Lyme Disease in Dogs: Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention

Is your dog suddenly limping, eating less, and showing swollen joints? These could be signs of Lyme disease, even if the tick bite happened weeks or months ago. About 30% of ticks in Germany carry the pathogen. Here's an overview of the most important warning signs and protective measures.

What is Lyme disease?

Lyme disease, also called Lyme borreliosis, is a bacterial infectious disease. It can occur in both humans and animals.

An infected tick can only transmit the disease through a bite after roughly 16 to 24 hours. In the process, the pathogens called Borrelia enter the dog's blood and spread. Depending on which organs they reach, different symptoms can appear. But because these complaints can also be triggered by other illnesses, Lyme disease is hard to identify with certainty.

The disease is not directly contagious: it can't be passed from one dog to another or to humans. The tick that caused the Lyme disease can, however, move on to other living creatures and infect them too.

On average, about 30% of ticks in Germany carry the Borrelia bacteria, though this can vary by region. The pathogen isn't transmitted with every tick bite, and even when a dog has been infected, the disease often doesn't break out, because its immune system can fight off the bacteria on its own. Still, check your dog for ticks after every walk and remove them right away.

Course of the disease

In the first stretch after infection, the disease runs its course without symptoms. That's especially dangerous, because as a result it often isn't caught early enough. Watch your dog's behavior particularly closely after a tick bite.

Only rarely do dogs develop what's known as erythema migrans: a round patch of reddened skin around the tick bite that spreads over time. Unfortunately, this doesn't happen with every infection, and under the fur it's hard to spot.

The first inflammatory symptoms only appear after several months

Above all, this involves muscle and joint pain. The dog moves around less and may limp after lying down for a while. The large joints such as the elbows and knees are swollen and very sensitive to pain.

To spot swollen lymph nodes, palpate them regularly. If the lymph nodes below the ear, inside the lower jaw, in the armpit area, in front of the shoulder blade, or in the back of the knee feel noticeable and are sensitive to pain, that could be a sign of Lyme disease. A body temperature above 39 degrees Celsius is also cause for concern.

Changes in temperament as a sign

With an infection, the dog's temperament changes noticeably: it seems listless and apathetic, barely moves because of weakness, and eats less or refuses food.

The hallmark symptom of the disease is lameness in one or more limbs. This can also shift: for example, the left front leg one day, a different leg the next. Less commonly, heart problems or kidney disease occur. Spinal complaints can also appear, recognizable by a frequent "hunched back."

The most important symptoms summarized:

If some of these symptoms appear after a tick bite, go to the vet right away. The complaints come in flare-ups: there are phases without any complaints at all.

The disease's symptoms are nonspecific: not a single sign occurs exclusively with Lyme disease. That's why other causes usually can't be ruled out from the start.

No clear-cut diagnosis

The vet cannot confirm Lyme disease with 100% certainty. After all, there are many other possible causes that could produce these symptoms. Only once other illnesses have been ruled out can treatment for Lyme disease begin. This kind of diagnosis is also called a differential diagnosis.

Other causes of signs of paralysis could be, for example, arthritis or a hip malformation. Neurological symptoms could also be caused by meningitis. Inflammation of the heart muscle and kidney disease must be ruled out as well.

A blood test is advisable

This tests whether Borrelia antibodies are present in the blood. However, it can't be said with certainty that the symptoms are actually due to them: the infection may have occurred much earlier and the immune system fought the disease off on its own. In that case no symptoms would have appeared, but the antibodies are still present in the blood years later.

The diagnosis is further complicated by possible co-infections: diseases transmitted by the same tick. The symptoms of the accompanying illness and of Lyme disease can overlap and usually lead to a more severe course. Examples of co-infections are babesiosis, tick-borne encephalitis (TBE), and anaplasmosis.

Treatment

Treatment for Lyme disease can only begin once all other illnesses have been ruled out.

If the vet isn't yet sure whether the dog really has this disease, they will give antibiotics against the Borrelia bacteria on suspicion. If the complaints improve after a few days, you can most likely assume that the diagnosis is correct.

The treatment is lengthy and can drag on for several months. As a rule, the antibiotics are given for one month. With a gap of about 3 months in between, this procedure is repeated 4 to 5 times depending on how the symptoms improve.

For the complaints, the vet may recommend homeopathic, pain-relieving, or anti-inflammatory medication. Even though these can't cure the disease, they reduce the pain. During the treatment, don't do any exercise: the joints need to be spared, and plenty of rest is important.

After taking the antibiotics, stomach problems can occur. Probiotics like yogurt, antioxidants, and omega-3 fatty acids can give the stomach extra support.

A full recovery is possible

But it isn't always possible to fight off all the bacteria. The Borrelia that have lodged in the joints are especially stubborn, so a relapse can occur. Your dog then has to be treated with antibiotics again.

Even if the Lyme disease isn't fully cured, the dog goes several years without complaints and feels healthy. The treatment does not shorten its life expectancy.

6 tips for prevention

1. Tick repellent

During the warm seasons, protect your dog externally against ticks. Over-the-counter tick repellents are less effective than the ones from the vet: it's best to get advice from your vet. As a supplementary home remedy, coconut oil works well: the lauric acids it contains deter ticks and are harmless for dogs.

2. Vaccination

Vaccination against Lyme disease is possible, but controversial. It only works against certain Borrelia strains, not against all the ones found in the region. It's best to get advice from your vet on the pros and cons.

3. Check for ticks daily

During the warm seasons, check your dog thoroughly for ticks, ideally after every walk. After a mild winter, ticks can also be active earlier.

4. Remove the tick immediately

Borrelia pathogens can only be transmitted after 16 to 24 hours. So the risk is low if the tick is removed promptly and carefully.

5. Borrelia tests

There are Borrelia tests for ticks sold in stores. But these don't say much, since the tick doesn't transmit the disease with every bite. They only provide hints, prompting you to watch your dog even more closely.

6. Watch for symptoms

Be sure to monitor your dog's behavior after a tick bite so you can see a vet right away as soon as the first symptoms appear. The earlier the disease is detected, the better it can be treated.

Recommendation from the vet

Lyme disease shouldn't be underestimated. Anyone who checks their dog carefully for ticks and pays especially close attention to possible symptoms after a tick bite can lower the risk considerably. At the first sign, go straight to the vet: the earlier the disease is detected, the better the chances of recovery.

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