Lyme Disease Awareness

The month of May is “Lyme Disease Awareness Month.” In honor of Lyme Disease Awareness Month for 2011, Pain.com is publishing a series of four articles about lyme disease. This article describes what lyme disease is, how lyme disease is spread and who gets lyme disease. Future articles will discuss the signs and symptoms of lyme disease and how lyme disease is diagnosed, treatment of lyme disease and prevention of lyme disease.

Lyme disease is ultimately caused by a species of spirochete bacterium called Borrelia burgdorferi, but lyme disease requires a vector for transmission. That is, developing a case of lyme disease requires two things to happen.

First, a tick has to pick up the Borrelia bacterium from the blood of an animal. Animals that commonly harbor this bacterium include several different species of wild rodents, like squirrels and mice. Second, a human has to be bitten by this infected tick. When the tick bites a person, the bacterium can get into the person’s body through the wound and cause an infection.

Multiple strains exist of the spiral-shaped Borrelia bacterium, and there may be as many as 100 distinct strains of Borrelia burgdorferi in the United States alone.

However, there are only two species of ticks that are associated with lyme disease in America: the black-legged tick and the western black-legged tick. These ticks are two different species of the genus Ixodes, and their common name is “deer tick.” They do indeed bite deer, but they feed upon many other types of animals as well, including rodents.

Rodents are more likely to harbor the Borrelia bacterium than deer, but deer can carry ticks around that have already been infected with Borrelia. Other types of ticks in the United States are not thought to spread lyme disease, but some of them can harbor and transmit other vector-borne diseases, such as tularemia and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

Lyme disease is not known to be transmitted to humans through any method except via tick bites, although it is theoretically possible to get lyme disease from a blood transfusion if the donor was infected with Borrelia bacteria. Lyme disease is not transmitted through sexual contact, airborne transmission, water, food or from the bites of other disease vectors, like mosquitos.

Mammalian pets, like cats and dogs, can get lyme disease; however, it has not been shown that a pet can directly transmit the disease to humans or other pets. It does not appear that lyme disease can be transmitted to a fetus when a woman is pregnant; however, it is possible that lyme disease can have a negative impact on the pregnancy if untreated.

For example, the infection can affect the placenta, which increases the risk of having a miscarriage. It is also unlikely that the bacterium can be transmitted to an infant through breast milk.

In certain parts of the country, ticks are able to bite nearly year-round; however, most cases of lyme disease develop during the spring or summer months, when people are more likely to be outside walking in the woods or in tall grass. Lyme disease affects people of all ages more or less equally and men and women are basically equally affected.

Lyme disease is one of the most common vector-borne illnesses in the United States.
The next article in the Lyme Disease Awareness Month series will describe the clinical signs and symptoms of lyme disease and discuss how lyme disease is diagnosed.


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Lyme Disease in Dogs | Free Dog Health and Veterinary Information!

Oftentimes, it is hard to spot signs of Lyme Disease because most manifestations may signify a variety of different disease conditions. A dog with Lyme Disease often exhibits the following symptoms—lameness, swelling of the affected joints, fever, lethargy, loss of appetite, and swollen lymph glands.

Lameness can often be mistaken for arthritis however lameness associated with Lyme Disease has a sudden onset and may alternate between one leg to another. Whereas, lameness due to arthritis develop over a considerable period of time and consistently affects a particular joint or joints.

What’s confusing about Lyme Disease is that the symptoms may mysteriously disappear even without treatment only to show up again sometime later. Beware though, for this can mean that the disease may have progressed to a more advanced level.

Major problems associated with Lyme Disease include renal failure as a consequence of a progressive kidney disease. Other major organs can also be affected including the heart and nervous system resulting in serious complications.

Tetracycline or penicillin-based antibiotics are the drugs of choice for Lyme Disease in dogs. Although dogs can recover within two weeks since the start of treatment, antibiotic therapy is usually a long-term regimen reaching thirty days or longer to prevent recurrence.

A good preventive program against Lyme Disease in dogs involve vaccination and tick control. Puppies living in tick-infested areas should be vaccinated at twelve weeks of age followed by another shot three weeks after and yearly boosters.

Tick control can be done by applying topical tick medication once a month and never allowing your dogs to wander around the bushes and grassy areas where ticks wait to cling to passing dogs.


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Treating dogs suffering from Lyme disease

Lyme disease is caused by the spirochete bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi. The spirochete is acquired with the bite of the infected tick. Lyme disease has become thought to be the most typical tick-borne illness in the Usa.
This ailment was first recognized in 1975, following an episode of what seemed to be acute arthritis in several rural communities in southeastern Connecticut, such as the capital of scotland - Old Lyme. Currently, many instances are located in wooded locations in the Northeast, upper Midwest (including much of Wisconsin and Minnesota), northern California, and also the North american.

