Ticks transmit Lyme disease, which is the most commonly diagnosed tick-borne illness in the United States. Learn to protect your pet from this debilitating disease by reading our Central Kentucky Veterinary Center team’s guide to Lyme disease facts and prevention.

Lyme disease basics for pet owners

The Ixodes scapularis tick—the black-legged (i.e., deer) tick—transmits Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacterium that causes Lyme disease. The disease was first identified in the Northeast, but in the past 20 years, the deer tick population has spread westward and southward, making the condition rampant throughout the eastern half of the United States. White-tailed deer provide a healthy supply of hosts for the parasites. Ticks are most commonly infected as juveniles when they take a blood meal from an infected wild animal. About 30,000 to 40,000 cases of Lyme disease in humans are reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) every year; however, reported cases are estimated to represent only about 10% of the actual infection number. We can assume that our canine friends share the same Lyme disease risk factors. According to Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) data, an estimated one million U.S. dogs are positive for Lyme disease. 

Lyme disease signs in pets

Only about 10% of infected dogs exhibit infection signs, but subclinical issues, such as arthritis affecting multiple joints or arterial inflammation, may occur in the other 90%. A human typically develops signs, including a bull’s-eye rash, within 7 days after infection, but a dog’s signs usually manifest weeks or months after they have experienced an infected tick’s bite. When a pet exhibits Lyme disease signs, they can include:

  • Uncomplicated Lyme disease — Most signs are nonspecific such as lethargy, depression, shifting-leg lameness, decreased appetite, and low-grade fever.
  • Lyme nephritis — In some cases, Lyme disease can lead to progressive kidney damage, which comes on rapidly. One study demonstrated that Lyme disease-positive dogs were 43% more likely to develop kidney disease than those who tested negative.
  • Other manifestations — In rare cases, dogs can develop cardiac and neurologic problems.

While cats living in areas where Lyme disease is prevalent frequently test positive for the disease, they rarely exhibit signs. Lyme disease in cats is still poorly understood.

Lyme disease diagnosis in pets

If your dog is exhibiting Lyme disease signs, you should schedule an appointment with your Central Kentucky Veterinary Center veterinarian. They may perform one or more of these diagnostic tests:

  • Lyme snap test — We will perform this quick, in-house test, which provides a simple positive or negative result.
  • Lyme assay — If your dog’s Lyme snap test is positive, or if we want to verify the results, we will recommend a Lyme assay, which can distinguish between acute and chronic infection, quantify the antibody response, and distinguish between infection and the presences of vaccine antibodies.
  • Routine blood work — Our team will also perform a complete blood count (CBC) and biochemistry profile to assess your pet’s overall health, and rule out other conditions.
  • Urinalysis — Because Lyme disease can lead to kidney damage, our team may run a urinalysis to evaluate your pet’s kidney health.
  • X-rays — If your dog is exhibiting lameness, we may recommend performing an X-ray of the affected limb to check for orthopedic abnormalities.

Lyme disease screening in pets

The American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) recommends testing dogs who live in or have recently traveled to a Lyme disease-prevalent area. During your pet’s annual wellness exam, your veterinarian will typically perform Lyme disease testing—when they test your furry pal for heartworms—which helps our team identify Lyme disease-positive dogs so we can monitor them for signs and screen them for kidney complications. 

Lyme disease treatment in pets

Lyme disease, as well as other tick-borne diseases, typically respond to a particular 30-day antibiotic treatment. Most dogs exhibit improvement shortly after treatment starts, but in some cases, signs return when the antibiotic course has been completed. Dogs who have Lyme nephritis require extensive supportive care and have a poorer prognosis than those who have uncomplicated Lyme disease.

Lyme disease prevention in pets

Although Lyme disease treatment is available, prevention is best. Lyme disease prevention strategies include:

  • Tick preventive products — Pets should receive year-round tick preventive products. Ticks are hardy creatures and can actively seek their next meal when temperatures are as low as 35 degrees. You should always ensure your pet receives their routine preventive year-round.
  • Tick checks — After outings, check your pet and yourself for ticks. Ticks can attach anywhere on your pet, but they commonly hide around your furry pal’s ears and eyes, under their tail and collar, and in areas such as their armpits, feet, and groin.
  • Tick removal — If you find a tick on your pet, remove the parasite as soon as possible. Follow these tick-removal tips:
    • Use clean, fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to your pet’s skin surface as possible.
    • Pull upward with steady, even pressure, and avoid twisting or jerking the tick.
    • Place the tick in alcohol, so you can identify the species later.
    • After removing the tick, clean the bite area using soap and water.
  • Strategic outings — When planning an outing, avoid wooded areas, weedy trails, and marshes, where ticks commonly live.
  • Lyme vaccine — A Lyme vaccine is available for dogs, and our team can help determine if your dog is a good candidate, which depends on their lifestyle and disease risk.

Lyme disease is prevalent, but you can safeguard your pet by taking the necessary precautions.  Schedule an appointment with our Central Kentucky Veterinary Center team to have your dog vaccinated for this infectious disease, or for your pet’s annual wellness examination.