What You Need To Know About Lyme Disease In Dogs

Lyme Disease is a zoonotic, bacterial, vector borne disease of the Borrelia burgdorferi group. It got its name from the towns of Lyme and Old Lyme, Connecticut, because in 1975, numerous cases with similar symptoms suddenly emerged in that region. In 1982, the bacterium was isolated and named. It was also recognized to be transmitted when the bacteria found in the saliva of an infected blood-sucking insect, such as nymph and/or adult deer ticks, fleas, and lice, is injected into a host, while the parasite is feeding.

It causes painful inflammation in one or more of your dog's joints. It can be reoccurring.

Even though the disease has expanded worldwide, in the United States, the Atlantic Coast, Northern Midwestern states and the Pacific Coast are where it is most prevalent.

Checking for ticks

Some believe the seriousness of the disease can be reduced, or avoided, if the tick is extracted within the first 50 hours of affixing to the host. That's why it is so important to regularly check your dog. Run your hands over their entire body to feel for, and remove ticks before they attach and start feeding.

Even check in your dog's mouth.

All dogs could be potential candidates for Lyme Disease. However, young, senior and dogs with suppressed immune systems are more vulnerable.

Additional complications, although not common, are the risks of pulmonary, cardiac, renal, and neurological problems. Kidney failure is rare, but sometimes found in Bernese Mountain Dogs, Labrador Retrievers, and Golden Retrievers, suffering from severe or prolonged cases.

Signs & Symptoms

The sooner there is a diagnosis and it is treated with antibiotics, the greater the likelihood of minimizing or eliminating the debilitating effects of the disease. The longer the symptoms are ignored or are left untreated, the greater the possibility of cardiac, neurological, pulmonary, renal problems.

The most common early signs and symptoms of Lyme Disease in dogs include, fever, breathing difficulties, depression, bull's-eye rash, lack of appetite, fatigue, sensitive to touch, arched back, swollen lymph nodes nearest the site of the bite, painful joints, stiff walking and lameness.

Diagnosis

Your veterinarian will review your dog's medical history, perform a physical, concentrating on the site of the bite, and order a complete blood profile, and urinalysis. They may also suggest x-rays of the infected joints. They may also draw and test fluids from the inflamed joints.

Snap Test

There are a group of tests known as the SNAP Tests. They are accurate, can check for other parasitic problems too. Your veterinarian can perform these tests, in their office, with immediate results.

Treatment

Unless your dog's case is extremely severe, he or she will be treated with antibiotics as an out-patient. Treatment commonly lasts 3-4 weeks. Re-occurrences can happen, so be mindful and continue to monitor your dog.

Prevention

Avoid wooded areas and fields of tall grass, as much as possible.

Applying a spot -on preventative treatment

You can find over-the-counter products, such as collars, spot-on, and topical treatments for repelling and killing ticks.

Although not recommended for all dogs, there are vaccines available to help prevent disease. Speak to your veterinarian, to see if using a vaccine would put your dog at any risk. Two to four weeks after initial vaccination, immunization would be followed up by a booster shot. Many veterinarians recommend annual booster shots, especial for dogs that go regularly go camping, attend sporting events and/or go hunting in fields or wooded areas, known for the possibility of tick infestation.

Manually inspecting your dog following field trips to tick-infested areas is strongly recommended. Preventing, finding, and destroying a tick before it has a chance to infect your dog is always the best option.

Bottom line: By being informed and perceptive, you will do your dog a great service, and spare them unnecessary pain.

Source:https://ezinearticles.com/?What-You-Need-To-Know-About-Lyme-Disease-In-Dogs&id=7691087

Taking Your New Puppy For A Vet Check

You just bought a new puppy from a breeder or perhaps you adopted it from a shelter or rescue group. The first thing you should do is make arrangements to take the puppy to your vet for a wellness examination. Most breeders allow a certain number of days to accomplish the wellness exam and you want to make sure that you have a healthy puppy. This is especially true if you are going to bring this puppy around your other pets.

Your vet will be able to make sure that it is free of ticks and fleas while at the same time doing a fecal exam to make sure your new family member is free of internal parasites as well. Treating for internal parasite is easy and it will be nice to know if there is a worm problem so it is not spread to your other dogs.

Of course while you are with your vet he will inspect your dog's eyes and ears to make sure everything looks clear.

I'm sure your vet will mention it, however if he doesn't be sure and ask when you should start giving your dog heartworm medication. Heartworms can be a very serious problem however with a very simple monthly treatment you can avoid the pain and expense of heartworms later on.

If you have any shot records that came with your pup make sure you leave a copy with the vet. He will be able to recommend a vaccination schedule for your new dog and it is very important to follow his recommendation and keep your dog healthy and safe.

This is the time to ask questions. Vets are always happy to giving good useful pointers for raising that new dog so that it stays healthy.

Discussing which dog food is the best for your dog is a common question with new puppy owners. Your vet will have some good information to guide you in the right direction.

Now that you know your puppy is healthy it's time to start looking for a dog trainer that can give you advice on all things relating to raising a puppy to be a confident well behaved adult dog and member of your family.

Most trainers have a short puppy lesson program for puppies that will help with puppy problems and socialization. Later when your dog is 4 months old the trainer will be able to help you with the formal obedience training that will give you the dog you have always wanted.

Source:http://ezinearticles.com/?Taking-Your-New-Puppy-For-A-Vet-Check&id=9013031

Can You Get Sick From Your Dog?

We are surrounded everywhere with viruses and infections when we leave the house - bird flu, swine flu or stomach flu. These are the viruses we expect to encounter at the play field or at the office. In our own homes, we can get infected from our friends and family members but we don't expect our pets to infect us.

It is very possible for a pet owner to get an illness from their pet - there are some illness that are more common than others. There are a number of pet diseases that can get a human being and they are transmitted differently depending on the specific ailment. For example you can get roundworm parasite if you touch feces that are infected and you do not wash your hands well.

With hookworms it is a little different. The larvae has to penetrate the skin for you to get infected. With toxoplasmosis - it is very dangerous to pregnant women for it can cause birth defects. It is transmitted if you touch infected feces or if you handle raw meat without proper washing of your hands after.

Some of the illnesses can be transmitted from cats and dogs to human though body contact with their fur and skin. Ringworm is a fungal disease that is more of a skin infection than a worm. Other infections include: mite, Scabei - these infections can affect dogs, cats and people and its main sign is loss of hair and/or rash on the skin.

There are other dog ailments that have to be transmitted through a 3rd party - Lyme is a perfect example. A tick can bite an infected dog, then that trick may crawl around and bite a human.

There are some ailments that can be transmitted if the infected animal injured a person. For these category, there are fewer cases. An example is rabies. It is transmitted if you get a bite from a wild animal or a pet that has rabies. If you are bitten by such a dog, you should seek immediate medical help as it may result to death. There is vaccination for your pets too.

Knowledge is power and knowing the diseases you can get from your pet is very important.

Source:http://ezinearticles.com/?Can-You-Get-Sick-From-Your-Dog?&id=8952869