How to Recognize Lyme Disease in Dogs

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection caused by a microbe called Borrelia burgdorferi. It is carried by certain ticks, most commonly the deer tick and black-legged tick, and is transmitted to humans and dogs through their bites.

The classic symptoms of Lyme disease in dogs are somewhat different from signs of infection in humans. If you ever take your dog to woods or fields where ticks live, here are steps you can take to spot Lyme disease.

Instructions

1. Look for joint pain and tenderness, as this is the number one symptom of canine Lyme disease. A dog can start to limp on one of its front legs in as little as a 3 hours following an infection. Eventually, all limbs will be affected to the point where your dog doesn't want to move. Swollen lymph nodes may also occur with the joint pain.

   If your dog is not arthritic and you notice a sudden change in the way your dog moves, especially after being in the woods, take your dog to the vet immediately

2. Fever above 103 degrees Fahrenheit is another sign of Lyme disease in dogs. If your dog develops a sudden fever in addition to the symptoms above, it may be from this tick-borne disease.

3. 

   Check for deer ticks if you live near the east coast, and black-legged ticks if you live near the west coast. Deer ticks in the nymph statge are more likely to carry Lyme disease than adult ticks. Unfortunately, baby ticks are very difficult to see, so check your dog with a fine tooth comb--literally!

   If you see any suspicious ticks, and your dog has either of the other symptoms, see a vet

4. The symptoms of Lyme disease can mimic symptoms of other diseases, but the infection progresses very quickly in canines. Because of this, your vet won't wait for the blood test results to get back before giving your dog antibiotics. Luckily, Lyme disease can be managed easily if it is diagnosed on time.