The white-footed mouse may be the principal reservoir for that spirochete. Birds may also harbor it. The white-tailed deer props up tick, although not the spirochete. Lyme disease is spread primarily during tick season (May through August), peaking in the month of July, but ticks could be active whenever the temperatures are over 32°F (0°C).

The condition in dogs is most often characterized by the sudden start of lameness. In fact, lameness is usually the only real manifestation of infection. One or more joints can become swollen or painful to touch. Some dogs operate a fever and experience weakness, lethargy, lack of appetite, and weight reduction. The lameness may last just a few days, but in certain cases it might be chronic and persists or recurs for months.

Kidney troubles are the following most typical sign. A severe cardiac syndrome is very rare. These two syndromes are often fatal.

Most dogs subjected to Lyme disease don't get ill. Serological blood tests will indicate whether your dog continues to be subjected to the condition. Dogs might not test positive until a couple weeks after exposure. New serologic tests can separate dogs with vaccine immunity and dogs with natural exposure.

A rising antibody titer in the lack of recent vaccination, however, indicates active infection. Western Blot and ELISA blood tests are actually both accustomed to detect exposure. Many dogs who test positive for Lyme disease can also get other tick-borne diseases, for example ehrlichiosis and babesiosis. X-rays of swollen joints show fluid without degenerative joint changes. Synovial fluid analysis (in which a needle is inserted right into a joint to get rid of fluid for examination) may show spirochetes.

Treatment: Antibiotics receive for any the least 2 to 4 weeks. Amoxicillin and doxycycline are probably the best.
Prevention: Ticks must attach for 5 to twenty hours before they're able to transmitting infection. Accordingly, a regular inspection with elimination of ticks may prevent many dogs from becoming infected.

Tick collars for example Preventic, and tick control on the premises, help lessen the occurrence of Lyme disease. Frontline is really a flea-control preparation that kills ticks for approximately Thirty days carrying out a single application. Advantix is yet another topical product that kills ticks. There's a vaccine to avoid Lyme disease in dogs. It might be advisable for dogs in danger of Lyme disease. Discuss this with your veterinarian.

Public health considerations: Lyme disease is really a severe illness in humans. Dogs don't transmit Lyme disease to humans, whilst they can spread the ticks carrying the spirochete. Ticks may transfer to individuals before feeding on the dog, even though this is not common.

Once a tick starts feeding on the dog, it won't seek another host. Dispose cautiously associated with a ticks you remove from your dog. The best way would be to place them in a jar having a little bit of alcohol, seal the jar, and dispose of it.


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Lyme Disease in Dogs

Lyme disease in dogs also called Borreliosis is a disease caused in dogs in Europe, North east and pacific regions of northern U.S.A, Asia and Midwest regions of the World. This disease has derived its name from Lyme, Connecticut where in 1975 there was an occurrence of juvenile arthritis caused by tick borne spirochete Borrelia burgdoferi. Learn more about Lyme disease , causes of Lyme disease and symptoms of Lyme disease in dogs here.

Lyme Disease in Dogs:
Lyme disease in dogs is caused by Borrelia burgdoferi which is corkscrew-shaped bacteria, called a spirochete that is transmitted by the lyme disease tick or deer tick, Lyme disease is also transmitted to mammals like humans, dogs, horses by the deer tick. Lyme disease Deer ticks are found in places like woodpiles, yards, roads, and any wooded areas and are most active when temperature crosses 40 degrees.

Symptoms of Lyme Disease in Dogs

When a dog catches Lyme disease in dogs he starts showing symptoms of joint pain which can be easily identified by the change in his walking style and pace. The nervous symptoms are numerous like fatigue, lethargy, abnormal movements, seizures, etc .These symptoms of lyme disease in dogs are very confusing and therefore the diagnosis becomes very difficult and hence the treatment. Thus the symptoms of Lyme disease in dogs matches with many common diseased conditions like arthritis, old age etc, in dogs.

Diagnosis of Lyme Disease in Dogs

Lyme disease in dogs can be diagnosed by step by step lyme disease tests and elimination of other similar problems like inflammatory joint disease, cellulitis and trauma. Blood sample tests are very important and can give confirmed results as the disease is caused by intracellular bacteria.

Treatment of Lyme Disease in Dogs

 When it is confirmed that the disease is Lyme disease in dogs then suitable antibiotics and medications are administered to the dog. Generally a course of doxycycline, Rifampacin or tetracycline is administered for four weeks.

