Unfortunately, Lyme disease is becoming more and more prevalent in the United States in both humans and pets. Veterinarians are seeing increased numbers of dogs and cats with the telltale signs, from limping to near paralysis.  If not treated within a week of contraction, curing Lyme disease can be a difficult and frightening battle.

 Lyme disease is carried by ticks in the Ixodes family.  It was first documented in Lyme, Connecticut, but is now seen in every state in America.  In grass and wooded areas, small rodents such as mice and voles carry the corkscrew shaped spirochete bacteria called Borrelia Burgdorferi.  Tick larvae attach themselves to the rodents to feed on their blood.  The Borrelia Burgdorferi bacteria is transmitted to the tick larvae, multiplying rapidly inside the tick.  The tick larvae becomes dormant in the winter while infected with the bacteria.  In the spring, this young tick will attach itself to larger animals - easily targeting your dog or cat as it walks by.

Young deer ticks, part of the Ixodes family, are so tiny you will not even see them on your pet.  Your dog or cat can be contracting the disease through the tick without you ever knowing it.  As the tick is attached to your pet (the host), the bacteria will transmit from the tick to your animal.  Normally, the bacteria will not be transferred until the tick has been feeding for about ten hours.  But again, this tiny tick can be on your dog or cat for days without you ever having seen it.

This is a picture of an adult deer tick.  Remember, nymph deer ticks are smaller than the head of a pin and can be completely undetectable on a dog or cat.

Although more dogs contract Lyme Disease than cats, both are susceptible to this illness.  Symptoms may include:

• Loss of neuromuscular function.  This usually begins in the back and moves forward.  The first signs may be a limp in the back leg, progressing to all the legs in as little as three days.

• Fatigue

• Loss of Appetite

• Lethargy

• Paralysis

• Pain in muscles and joints.

• Fever

Serious cases of Lyme Disease can cause paralysis as well as muscle and heart tissue damage, possibly resulting in death.  If your dog or cat forms a limp, have it seen immediately to rule out Lyme Disease.  Treatment should begin in the first week of the disease for the greatest chance of success in curing the animal.

 Treatment of Lyme Disease in your pet must begin in the first week for the best possible outcome in curing your animal!  It is unfortunate that many animals with Lyme Disease will not even be diagnosed within that short timeframe.  Early diagnosis is critical, but is easily missed.  Dogs and cats can be tested for Lyme Disease, but unfortunately, animals who have this illness can have negative test results.  Also, there are dogs and cats that show no symptoms whatsoever that will correctly test positive for Lyme Disease.  If you suspect your dog or cat has Lyme Disease, seek out a veterinarian that is knowledgeable in this disease.  Your vet will test the animal - but remember, the test may turn out negative when your pet actually has the disease.  A good veterinarian will look for classic Lyme Disease symptoms while ruling out other problems - despite a negative test result.  If there is any chance your dog or cat could have Lyme Disease, it should be treated immediately.

Treatment for Lyme Disease normally involves a long round of antibiotics.  Amoxicillin, Tetracycline or Doxycycline are the most commonly used drugs to treat Lyme Disease in dogs and cats.  Animals used to be treated for three weeks - but studies now show the dog or cat MUST be treated for at least three weeks AFTER ALL SYMPTOMS OF LYME DISEASE HAVE SUBSIDED.  It was found that animals only treated for three weeks were not cured and shortly presented the same symptoms of Lyme Disease.  If your pet has any symptoms of Lyme Disease, the bacteria is still present in the animal.

 First and foremost, obtain a flea and tick medication from your veterinarian such as Frontline Plus and K9 Advantix.  If you live in a wooded or grassy area, you should ask about keeping your animal on this year round.  There are currently three vaccinations for dogs to help prevent Lyme Disease.  Unfortunately, there are currently no Lyme Disease vaccinations available for cats.  If you have a dog that is exposed to grass, woods or sand, please consider vaccinating him or her against Lyme Disease - an illness known for it's great destruction and difficulty in treating and curing.

Non-toxic yard sprays are available commercially.  If your dog or cat runs in any grassy or wooded areas, consider spraying with one of these non-toxic products.  Brush your pet's fur before you let the animal indoors.  Inspect your animal every evening for ticks - looking extremely closely for tiny dots no bigger than the head of a pin.  Remove ticks immediately. 

To safely remove a tick, use tweezers and place them on the head of the tick, as close to the animal's skin as possible.  Gently pull, making sure the head is intact with the body once it is removed.  If the head or a portion of it remains in the animal, take it to a veterinarian right away.  Keep the tick in a labeled bag for at least two weeks before disposing of it, as the tick can be tested for Lyme Disease if your animal's test is negative.  While waiting for test results on the tick, your animal should already be placed on antibiotics.