Lyme
Disease
by Carla D=
ouple,
DVM
** Permission = of author is required for use of this article.**
Spring, summer, and fall are great
times to enjoy the outdoors with our pets. Hiking, camping, fishing and swi=
mming
are just a few of the activities our pets may join us on, BUT so do the BUG=
S.
One of those bugs in particular can make both pets and owners very sick. Ly=
me
disease is a tick-transmitted disease caused by a spiro=
chete
bacteria named Borrelia burg=
dorferi.
This has been a particularly bad year for high numbers of ticks which has l=
ead
to increased cases of Lyme disease in both humans and pets.
Not all ticks carry Lyme disease. T=
he
tiny hardshell tick called Ixodes or the deer tick is the culprit. The juve=
nile
phases of this tick first feeds on white footed mice and pick-up the Lyme
spirochete bacteria. As the ticks mature, they begin feeding on deer, and o=
ther
mammals including dogs and humans. Once the deer tick has been attached to a
dog for approximately twenty-four hours, it begins to vomit the Lyme bacter=
ia
into the host. While not all dogs exposed to the Lyme bacteria will become
sick, significant numbers go on to develop infection resulting in mild to
severe disease.
Signs of Lyme disease can be mild a=
nd
vague to sudden and severe. Humans may first develop a “bulls-eyeR=
21;
type rash at the area of the tick bite, but this reaction is rare in dogs, =
and
if present, often hidden by the hair coat. The most common presentation of =
Lyme
disease in dogs is a sudden arthritis developing frequently with one or more
swollen and painful joints. Fever, lack of appetite, swollen lymph nodes, a=
nd
depression can also occur. Other cases present with general malaise and
weakness with the dogs appearing to be “walking on eggshells.” =
The
signs of Lyme disease may come and go, but long-term irreversible damage may
occur to joints, muscle, and nervous tissue, if a diagnosis and treatment of
Lyme disease is never made. More serious and potentially deadly signs of Ly=
me disease
can include cardiac and neurological damage, as well as fatal kidney failur=
e.
Because the clinical signs of Lyme
disease can easily be misdiagnosed as simple osteo-arthritis, hip dysplasia=
or
aging, the disease can often go without proper treatment for a long time. T=
he
diagnosis can be difficult, and your veterinarian may choose to do blood te=
sts
to look for an antibody reaction to the Lyme spirochete within the blood
stream. He or she may also sample joint fluids to differentiate a swollen j=
oint
from other diseases, infections, or trauma that might cause similar signs.
Additional tick diseases such as Rocky Mountain Spotted=
Fever
and tick born blood parasites also may be tested for at the same time. Test=
ing
can cost from $75 to $200 to determine a diagnosis.
Lyme disease is treatable with vari=
ous
antibiotics, but the dose and length of treatment is uncertain. Routine cas=
es
may be on antibiotics for two to three weeks. Long-term cases or complicated
cases may need antibiotics for months, and relapses may occur.
The best approach to protecting your
pets from Lyme disease is prevention of tick exposure. This doesn’t h=
ave
to mean no outdoor play since excellent tick control products are available.
Fipronil, the product contained in Frontline Top Spot is an excellent ti=
ck
killer. Fipronil kills ticks before they can remain attached long enoug=
h to
transmit disease. The drug, when applied correctly, provides one month of f=
lea
and tick prevention making it an excellent choice for ectoparasite control.=
The
product is very safe for both the pet and family in contact with the pet.
Fipronil should be applied to the skin behind the neck. It spreads through =
the
oils on the coat and settles in the sebaceous oil glands of the skin, so it=
is
constantly being reapplied to the skin and stays effective even if your dog=
is
bathed or goes swimming. For best results, your dog shouldn’t be bath=
ed
for four days before or after application to ensure the product has a chanc=
e to
spread over the entire coat.
Other tick control products include
amitraz collars (Preventic collar) and Deet. Amitraz does not repel fleas a=
nd
both of these products can be toxic if ingested. Both of these products are
removed with water, but with proper use, they can also be effective tick
control.
Finally, a vaccine for Lyme disease=
is
available. It must be given as a two-dose vaccine the first year and follow=
ed
by yearly boosters. The vaccine is only estimated to be 80% effective, so it
should not be used as the sole protection for Lyme disease; however, it giv=
es you
pets extra protection when combined with tick control. Again, since other
diseases and bacteria can be spread by ticks, it is very important that tick
prevention is used to give your pet broad protection.
So go outside and enjoy the outdoors
with your Dobermans. Be smart and protect both you and your pets with good =
tick
prevention.
©
2006 Carla Douple, DVM. All rights reserved. For permission to reprint cont=
act
author at