As one of the most notorious tick-borne illnesses in pets and people, Lyme disease is a serious threat that should not be ignored. To better protect your four-legged friend from ticks and Lyme disease, we explain how tick-borne illnesses are transmitted and how you can prevent disease.

How do pets get Lyme disease?

Lyme disease is a tick-borne illness transmitted only by ticks of the genus Ixodes. In the United States, the black-legged tick, also called the deer tick, and the western black-legged tick are the only ticks responsible for Lyme disease transmission, but they also carry other pathogens that can cause serious illness in pets.

To transmit Lyme disease, a tick must remain attached to your pet for 48 hours, which means that if you check your pet immediately after coming indoors and remove any attached ticks, they will not have the chance to transmit Lyme disease. However, while removing attached ticks may be essential for preventing disease transmission, administering year-round tick prevention is a much easier task and will keep your pet much safer.

What signs will my pet show with Lyme disease?

Spotting Lyme disease signs in your pet can be challenging. While cats can technically get infected with Lyme disease, no cases outside of laboratory settings have been reported. And, although dogs can contract Lyme disease much more easily than cats, only 5% to 10% develop clinical signs. 

Therefore, your dog may have contracted Lyme disease, but they may not show any signs. If they do show signs, you may see:

  • Shifting leg lameness
  • Fever
  • Lethargy
  • Swollen, warm, painful joints
  • Enlarged lymph nodes
  • Inappetence

In some cases, affected dogs can develop kidney damage, which can turn into chronic kidney failure. Rarely, heart or nervous system disease can develop.

How will I know if my pet has Lyme disease?

A Lyme disease diagnosis can be confirmed only through blood work. If your pet shows clinical signs, testing will be required to rule out other possible conditions and to verify Lyme disease. Lyme disease diagnosis can be challenging, because antibodies do not develop and become detectable for two to five weeks after exposure. 

Testing for Lyme disease—and to evaluate its severity—consists of:

  • Physical examination
  • Complete blood cell count
  • Blood chemistry panel
  • Urinalysis
  • Blood serum tests

Can Lyme disease in pets be treated?

While Lyme disease in pets can be treated with antibiotics, a minimum 28-day course is required. Pets may also benefit from nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to alleviate joint pain until the antibiotics take effect. Fortunately, pets typically improve significantly a few days after starting antibiotics. However, antibiotics can’t always completely clear the infection, and the Lyme bacterium can harbor in the kidneys for the rest of your pet’s life.

When pets are stressed or their immune system is compromised, Lyme disease can flare up and the initial illness is repeated. Recurring flares require additional treatment, and can occur throughout your pet’s life, especially if re-infection with Lyme disease occurs.

How can I protect my pet from Lyme disease?

Although Lyme disease is a serious problem, you can use many methods to minimize your pet’s risk of contracting a tick-borne illness. To defend your pet against ticks and their many pathogens, implement the following protection techniques:

  • Prevent — The single best way to guard your pet from the threat of tick-borne illnesses is through administration of year-round tick preventives. Many also protect your pet against fleas, mites, heartworm disease, and intestinal worms.
  • Avoid — Avoid walking your pet in known tick areas, such as tall grass, thick vegetation, and wooded locations. 
  • Landscape — Shield your home from ticks with your landscaping. Installing a barrier of gravel or mulch between your yard’s edge and wooded areas and mowing your lawn short will discourage ticks.
  • Check — After each trip outdoors, check your pet carefully for ticks, focusing under their collar, around their ears, between their toes, and in their armpits and groin.
  • Vaccinate — To double up on your dog’s Lyme disease protection, consider vaccination. Ask our veterinarian if the Lyme disease vaccination is right for your pet.

Don’t leave your pet with no defense against the threat of ticks and Lyme disease. Contact our Smithtown Animal Hospital team to discuss the best prevention plan that will keep your furry pal safe from serious tick-borne illnesses.