Lyme disease also known as Borreliosis is a condition transmitted by ticks with dogs and cats throughout the world being susceptible to contracting the disease.
Causes Dogs contract the disease through being bitten by ticks carrying the bacteria responsible namely Borrelia. The risk is heightened when ticks are not removed as quickly as possible and when a tick is not removed safely which sees a tick's head being left under a dog's skin. Symptoms The symptoms to watch out for are as follows:
Diagnosis A vet would thoroughly examine a dog suspected of suffering from Lyme disease and would ask whether any ticks had recently been removed. They would ideally need to know a dog's full medical history and how the onset of any symptoms first presented themselves. The tests they would carry out are as follows:
The vet might also recommend drawing some fluid from a dog's joint if they are painful and swollen. Treatment Treatment options depend on how far the condition has progressed and whether the bacteria has entered into a dog's blood stream. If caught early enough dogs can be treated as outpatients with vets prescribing a course of specific antibiotics. Prognosis Providing a dog is diagnosed correctly and treated sooner rather than later, the prognosis is good with dogs showing signs of recovery over the course of a few days. Should a dog's condition be worse, it can prove challenging to treat them and the damage caused to joints and internal organs cannot be reversed which means a dog would need ongoing veterinary treatment and care. A dog suspected of suffering from Lyme disease needs immediate veterinary treatment to prevent unnecessary pain and suffering.
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