Detection of Lyme disease in dogs and cats

Lyme disease in dogs is a tick-borne infection caused by bacteria in Borrelia burgdorferi-complex. Dogs can be exposed to the bacteria through the bite of an infected tick, but most exposed dogs do not develop clinical disease. If disease does occur, symptoms may be nonspecific and vary from dog to dog.

Symptoms of Lyme disease in dogs

Common symptoms may include fever, decreased general condition, decreased appetite, lameness, and joint pain or stiffness. The lameness may vary in intensity and in some cases affect different bones over time. Swollen lymph nodes may also occur. The symptoms are not specific to the disease and can be caused by a number of other conditions. The dog should therefore be examined by a veterinarian if such symptoms occur.

Detection of Lyme disease

Diagnosis can be challenging. A positive antibody result primarily indicates that the dog has been exposed to Borrelia/Lyme disease, and is not sufficient alone to determine that the dog's symptoms are due to the infection. The diagnosis must therefore be based on a comprehensive assessment of the medical history, clinical findings and relevant laboratory tests.

Laboratory test results must be interpreted in light of the clinical picture of the disease. The significance of both positive and negative test results depends, among other things, on the assay used, the time of sampling and the likelihood of disease before the test is performed. In case of clinical suspicion, the veterinarian will therefore consider the test results together with the dog's symptoms, exposure to ticks and other examination findings.

Treatment of Lyme disease in dogs

Dogs with clinical disease are usually treated with antibiotics. The choice of treatment and duration of treatment is assessed by the veterinarian based on the dog's symptoms, clinical findings and any complications. It is important to examine the dog and consider other possible causes of the symptoms before initiating treatment.

Prevention of Lyme disease

Prevention is primarily based on reducing the risk of tick bites and removing ticks as early as possible. Regularly checking your dog's fur after spending time outdoors and using a suitable tick repellent can reduce the risk of infection. Read more about tick bites and tick-borne diseases.

Vaccination may also be appropriate for some dogs, depending on exposure and individual risk, among other things. Read more about Lyme disease vaccine for dogs, or contact A-Vet if you would like an assessment of which preventive measures are suitable for your dog.