Lyme Disease in Dogs

Hello, it’s Jasper (and Dog Mom)!

Ticks were probably my number one enemy growing up. I lived in South Georgia where those creepy crawlies are absolutely EVERYWHERE. Having long, thick curly hair and being an outdoor junkie made me the prime target for those sneaky buggers. I grew up with my nurse Momma giving me the ‘tick talk’ before every adventure we went on. She would lecture me: Use bug spray, check yourself before coming inside and watch for red rings if you find a tick. It was the same old, same old for me until I found out WHY I was looking for red rings.

“It’s an early indicator for Lyme disease,” my Mom informed me. At the time, I didn’t know much (if anything) about this disease and decided to do some research. I found that, contrary to popular belief, the idea that the tick itself causes Lyme disease is not entirely accurate. Lyme disease is actually caused by a bacteria, commonly Borrelia burgdorferi, that ticks acquire when they feed on an infected animal. Another tidbit of information I stumbled upon: Not only can humans contract Lyme disease, but your DOG can too!

How is Lyme disease contracted?

You must be wondering, “How exactly does a tick transmit Lyme disease?” As we discussed previously, ticks contract the bacteria that results in Lyme disease by feeding on an infected animal (Example: a deer). This bacteria, which resides in the tick’s saliva, is then transmitted when they feed on their next host (aka you or your furry friend). If a tick does not have this bacteria residing in their saliva, they will not transmit Lyme disease. It is important to note, however, that this does not mean they cannot transmit other tick borne illnesses, such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Ehrlichiosis. 

In order to transmit Lyme disease, a tick must be attached to their host for somewhere between 18-48 hours (experts cannot agree on a more concrete time frame). This SEEMS easy to avoid, right? Wrong. In fact, it is incredibly common for nymphs (juvenile ticks) to attach themselves to a host for an extended amount of time before they are noticed. How? Most nymphs are no larger than a grain of sand and oftentimes, they will fall off before the host realizes they were there. Do you think you could spot a tiny grain of sand on yourself? How about spotting one on your favorite furry friend? With Jasper’s dark coat, I know I can’t.

Where is Lyme disease contracted?

As we discussed, ticks can be evasive little buggers that are hard to spot during their nymph stage. Spring and summer, of course, are when nymphs are most active. In the winter time, however, adult ticks are more lively. This is incredibly important to recognize. I grew up being told that summer was ‘tick time’ and in winter, ticks were ‘asleep.’ NOPE! If it is 40 degrees or higher, ticks are out and about looking for a host. That means if you live in a state like Georgia, where 40 below is MAYBE a 3 week thing, ticks are active YEAR ROUND. 

Even though Lyme disease has been found in all 50 states, there are numerous risk factors that can increase your pet’s likelihood of being infected. Your particular location is one of these factors. For example, if your home is located in a dense forest or the middle of a grassy field, you are more likely to have contact with ticks in your everyday life than someone who lives in a city apartment. Additionally, your lifestyle can affect your odds of coming in contact with an infected tick. For example, we love to hike and explore nature with our dog, Jasper. As a result, our family is more susceptible to ticks than a family of homebodies. Acknowledging these risk factors allows you to make educated decisions to prevent tick bites not only on yourself, but your furry friend. How and where can I come in contact with ticks?

• Hiking / Camping: I think this is a given, but any area with dense vegetation is home to ticks. What you may not realize, however, is that this includes locations other than forests. Wetlands and marshes are also littered with ticks.
• Farms / Grassy fields: Since moving to Germany, we go on walks through our local farms almost daily. They are stunning, but also filled with tall grasses where ticks love to reside. Do your best to prevent your dog from frolicking in the fields (party pooper, I know). Jasper loves to stick his head in the tall grasses for a good sniff, which means he gets a head to tail exam every day for unwelcomed critters. Don’t worry, we walk you through our ultimate tick exam for dogs down below.
• Overgrown lawns: I think we’ve all had that annoying neighbor who lets their yard turn into a jungle. If you haven’t….well, hopefully you aren’t that neighbor yourself. Overgrown grasses and bushes are paradise for ticks. It’s not only the perfect breeding ground, but an ideal hiding spot as well. If your dog is a low rider (like my parent’s weenie dog) even short grass can be an issue. Keep your lawn maintained to decrease the risk for you and your pet.

