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.
Showing posts with label Lyme Disease Cats. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lyme Disease Cats. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 24, 2014
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.
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