Treat Lyme Disease
Lyme borreliosis is a vector-borne disease that accrues consequent to a tick bite. The causative agent is a bacterium known as spirochete. Spirochete bacterium is mainly found in such animals as deer and mice. To diagnose the Lyme disease doctors refer to physical symptoms like rashes, laboratory testing especially in developed stages of the disease and a patient's admission of exposure to any infected ticks.
In Northeastern United States and some parts of the upper Midwestern, have mice and deer. These are the main infected animals hosting ticks especially in late spring through summer to early fall. Consequently, most incidences of Lyme disease occur in these regions of the US.
If Lyme disease is left untreated for long, chances of recurrence are greater and one can develop some serious complications. Nevertheless, if treatment is initiated early enough, it can be treated with a complete resolution of all the symptoms. The following are ways in which you can treat Lyme disease.
The first step in treating Lyme disease is using a series of specific antibiotics as prescribed by the diagnosing physician. The most common antibiotics a physician may prescribe include amoxicillin, doxycycline and cefuroxime axetil. These antibiotics are usually prescribed prophylactically immediately a tick bite has been noted, with the dosage going for about 10 days.
Some physicians will then administer further antibiotics like Rocephin, via an intravenous line. This is especially the case when a patient's nervous system has been affected by the time Lyme disease is diagnosed.
There is need to exercise caution when treating Lyme disease among pregnant women. The re is need to determine the appropriate antibiotics administered since studies have shown there is a chance of a pregnant mother transferred the Lyme disease to a fetus, This may further complicate the pregnancy. Physicians will direct the ideal drugs to be used to ensure that the disease is treated and that the fetus is also safe.
In most cases where the Lyme disease has affected the joints and probable inflicted an arthritic condition, physicians use cortisone injections. The best way of noting such complications is when a patient has swollen joints. Again, the physician will prescribe oral medication like ibuprofen, to curb pain, reduce the joint swelling and improve a patient's mobility.
The rash that indicates infection of Lyme disease, especially in children, should disappear within days after the antibiotic treatment is initiated. The condition should however be tested before one is declared fully treated to avoid reoccurrence.
Showing posts with label Canine Lyme Disease. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Canine Lyme Disease. Show all posts
Sunday, June 29, 2014
Tuesday, June 24, 2014
Lyme Disease Dogs
Lyme Disease Dogs
Lyme disease is a tick borne disease that affects animals and dogs are not in any way exempt. The disease is also known in scientific terms as borreliosis and is transmitted by the borrelia burgdorferi, a type of bacteria commonly found in ticks. The disease is also known to affect human beings. The disease is more prevalent in dogs and other animals including wild animals. It is however interesting to note that the disease is not transmitted form one person to the next nor is it passed from human being directly to another human being. The main risk therefore of staying with an infected animal in close proximity is the fact that a tick that is attached to such an animal may drop off before it has had its fill. In such a situation, it would automatically seek another host to get its fill. If the former host was had been infected, then the same tick will transmit the disease causing bacteria to the next host.
Naturally, ticks do not jump from one animal to another unless they have been forced to. If an animal therefore remains with the tick until it gets its fill, the chances are that such a tick will eventually falloff and die a natural death. If this happens in this style then the disease cannot be transmitted to another victim.
How do dogs catch Lyme disease?
Just like any other animals, if dogs get bitten by the carrier ticks, the result is automatic infection. The risk of transmit ion from one animal to another is further increased if the animals are confined together in one kennel or housing. Dogs living together give the carrier ticks a better chance of falling off from one animal to the next especially as they spend most of their time together. Under such circumstances, it is normal to get an entire group of animals suffering from the disease.
Symptoms of Lyme disease in dogs
The symptoms of Lyme disease in animals may take quite a long time to manifest. Clinical tests have proved that a dog bitten by the carrier tick may take as long as five months to show tangible signs that can be noticeable. Depending on the dog in question's immune system, the symptoms may show much earlier as from abut two months after the bite. Some of the most common signs in an infected dog would include lameness, great loss of appetite and lethargy. Others mostly develop very high fevers with temperature rises of up to 105 degrees. In some rare cases, the infected dogs may experience serious kidney problems which may even lead to death if not checked in time.
Lyme disease is a tick borne disease that affects animals and dogs are not in any way exempt. The disease is also known in scientific terms as borreliosis and is transmitted by the borrelia burgdorferi, a type of bacteria commonly found in ticks. The disease is also known to affect human beings. The disease is more prevalent in dogs and other animals including wild animals. It is however interesting to note that the disease is not transmitted form one person to the next nor is it passed from human being directly to another human being. The main risk therefore of staying with an infected animal in close proximity is the fact that a tick that is attached to such an animal may drop off before it has had its fill. In such a situation, it would automatically seek another host to get its fill. If the former host was had been infected, then the same tick will transmit the disease causing bacteria to the next host.
