Lyme Disease in Dogs

Lyme Disease in Dogs: Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention

Lyme disease is carried by ticks that are in search of a warm body to attack and feed. The ticks infected with bacteria cause Lyme disease. However, it is to be known that Lyme disease not only infects humans but dogs as well.

Table of Contents
    Add a header to begin generating the table of contents

    Can dogs get Lyme disease?

    An interesting fact about Lyme disease in dogs is that dogs can test positive for Lyme disease without having it. It might sound strange, but it is true! When they test positive, it means that they tested positive for the antibodies. As per statistics, only 5% of dogs actually get infected with Lyme disease.

    Lyme disease symptoms

    Whether they are actually infected or test positive, it is important for pet owners to be aware of the symptoms of Lyme disease in dogs. If at all your dog is in that 5%, knowing the symptoms will help identify the disease and get treated.

    Some dogs start showing lameness and fever within 2-3 days of getting bit, while others can take up to months to show the signs of infection. For example, you might take ticks off your dog, and they might start showing the signs after a month or two! If your dog starts showing early signs of illness, you should immediately take them to the vet so that it can be treated in time without getting worse.

    The Lyme disease symptoms in dogs are as follows:

    • Limping

    Lyme disease can lead to swollen and painful joints. It happens to be the major indicator of infection as other symptoms can camouflage with other conditions. When your dog begins to limp or you notice signs of lameness, it should not be ignored. You might notice limping and pain in one leg and shift to another leg.

    • Joint swelling

    If limping is combined with swollen joints, you must see your vet immediately and get the pet tested for Lyme disease.

    • Change in appetite

    If the dog’s eating habits change suddenly and your dog isn’t feeling well, you should not ignore it. Lack of appetite can be a cause of other diseases as well; hence you should get Lyme disease tested if the symptoms are accompanied by other symptoms.

    • Sluggish

    If the pet feels low on energy, it can be a sign of Lyme disease.

    • Fever

    You can touch your dog’s nose to find out if they have a fever. Otherwise, the nose is cool, and a dry and hot nose is a sign of fever.

    It is to be known that, unlike humans, Lyme disease in dogs rash doesn’t develop, and hence it can be challenging to detect it in dogs as compared to humans. However, keeping a check on the symptoms can help with early detection and treatment.

    Treatment Of Lyme Disease in Dogs

    The good news is that Lyme disease in dogs treatment can be done with the help of antibiotics. However, it will take a long course of medicines for the infection to clear up. The vet can ask for a yearly examination and evaluation of the dog for the presence of Lyme disease. As discussed earlier, some dogs might test positive and not show symptoms.

    Yet another revolutionary approach for Lyme treatment is Ozone therapy! Ozone therapy has been in existence for many decades, but it has gained significance in recent years. Ozone therapy helps promote overall wellness and treat different diseases, even chronic ones. Ozone is found to be effective in the 

    .

    Even pets can benefit from ozone therapy. Ozone therapy can help in the treatment of Lyme disease by decreasing swelling, pain, and inflammation. It also activates the immune system and can help treat joints, wounds, and ligament issues in dogs. Ozone therapy is also effective in treating a virus, fungi, and bacterial infection, and Lyme is a type of bacterial infection.

    Ozone is natural and sustainable and reduces the overuse of antibiotics or drugs. Ozone treatment can also be given along with antibiotics for faster and lasting results. Vet clinics strive to stay ahead in medical technology, and ozone therapy is one of the ways to do it.

    If you are wondering how ozone can help your pet, it is to be known that ozone is a beneficial therapy for animals. It adds oxygen to the tissue to promote microcirculation and infusing more oxygen into the body helps combat inflammation.

    There are different methods of ozone administration.

    • The ozone can be percolated in the saline fluids, which can be used as flush via rectum, nose, mouth, enema, IV, etc.
    • Ozone can be infused into the olive oil with/ without the essential oils.
    • It can be administered as a gas with a catheter.
    • It can be injected into joints.

    Yet another method is BBT, wherein blood is infused with ozone and exposed to UV rays in a crystal cuvette. It can be used for treating your pets. Ozone therapy has been used for more than 100 years for animal healing, and it has been gaining more popularity over the years.

    Prevention Is the Best Protection

    Ticks are not only found in the woods but also present in the backyards of urban homes. It can be a great idea to keep the grass short and the shrubs trimmed as ticks prefer long grass, which will minimize the hiding places for ticks. The vet might also suggest a tablet that can kill fleas and ticks for at least 3 months.

    Ticks can sustain year-round, especially in the warmer regions. The vet will suggest recommendations for protection from the tick. You can also ask the vet for a Lyme disease vaccine for dogs to protect your dogs. The vaccine is easily available in vet clinics, especially in regions where Lyme disease occurrence is more common!

    Many pet owners wonder what is Lyme disease in dogs, but now with the information mentioned above, it can be easy for them to understand the symptoms and get it treated with ozone.

    Leave a Comment

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Scroll to Top