How to Detect Lyme Disease in Dogs

Lyme disease results from a bacterial infection of B. burgdorferi, which can be passed on to animals and humans alike via certain species of tick. For this reason, if you live in an area with ticks, you should familiarize yourself with how to prevent and treat ticks and how to identify what Lyme disease looks like on dogs.

Where do ticks live?

Ticks carrying Lyme disease live in every state. However, a higher concentration can be found along the Northeast coast and the Upper Midwest. (Click here to view an interactive map on Lyme disease incidence.) These insects live in areas with tall grasses, thick bushes, and trees. Since ticks generally pass on Lyme disease 36-48 hours after attaching themselves to their host (aka your poor pup), it’s important to know where your dog will likely encounter ticks. (If you’re concerned about your dog getting fleas while going to the bathroom, consider trying a dog lawn. If you use this link, you can get a deal for two months of unlimited access to veterinarians through AskVet along with a DoggieLawn dog lawn for your pup.)

I found a tick on my dog. Can he give me Lyme disease?

While humans can also get Lyme disease, your dog cannot directly give you Lyme disease. Rather, the tick on your dog can crawl over to you and give you Lyme disease. This means when you see a tick on your dog, you need to act quickly for both your and your pet’s safety.

What are the signs of Lyme disease?

If you live in an area with endemic Lyme disease, about 50% of dogs are estimated to be infected. Unfortunately, Lyme disease is fairly common in dogs. If you’re concerned about Lyme disease, be on the lookout for any of the following symptoms:

• Fatigue
• Fever
• Loss of appetite
• Swollen joints and/or lymph nodes
• Stiffness, discomfort, and/or pain

Can you test for Lyme disease?

Luckily, you can test for Lyme disease. You’ll need to bring your dog to a veterinarian who will perform a blood test for any C6 antibodies no sooner than 4 weeks after the tick bite. Due to the chances of false positives and false negatives, your veterinarian may follow up with a QC6 test to see the level of antibodies and see if antibiotics are necessary. Other tests may be performed, but they are less common.

How can you treat Lyme disease?

If after the tests have been taken and your veterinarian recommends treatment, your dog will likely receive a 30-day antibiotic treatment. Symptoms should relieve quickly after the treatment starts, but sometimes additional antibiotic treatments may be necessary. Additional treatment may also be necessary to help with some symptoms.

Protecting your dog from Lyme disease not only provides more comfort for your dog but extends its life too. Check out more of our blog to learn how often you should take your dog. to the vet and additional ways to extend your dog’s life.