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Lymes Disease is caused by a Spirochete bacteria
that is carried by an infected tick. Deer ticks
are the most common carrier of this bacteria.
These ticks affect deer and mice most commonly.
Lymes disease appears to most occur in the northeastern
United States (Connecticut, New York etc.). The
disease can be transmitted by the tick to your dog while
the tick is taking its blood meal from the dog.
Humans can also become infected from the bite of a tick.
Blood testing can confirm exposure to the lymes bacteria.
Not all dogs exposed to this spirochete come down with
the actual infection if their immune system can fight
it off.
Symptoms in the dog can include sluggishness, fever,
and sometimes poor appetite. Most commonly, the
dog will develop joint pain and lameness in the affected
leg(s). Sometimes there will be obvious swelling in
the affected joint.
Treatment includes specific antibiotic therapy geared
towards elimination of the lymes spirochete. If
treatment is started early on in the course of disease,
elimination of this bacteria is usually successful.
Chronic infection with the lymes bacteria usually indicates
a poor recovery.
Prevention of this disease is possible through a series
of
vaccinations for the lymes disease. Typically
a series of two vaccines are administered, followed
by annual vaccination thereafter.
Your veterinarian can tell you more about the prevalence
of lymes disease in your area.
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