Lyme disease

Lyme disease is a disease transmitted through a tick bite. A tick can infect both humans and dogs; in this article, we focus on the infection of dogs.

A tick must have been present on a dog's body for at least 24 hours to infect the animal with the Borrelia burgdorferii bacteria, the causative agent of Lyme disease. The Borrelia burgdorferii bacteria goes into the body, through the blood, looking for a suitable place to take up residence; places the bacteria see as suitable are tissues, muscles and organs.

Symptoms

Only 10% of all dogs infected with the Borrelia burgdorferii bacteria show symptoms. Because symptoms are often vague and generalized, it is difficult to determine if a dog is suffering from Lyme disease. Symptoms associated with Lyme disease include:

• Recurrent lameness due to inflamed joints
• Reduced appetite
• Fever
• Swollen glands around the tick bite
• Kidney damage
• Heart defects
• Affection of the central nervous system

The characteristic red circle that appears around a tick bite in humans is rarely visible in dogs.

Diagnosis

Because the symptoms of Lyme disease are often very general, it is still possible to attribute the symptoms to another condition. As a result, the disease is often diagnosed at a later stage, often when kidney failure occurs.

A veterinarian can diagnose a dog with Lyme disease based on symptoms, the owner's observations and through a blood test. Blood tests should show whether a dog has produced antibodies against the Borrelia burgdorferii bacteria.

However, the result of this blood test may be false-positive; this means that the bacterium is not currently present in the dog's body, but the dog has produced antibodies against the bacterium (the dog has then been previously infected with the bacterium, but the body has successfully eliminated it). To rule out a false-positive result, a veterinarian can perform an additional test, such as a PCR test. A PCR test can show whether DNA from the Borrelia burgdorferii bacteria is present in a dog's body tissues or fluids.

Treatment

A veterinarian will usually provide a course of antibiotics for an infected dog. This course of antibiotics lasts at least two to three weeks, in some cases even longer. Generally, dogs respond well and quickly to a course of antibiotics. Because the joints often become inflamed with Lyme disease, a veterinarian may also prescribe anti-inflammatories; however, this is not treatment but symptom relief.

Do you suspect your dog has Lyme disease? If so, contact your veterinarian. There is less chance of permanent symptoms when early treatment takes place.

It is possible for a dog to remain a carrier of the Borrelia burgdorferii bacteria. When a dog's immune system declines, such as due to illness or old age, symptoms may reappear.

Prevent

Prevention is better than cure. Therefore, check your dog regularly for ticks and remove them as soon as possible when you observe one. The faster you remove a tick, the smaller the chance of contracting Lyme disease.

Furthermore, there are various products available that protect your dog against ticks, such as a flea repellent pipette that is also effective against ticks or an anti-flea and tick collar. If you prevent your dog from being bitten by a tick, you also prevent your dog from being infected with the Borrelia burgdorferii bacteria.

Transferable yes or no?

As an owner, you cannot become infected with the Borrelia burgdorferii bacteria through your dog; it is not a zoonotic disease. You can only become infected with the bacteria through a tick bite.

Do you have a tick yourself? Then remove the tick as soon as possible. Does a red ring appear at the site of the tick bite or do you suspect that the tick has been present on your body for more than 24 hours? Then contact your doctor.

How do you remove a tick?

• • Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible with pointed tweezers or tick forceps. When doing so, make sure not to squeeze too hard.
  • Then remove the tick with a gentle motion. Often this is a twisting motion with tick forceps (unless otherwise stated in the instructions for use), with tweezers you do not need to make a twisting motion.
  • Make sure all parts of the tick are removed, parts of a tick left behind can cause inflammation.
  • After removing the tick, disinfect the area with alcohol or iodine.

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