Learning About Lyme Disease in
Dogs, Symptoms and Treatments
Author:
Kelly Marshall
Lyme disease is a relatively new dog ailment that has been
found to be affecting the Midwestern and north-western parts of
the United States. The reason that it has been attracting extra
attention is that it can easily be transmitted to humans. But
since 1975 it has been an even greater source of concern as its
effects are now observed around almost forty states of the
united states of America.
• Sources of infection: the Lyme disease is caused by a
microscopic parasite called deer tick, the main hosts of which
happen to be the White- footed mice and White tailed deer. The
ticks attach themselves on the bodies of the mice or deer that
may brush against long wooded areas of long grassed plants.
These swampy outgrowths are the breeding grounds for these
ticks as neither can they fly nor walk.
• Mode of attack: ticks can attack a dog anywhere, irrespective
of body parts; it can be the head, ears, neck or feet. Since
their bites cause very little pain, unlike the stinging of a
bee, it is not unusual to see dogs covered with ticks and not
show any signs of discomfiture.
• Symptoms: the very first sign is the rise in the dog's
temperature. This is combined by a peculiar limping and
restlessness in the dog. What follow is warmth, pain and
swelling in the joints. There can also be another very obvious
sign but a bit difficult to detect as it can be hidden by the
coat of the dog. It is a wide round area of inflammation that
could have been caused around the tick- bitten skin. So keep a
good eye for these kinds of symptoms and especially for the
last one.
• Treatment measures: contact a vet as soon as you are
convinced that your dog is suffering from the dreaded Lyme
disease. Remember if detected early and given proper
medications, your dog may actually survive the ailment and even
fight against it.
But if you neglect it and consult a vet only after the disease
has graduated to an advanced stage, it might have serious
repercussions. Your dog may actually suffer from paralysis of
limbs. And worst if you leave it untreated. In that case the
disease attacks the front and hind limbs first and then
progresses to grasp the chest muscles to disable them; this has
the instantaneous consequence of crippling the respiratory
system and thus causing the dog to choke or asphyxiate.
If your dog shows any of the above symptoms or a combination of
them, do not delay that visit to the vet. Often it has been
observed that dogs suffering from advanced Lyme disease require
hospitalization.
Spring through to the fall is the period when the dogs are
extremely susceptible to this infection. So prevent taking them
to the zoo during these times and make sure that you don't have
any rats in your home as well.
And thus you have learning about lyme disease in dogs, symptoms
and treatments. Print out to keep handy.
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com -
Learning About Lyme Disease in Dogs,
Symptoms and Treatments
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