Naturally, ticks do not jump from one animal to another unless they have been forced to. If an animal therefore remains with the tick until it gets its fill, the chances are that such a tick will eventually falloff and die a natural death. If this happens in this style then the disease cannot be transmitted to another victim.
How do dogs catch Lyme disease?
Just like any other animals, if dogs get bitten by the carrier ticks, the result is automatic infection. The risk of transmit ion from one animal to another is further increased if the animals are confined together in one kennel or housing. Dogs living together give the carrier ticks a better chance of falling off from one animal to the next especially as they spend most of their time together. Under such circumstances, it is normal to get an entire group of animals suffering from the disease.
Symptoms of Lyme disease in dogs
The symptoms of Lyme disease in animals may take quite a long time to manifest. Clinical tests have proved that a dog bitten by the carrier tick may take as long as five months to show tangible signs that can be noticeable. Depending on the dog in question's immune system, the symptoms may show much earlier as from abut two months after the bite. Some of the most common signs in an infected dog would include lameness, great loss of appetite and lethargy. Others mostly develop very high fevers with temperature rises of up to 105 degrees. In some rare cases, the infected dogs may experience serious kidney problems which may even lead to death if not checked in time.
Lyme Disease Cats
Lyme Disease Cats
Lyme is a disease caused by a bacterium called Borrelia burgdorferi. It is spread by ticks which carry it, after biting mice of other animals which suffer from lyme. People can get infected if bitten by ticks.
The disease has three stages: primary lyme disease, secondary lyme disease and tertiary lyme disease. The risks of being infected increase if one holds animals which carry the disorder, if performing activities such as gardening or hiking and also by simply walking through grass. If a person gets infected he/she will have specific symptoms which include chills, fever, headaches or muscle pains. Sometimes joint inflammations or stiff neck are possible if the disease's stage is advanced.
Not every person who has been bitten by a tick can develop the lyme disease. It depends on everyone's immune system. The treatment includes use of antibiotics and close observation for a period of at least thirty days. There are some possible complications on advanced stages of the lyme disease that include: heart problems, nervous system damage such as sleep disorders, muscle paralysis, decreased concentration or pain.
Cats are also affected by the lyme disease. If you own a cat you should check it regularly to prevent the infestation. It is difficult to recognize whether your cat has been bitten or not, as the lyme can only be diagnosed if the owner finds ticks on the feline. Some animals don't have symptoms at all until 10 hours after being bitten. That's why it is imperative to remove the parasite as soon as possible, before it begins to suck the cat's blood. If infected, the cat looses its appetite and has stiff muscle or joints. Symptoms such fever, fatigue or sudden collapse is likely to appear.
Removing a tick from the cat requires maximum attention. If you have a cat which has been bitten, be sure you have removed the whole tick without leaving its head stuck in the flesh because this can cause abscess, getting infected. Treatment is efficient if started on time. Vets treat cats which have lyme disease with antibiotics such as amoxicillin, doxycycline or tetracycline. In order to avoid lyme disease, it is recommended to keep the animals indoors if possible. Even if the lyme disease is not life threatening it is more persistent in humans and dogs than cats. Unfortunately it can go undiagnosed for a very long time, causing discomforts if progresses untreated.
Lyme is a disease caused by a bacterium called Borrelia burgdorferi. It is spread by ticks which carry it, after biting mice of other animals which suffer from lyme. People can get infected if bitten by ticks.
The disease has three stages: primary lyme disease, secondary lyme disease and tertiary lyme disease. The risks of being infected increase if one holds animals which carry the disorder, if performing activities such as gardening or hiking and also by simply walking through grass. If a person gets infected he/she will have specific symptoms which include chills, fever, headaches or muscle pains. Sometimes joint inflammations or stiff neck are possible if the disease's stage is advanced.
Not every person who has been bitten by a tick can develop the lyme disease. It depends on everyone's immune system. The treatment includes use of antibiotics and close observation for a period of at least thirty days. There are some possible complications on advanced stages of the lyme disease that include: heart problems, nervous system damage such as sleep disorders, muscle paralysis, decreased concentration or pain.
