Lyme disease, also known as Lyme Boreliosis in dogs is caused by bacteria of the Borrelia type. These bacteria are transmitted to canines via an infected deer tick. For the spread of this disease, the tick must be attached to the host for 36-48 hours. Lyme disease is the most common threat among the pet owners of USA. The prime reason of worrying is that very few can detect the symptoms of this disease at an early stage. To make things simpler and easier, we have listed here the five most common clinical symptom of Lyme disease in dogs. Let’s have a look!
- Limping and issues with flexibility
Canines are found to limp when infected with this tick borne disease. You may see the following signs in your pet: Shifting the limbs, intolerance for exercise, discomfort while moving, excessive lying down and joint inflammation. If your pooch is too young for these signs, get him checked for Lyme disease and start the treatment as soon as possible.
- Fatigue
Dogs infected with Lyme disease become more lethargic. They do not move from where they rest and lack enthusiasm even for their favorite games. This symptom may be the result of immune system constantly fighting the Lyme disease bacteria.
- Hyperthermia
As the immune system is busy in fighting the bacteria of this disease, the dog feels out of energy. This causes a rise in the body temperature of the infected canine. Dog’s normal body temperature (100 to 102.5 F) rises constantly. This may lead to lack of appetite, increase in water consumption and increase in urine output in dogs.
- Digestive tract upset
Hyperthermia induces lack of appetite in canines. Thus, the infected pooch may start have very less amount of food or may completely ignore the meals. Less intake of food may upset the digestive tract in dogs which brings side effects like diarrhea, vomiting, renal failure and other health problems.
- Polydypsia and Polyuria
Increase in body temperature causes these conditions of high water intake and increased urinal discharge in dogs. With an imbalance in these activities, the chances of kidney failure become quite high.
Untreated Lyme disease can deteriorate the infected dog’s health conditions and may even result into death. Thus it is important for pet parents to keep treating the canines with treatments like Frontline Plus to safeguard the pets from Lyme disease. Watch out for these signs and contact your vet immediately if seen any of them for a long time.
