Posted by I Love Veterinary | Feb 5, 2018 | Animal Diseases, Infographics

What is Lyme disease?

• a bacterial disease spread by ticks
• usually involves a skin rash and joint pain (arthritis)
• occurs worldwide and throughout the U.S.
• the highest number of cases are in the upper-Midwest

What animals can get Lyme Disease?

• dogs, horses, sometimes cattle
• white-tailed deer, mice, chipmunks, gray squirrels, opossums, and raccoons can also be infected

How can my animal get infected?

• Lyme disease is a vector disease which means it is spread through the bite of an infected tick
• wild mammals (especially small rodents and deer) can carry the bacteria in nature
• ticks get infected by feeding on infected wildlife (bloodmeal)
• infected ticks can spread the bacteria to other animals (pets) and humans

How does the disease affect the animal?

• wild mammals usually show no signs of illness
• in dogs, signs of disease can take up to 2 to 5 months to appear
• lameness and joint pain (arthritis) may be seen
• knees and elbows are most affected
• lameness may shift from leg to leg or occur “off and on” (intermittent)
• dogs may also have a fever
• the disease usually resolves on its own/some cases may last long-term
• rarely, the bacteria may affect the kidneys or heart, which may result in death
• in cattle and horses, signs of disease are rarely seen but involve lameness or stiffness

Can I be infected?

• yes, through a bite of an infected tick
• the tick must be attached at least 24h to transmit the bacteria
• immature ticks are the primary source of transmission of Lyme disease in humans because they are generally smaller and thus harder to see
• in humans, disease vary from no illness to severe disease
• symptoms start 1 to 2 weeks after infection, a small red bump may develop at the bite site which can then spread into a large circular “bulls-eye” type rash
• not all people get the rash
• other symptoms may include fever, body aches, stiff neck and headache
• the second stage of the disease occurs weeks to months later and involves pain in one or more joints, most common is the knee
• pain will occur off and on and the joint may be swollen. This can continue for years.
• in rare cases, the bacteria may spread to the brain or heart

Who to contact if I suspect Lyme Disease?

• for your animal – contact your veterinarian
• for humans – contact a physician

How to protect my animal from Lyme disease?

• tick prevention medications!
• keep your pet out of wooded areas and away from wildlife
• do regular tick checks and remove any ticks if found (wear gloves)
• for dogs living in high-risk areas, there is a vaccine available

How to protect myself from Lyme Disease?

• avoid tick prone areas (wooded areas, leaf litter, high brush)
• if tick prone areas are unavoidable then wear long sleeves, long pants, closed toed shoes
• always wear gloves when touching and removing ticks. Always wash your hands afterward.
• https://iloveveterinary.com/blog/lyme-disease/