condition. Avoiding doing so might lead to rare however serious health complications that might affect your dog’s quality of life or even put their life at risk. Take a couple of minutes to educate yourself on the common Lyme symptoms in dogs, and what you possibly can do to treat and prevent this condition.
What are the symptoms of Lyme disease in dogs?
Lyme disease is often more challenging to identify in dogs than in humans, primarily due to the lack of a rash. Whereas humans typically develop a characteristic “bullseye” rash around the placement of the tick bite inflicting the infection, dogs do not develop this rash. Instead, behavioral cues are used to identify canine Lyme disease.
Those symptoms comprise:
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- Fever
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- Loss of appetite and/or weight reduction
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- Lameness in one or more parts of the body (this lameness can shift around to different locations, and come and go over time)
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- Stiffness or pain in one or more parts of the body
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- Swollen joints
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- Overall loss of energy
Whereas tick bites are the reason for Lyme disease, the development of symptoms takes place much later than the initial bite. Your dog might not show symptoms of Lyme disease till two to 5 months after being infected. The signs of Lyme disease in dogs can also bear similarities to the symptoms of other health conditions. For that reason, it is crucial that dog owners search out a veterinary diagnosis if they suspect their pet has canine Lyme disease.
What are some potential health complications of untreated canine Lyme disease?
Untreated Lyme disease in dogs can lead to health complications in your pet’s critical organs, including permanent damage to your pet’s kidneys, heart or nervous system. According to veterinary specialists, kidney damage is the commonest complication of untreated Lyme disease and is often fatal for dogs suffering from this complication.
In some instances, dogs might also experience nervous system disorders such as seizures or facial paralysis. The severity of these complications can vary and is probably not life-threatening however may affect your pet’s quality of life.
How can pet mother and father prevent canine Lyme disease?
Testing is required to diagnose a case of Lyme disease in dogs. Your veterinarian will use a blood check to confirm the presence of antibodies related to the disease. Remember that it takes at least four weeks for these antibodies to show up on a check. If your dog has recently suffered a tick bite, a check administered in the first four weeks will not offer any indication of whether your dog has Lyme disease or not.
Veterinarians will combine this check with their own physical evaluation of your dog when making a diagnosis. Once a positive check is confirmed, your dog’s vet will likely prescribe antibiotics to eliminate the bacteria at the root of their condition, although specific treatment protocols might depend upon the health of your dog.
Even when your dog has been diagnosed with Lyme disease in the past, your veterinarian might suggest vaccination to prevent additional instances of Lyme disease in the future. This vaccination is performed in two phases, with an initial vaccination and one other booster administered several weeks later. It is suggested that dogs receive an annual booster to maximise the efficacy of the vaccination. Beyond a vaccine, you possibly can take other preventative measures by giving your dog preventative tick medications, as well as checking them recurrently for ticks latched onto their skin. The risk of contracting Lyme disease increases the longer a tick is attached, so prompt identification and removal will reduce the likelihood of canine Lyme disease.
When identified early and properly treated, Lyme disease typically does not pose a significant threat to your dog’s health. Keep an eye out for the common symptoms of Lyme disease in dogs, and consult your local vet if you have any concerns that your dog might be ill. Even when your dog does not have this disease, they could be suffering from one other underlying condition that also requires treatment.
Article source: https://forevervets.com/blog/warning-signs-of-untreated-lyme-disease-in-dogs
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