Lyme Disease and Dogs – What You Need to Know

Lyme disease and dogs – something to consider if you live in or travel to parts of the country where it is endemic. But do not worry. We have all the information you need to protect your dog.

Catch Lyme disease

Lyme disease is caused by bacteria carried by deer ticks (also called blacklegged ticks). And deer ticks are tiny! On average, they are about 3 millimeters wide. That’s about the size of a sesame seed.

When walking through the woods or through tall grass, these tiny threats hitch a ride on your dog. When they bite your puppy to feed on his blood, the bacteria travel through your dog’s bloodstream. Once there, the bacteria travels throughout the body. It causes problems in specific organs or joints as well as general illnesses.

Your dog can carry the bacteria in his body between two and five months before showing symptoms. Believe me, Lyme is one souvenir you don’t want to bring home from your vacation.

Symptoms of Lyme Disease in Dogs

Most dogs show no symptoms after contracting the bacteria that causes Lyme disease. Others have swollen and painful joints, lameness, weakness, lethargy, loss of appetite or fever.

Lyme can also cause kidney and heart problems, but this is rare. And severe symptoms tend to appear when the animal has had the disease for a long time. But, in the worst case, extreme cases can be fatal.

Symptoms, if they appear, may appear suddenly. And it’s easy to attribute joint stiffness to arthritis, especially if you have an older dog.

But Lyme stiffness can move from joint to joint. So if your dog is lame right one day and left lame the next after visiting an area where Lyme disease is common, you may want to ask your vet for a blood test.

Where Lyme is Common

Lyme disease is most commonly diagnosed in the Middle Atlantic, New England, and Upper Midwest. It also appears to be increasing in the Pacific Northwest.

LEARN MORE ⇒ Best things to do with dogs in New England

Treatment for dogs with Lyme disease

The typical treatment for Lyme disease is a course of antibiotics. A common choice is doxycycline.

Unfortunately, this parasite is very good at hiding in the body, so you can’t count on the dog’s recovery after treatment. Symptoms may return months or years later. You will therefore need to be aware of the possibility of flare-ups.

Can you catch Lyme disease from your dog?

Lyme disease cannot be transmitted directly from your dog to you. However, if a tick bites your dog and then bites you, you may be infected.

LEARN MORE ⇒ Can you hike the Appalachian Trail with a dog?

Protecting your dog from Lyme disease

When traveling with your pets, it helps to do some research on the types of pests you might encounter and to be prepared.

Before you leave

Several vaccines are available for canine Lyme disease, although all vaccines carry their own risks. Deciding whether or not to vaccinate your pet is definitely a conversation to have with your veterinarian.

There are also a number of flea and tick preventative products on the market. Most of my research claims to kill ticks within 48 hours of contact with your treated animal. According to the American Lyme Disease Foundation, ticks begin transmitting disease an average of 36 to 48 hours after attaching, so treating your pet will reduce their risk of infection, although this is not a guarantee.

If your dog is sensitive to conventional flea and tick preventatives, try a natural insect repellent.

Avoiding Lyme While Traveling

While hiking, encourage your dog to stay on the trails. The more unmaintained areas they explore, the more likely they are to pick up ticks.

Every day you should brush your dog. Then follow up the next day with a thorough check for any little buggers you may have missed. It is easier to find ticks on dogs with light fur and short coats. So spend more time spending on your puppies with double coats or dark fur.

If you find that a tick has bitten your dog, it is important to remove it carefully. We have found the best method is to use a tick twister (Amazon). You can even buy a tick remover (Amazon) to put on your key ring.

LEARN MORE ⇒ Bedbugs on Dogs and Cats – Should You Be Worried?

Protect yourself from ticks

While watching your dog, remember to protect yourself as well. Treat your clothing and hiking gear with products containing 0.5% permethrin (Amazon). Tuck your pant legs into your socks to prevent ticks from getting under your clothes.

The CDC also recommends applying DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE), para-menthane-diol (PMD), or 2-undecanone to repel ticks. .

And don’t forget to check yourself and your human hiking partners for ticks as well. Especially on the back of the knees, in the hair, behind the ears and anywhere there is a good hiding place for pesky ticks.

Don’t Let Lyme Disease Affect Your Dog

May is Lyme Awareness Month. As you prepare for summer adventures with your pup, be sure to protect your dog (and yourself) from Lyme disease. Why let a small stroller ruin your fun?

Visit our Amazon store to learn more about the products we rely on to make traveling with pets easier, safer and more fun!

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