Prevention of Lyme Disease in Dogs

Immunization is one of the main precautions to be taken to prevent this disease as it can also spread in humans. Immunization with Lyme vaccine has proven records in preventing the disease. As the disease is very painful and can be fatal, prevention becomes very important. Lyme disease is also difficult in diagnosing and hence any symptoms mentioned above should not be taken lightly. If your dog is having any of the matching symptoms do not ignore but contact a good veterinary doctor.

Prevention is always better than cure and therefore some precautions should be taken if you live at a place where deer tick is found. Deer ticks reside in wooden materials, so prevent your dog from going near woodpiles and logs. Dog collar specially having Amitraz on it can be used. Vaccination is one of the most desirable remedies for the prevention of Lyme disease .It should be ensured that your dog gets full course of vaccination at proper intervals and a booster dose in follow up. One of the options is to search and remove deer ticks from your dog’s body by tweezers at regular intervals. This procedure should be done with care and it helps not only to prevent Lyme disease but you can also remove other visible parasites present on your dog.

By knowing the symptoms of Lyme disease you can take a timely action in providing medical help to your dog. As prevention is always better than cure so the proper steps taken on time will ensure that your dear pet does not suffers from Lyme disease.


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The Facts About Canine Lyme Disease

The first diagnosis of Lyme Disease was made in a resident of Lyme, Connecticut in 1975. Over the decades, the seriousness of this debilitating tick-borne disease has made many people weary of wandering outdoors during seasons when ticks are active. If you live in the Northeast or upper Midwest states, there’s a good chance you know someone who has had a Lyme Disease diagnosis. A decade after being diagnosed in people, Lyme Disease was first recognized as a condition that also affects dogs.

What exactly is Lyme Disease?

Lyme Disease is an infectious disease that is caused by the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi, which is found in several varieties of ticks, but is mostly associated with the common deer tick. The disease is transmitted when a tick carrying the bacteria bites a dog—or human—and feasts on the host’s blood. It should be noted that not all deer ticks carry the disease, and not all bites from infected deer ticks successfully transmit the disease.

For the bacteria to be passed into a dog, the tick must have been attached to the dog for about 48 hours. So if a tick is removed from a dog shortly after he is bitten, there’s a good chance the dog will not contract the disease. However, deer ticks are extremely tiny and are difficult to see, especially when covered by a dog’s fur. Your vet is trained to spot and remove ticks. If you happen to notice a tick on your dog and want to attempt to remove it, use small tweezers and carefully grasp the tick where it is making contact with the dog’s skin. Then gently lift the tick away. If you suspect that it’s a deer tick, take your dog—and the tick—to the vet for examination.

What are the symptoms?

Lyme Disease isn’t easy to diagnose, especially in senior dogs, because the initial symptoms can be mistaken for other conditions, such as arthritis. Lyme Disease symptoms include limping—which can shift from one leg to another—swelling of lymph nodes, lethargy, loss of appetite, and fever. Initially, the affected dog may simply experience mild joint and muscle discomfort in his limb(s). However, the pain can become severe over time, and multiple joints can be involved Even with treatment, Lyme Disease can cause permanent joint damage. There have also been reports of severe progressive kidney disease linked to Lyme Disease.

Is there treatment for Lyme Disease?

Lyme Disease is generally treated with antibiotics. In many cases, affected dogs respond well to those meds. However, if treatment is halted too soon, the dog may get a relapse. Even in dogs that show full recovery, the bacteria that causes Lyme Disease may still be present in their bodies, even though the dog no longer displays the symptoms of the disease. Senior dogs with severe cases of arthritis—in addition to Lyme Disease—and those dogs that are severely affected may also be treated with pain relievers.

How can Lyme Disease be prevented?

Since Lyme Disease is serious and can be debilitating, dog owners want to take measures to prevent their pets from contracting the disease. Here are a few things you can do to help minimize your dog’s chance of getting Lyme Disease.

Avoid areas that are likely to be tick infested. During the seasons when ticks are active, try to avoid taking your dog into heavily wooded areas or other places where large deer populations live.Spray your immediate home/lawn area with an appropriate insecticide. If you decide to use an anti-tick spray, make sure it’s safe for dogs.Vaccinate your dog. If you live in a high-risk region, ask your vet about the latest generation of Lyme Disease vaccinations. He may recommend one that he deems effective.Use a topical anti-tick insecticide.

There are currently several brands of topical insecticides on the market. They generally help in two ways:
(1) By repelling ticks, and (2) By killing ticks that manage to attach themselves to dogs. Ask your vet about the brands he recommends. Please note that most flea and tick collars are not effective against the ticks that cause Lyme Disease. Only collars with amitraz have been shown to kill the ticks that spread this disease.

If you live in—or your dog has visited—a Lyme Disease hot spot and suspect that he is suffering from this condition, do not hesitate to take him to the veterinarian for an examination.



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