Lyme Disease in Dogs Dr. Brenda Taddeo Sully Animal Hospital By Dr. Brenda Taddeo Sully Animal Hospital 5095 Westfields Blvd Centrevile VA 20121
What is Lyme Disease? A spirochete (bacteria) species of the Borrelia burgdorferi group isTransmitted by the Tick. Two main ticks that can transmit lyme disease to the dog is DEER TICK and the Westerin BLACK LEGGED TICK The tick transmits lyme dz by taking a blood meal and be attached for 18hrs Deer tick top, Black legged tick bottom
Transmisson By the Deer tick and westerin blacklegged tick – Not just the deer tick – many people believe it is only by the deer tick. Ticks don’t just transmit lyme disease, dogs can also get rocky mtn spotted fever, ehrlichia, anaplasmosis Zoonotic – Means When Humans get sick from a disease they caught from a bug or other animal. ( Lyme disease is by the Tick) NOT THE DOG.
WWW.Dogsandticks.com Great site to show you the prevelance in your area and about tick borne diseases– jus type your zip code in
DEER TICK/Black leg tick vs Western Black legged tick Both Transmitts Lyme disease and ANAPLASMOSIS Ticks and Coinfection – Can carry more then one disease
Cats can get lyme disease. (We do not see it very often in cats)
Signs of Lyme Disease Three Catagories 1) sub-clinical – No signs but have been exposed CDC reports that 95% of dogs do not have symptoms 2) Clinical – Limping, Fever, lethargy, (no Skin rash or bulleyes), While a “bull’s eye” rash at the site of the tick bite is common with human Lyme disease infection, dogs have no such indicator. 3) Severe clinic infection -Lyme Nephritis - severe and fatal kidney failure
. Symptoms and Types In general, symptoms in dogs are difficult to detect and may not appear until several months after infection
Lyme Disease There’s simply no way for pet owners to tell if a tick is carrying disease or not, and it only takes one tick bite to infect your dog. Owners may not even seen a tick on there dog What’s common among all vector-borne disease, however, is that symptoms can be vague and difficult to recognize. Or can mimick each other. (anaplasmosis)
Clinical Signs Kidney disease appears to be more prevalent in Labrador retrievers, golden retrievers, and Bernese Mountain dogs Often many pet owners don’t know their dog is suffering from a debilitating tick disease until it’s too lat
How do we Diagnosis Lyme Disease? Veterinary Clinic 4dx plus snap test Can tell you with in 10mins a positive antibody to Lyme, erhlichia, anaplasmosis, or heartworm disease Test for tick borne diseases yearly, at clinical signs occur or if you noticed a tick on your dog then a 4dx test being done 3 weeks to 3 months after exposure.
4dx test
Veterinary C6 Test Blood sent to a specific Lab To confirm if they have a true active infection of lyme disease May have to do this more expensive test after doing a 4dx test to confirm lyme active infection Other test may need to be done if Lyme Positive – Cbc, Chemistry panel, and Urinalysis
3) Side effects – upset stomach Treatment 1) Doxycycline – Is the main treatment and done for 30days. For all stages of doxycycline 2) Some of our more severe cases may need to be hospitalized, with Fluids, and supportive care 3) Side effects – upset stomach
How do we protect Pets? Lyme Vaccine – works as long as given and up dated yearly Many products work – It depends on how fast the tick is killed that matters. Topical – Tick products, like frontline, parastar, vectra 3d, advantix Oral products Like Bravecto and Nexgard Collar – Seresto Most products work by killing the tick, many if any repel the tick Use it Year round – our Winters are not cold enough and long enough to kill ticks
Protecting your pet continued Check them over by using a baby cloth to run over face and feet to knock off any ticks Using a tick key – never use your hands – always were gloves
Home protection for pets and Humans www.backyardbugpatrol.com
Good internet sites to visit www.dogsandticks.com www.Pethealthnetwork.com www.VeterinaryPartner.com Great sources of Good Veterinary Advice vs Dr. Google
Any Questions!