Cats are also affected by the lyme disease. If you own a cat you should check it regularly to prevent the infestation. It is difficult to recognize whether your cat has been bitten or not, as the lyme can only be diagnosed if the owner finds ticks on the feline. Some animals don't have symptoms at all until 10 hours after being bitten. That's why it is imperative to remove the parasite as soon as possible, before it begins to suck the cat's blood. If infected, the cat looses its appetite and has stiff muscle or joints. Symptoms such fever, fatigue or sudden collapse is likely to appear.
Removing a tick from the cat requires maximum attention. If you have a cat which has been bitten, be sure you have removed the whole tick without leaving its head stuck in the flesh because this can cause abscess, getting infected. Treatment is efficient if started on time. Vets treat cats which have lyme disease with antibiotics such as amoxicillin, doxycycline or tetracycline. In order to avoid lyme disease, it is recommended to keep the animals indoors if possible. Even if the lyme disease is not life threatening it is more persistent in humans and dogs than cats. Unfortunately it can go undiagnosed for a very long time, causing discomforts if progresses untreated.
Monday, June 23, 2014
Canine Lyme Disease
Canine Lyme Disease
Canine Lyme disease is a disease that is caused by a minuscule bacterium known as Borrelia burgdorferi. This bacterium is difficult to find, considering the fact that even their carriers, deer ticks, are impossible to identify because they are tinier than the head of a pin.
These ticks grab onto dogs, and people, similar to all other ticks. After a period of one or two days, however, the victim's blood becomes too thick for the tick to drink it comfortably. At this point, the tick injects a substance that makes the victim's blood thinner and therefore makes it easier for the tick to drink. Therefore, the first one or two days are your window of opportunity to get rid of the ticks on your dog before he is infected with the disease.
After two days, there's no going back as your dog is most likely infected with the disease. Only ten to fifty percent of deer ticks actually carry this disease, but it might be more than that based on which part of the country you are located in, and they are still not good chances for your dog.
This bacterium lies dormant for many months and only then do the symptoms show. If your dog has recently run around a field during tick season, then these are some of the signs you need to keep an eye out for:
Fever
Lethargy
Painful, swollen joints
Swollen lymph nodes
Loss of appetite
If you find that your dog is showing any of the above symptoms, then be sure to tell his vet that your dog might have ticks, because these symptoms are signs of several different illnesses. Thankfully, today there is a simple way in which vets test for Canine Lyme disease and all they need is a blood sample from your dog.
There are many ways to prevent your dog contracting this disease in the first pace. You can use tick repellents and preventives to make sure that he doesn't get this disease, even if you cannot keep him out of areas that are infested with ticks. Your vet will most likely know what brands are best to use and how strong they need to be according to the area you live in.
Humans can't actually catch this disease from your dog, but the same ticks that are on his body can latch onto yours, and if it happens to be a disease-infected one, you could get the disease too. You should find it and get rid of it in time, or you will have Lyme disease.
Canine Lyme disease is a disease that is caused by a minuscule bacterium known as Borrelia burgdorferi. This bacterium is difficult to find, considering the fact that even their carriers, deer ticks, are impossible to identify because they are tinier than the head of a pin.
These ticks grab onto dogs, and people, similar to all other ticks. After a period of one or two days, however, the victim's blood becomes too thick for the tick to drink it comfortably. At this point, the tick injects a substance that makes the victim's blood thinner and therefore makes it easier for the tick to drink. Therefore, the first one or two days are your window of opportunity to get rid of the ticks on your dog before he is infected with the disease.
After two days, there's no going back as your dog is most likely infected with the disease. Only ten to fifty percent of deer ticks actually carry this disease, but it might be more than that based on which part of the country you are located in, and they are still not good chances for your dog.
This bacterium lies dormant for many months and only then do the symptoms show. If your dog has recently run around a field during tick season, then these are some of the signs you need to keep an eye out for:
Fever
Lethargy
Painful, swollen joints
Swollen lymph nodes
Loss of appetite
If you find that your dog is showing any of the above symptoms, then be sure to tell his vet that your dog might have ticks, because these symptoms are signs of several different illnesses. Thankfully, today there is a simple way in which vets test for Canine Lyme disease and all they need is a blood sample from your dog.
There are many ways to prevent your dog contracting this disease in the first pace. You can use tick repellents and preventives to make sure that he doesn't get this disease, even if you cannot keep him out of areas that are infested with ticks. Your vet will most likely know what brands are best to use and how strong they need to be according to the area you live in.
Humans can't actually catch this disease from your dog, but the same ticks that are on his body can latch onto yours, and if it happens to be a disease-infected one, you could get the disease too. You should find it and get rid of it in time, or you will have Lyme disease.
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