• Yard work: Alright, I know I just said to cut your lawn, but ticks can actually latch onto you or your dog during yard work as well. Think about it, all that cut grass where the ticks were previously lounging is now flying in the air. Plus…you’re walking through their grassy home. Keep your pets inside or in a different area while you cut the lawn. This helps to avoid ticks being chucked by the lawnmower and onto your dog. Don’t forget to give yourself a shower and a thorough exam after yard work. Ticks can crawl around and latch on days after your activity. Clean your clothes right away and check your furry pal (even if they were inside).
• Dog parks / Doggy daycare: I love a good doggy day care and meeting up with friends at the dog park, but they can still be breeding grounds for ticks. Jasper LOVES rolling in the grass with his park pals, which means he could be rolling in ticks. Not to mention, his furry pal could have a tick on them that jumps off and onto Jasper. Concerned or wondering what measures you can take besides avoiding the dog park and daycare? I’ll discuss preventative options in the next section.
• Zoos / Nature tours: Any time you are in contact with animals that spend a majority of their life outside, you run the risk of coming in contact with ticks. Zoos often have areas where you can pet certain animals and some wildlife parks are even submerged in the forest. If you have a service dog, be especially vigilant for ticks after visiting these areas. Your dog’s fur is an ideal hiding spot for ticks.
• Carpet / Clothing / Car: It’s no secret that ticks like to hitch a ride on us, but did you know they often latch onto our socks or shoes first? After a trek through the grass, a nymph will latch onto your shoe. They will then hop off into your car or crawl into your carpet when you get home. Days later, they attach themselves to your dog that is lounging on the rug. Stay vigilant, these little buggers can attach themselves when you least expect it. 

Are there preventative measures?

There are numerous flea and tick preventatives on the market. You can purchase them from your vet, online or at your local pet store. I urge you to do your own research and talk with your vet about what preventative you want to use. Each preventative has its pros and cons, which means you need to be educated before making a decision.

We personally use the Bayer Animal Health Seresto Flea and Tick Collar for Dogs. This was recommended to us by our veterinarians in Texas. Some important information to note about this flea and tick collar:

• Lasts 8 months
• Kills and Repels ticks – If your dog has been properly wearing the collar daily, ticks will be repelled and/or killed as quickly as 6 hours. If you have just started using the collar, within 48 hours the collar will begin preventing infestation. Since ticks must be attached between 18-48 hours in order to transmit Lyme Disease, this collar provides me peace of mind (If you see a tick, however, it is recommended to remove it immediately).
• Non-greasy and odorless 
• Effective against fleas, ticks, flea larvae, chewing lice, sarcoptic mange
• “Waterproof”  – With repeated exposure, however, it can lose up to 3 months of efficacy. Which means, it is not the ideal choice for dogs that go swimming frequently.
• Not recommended for thick-coated breeds – Lots of fur can prevent the treatment from reaching the dog’s skin.
• “Break away” mechanism – In place for safety purposes (it comes with three reflector clips that you can attach to the collar).
• As it is a collar, there is always the risk that it will be pulled off or lost

Purchase here: Dog flea and tick collar

In addition to treatments that prevent ticks, you can also discuss the Lyme disease vaccination with your veterinarian. Keep in mind, it is not suitable for all dogs and it may not be 100% effective. Generally, it is recommended for dogs that are active outdoors and/or live in areas with reported cases of Lyme. As always, that is a decision you must make with your veterinarian regarding what is best for your family.

Information Station: Did you know if you are even a WEEK late on your dog’s flea and tick treatment, it can become ineffective and leave them susceptible to your least favorite creepy crawlies? No, thanks! Make sure you set an alarm or mark your calendar to avoid missing a treatment.

Common hiding spots for ticks

As we discussed previously, ticks can be TINY when they are in their nymph stage. How are you even supposed to see those little buggers? Here are some tips for checking your furry friend for ticks:

• Lint roll – Yes, I am telling you to lint roll your dog. Before you brush that off (haha see what I did there?), remember that nymphs are no bigger than a grain of sand and they are incredibly hard to see. If you use a lint roller, you are able to capture any nymphs crawling around on the surface of your dog’s fur.
• Fine tooth comb – Wide bristle brushes aren’t going to do much to grab a tick. Using a fine tooth comb allows you to capture any unwelcome guests residing in your dog’s fur.
• Rub down – We always give Jasper a good rub down to feel for any bumps or irregularities that are not normally present. This is great for dogs who aren’t the biggest fans of being brushed and it allows you to examine areas they may be less willing to share with you *cough* *cough* booty, belly, ears and armpits. Feeling a bump can highlight a tick that has already latched on and is engorged with blood.
• Remove accessories – As you all know, Jasper loves his bandanas and bows…so do ticks. Excess items hanging down give ticks a place to latch on. Additionally, folded bandanas give ticks little crevices to hide in. I recommend removing all accessories before you enter your car and giving them a once over, then lint rolling them to be safe.

Your dog may hate me for this, but ticks love to hide in dark, warm places. Which means, they settle the nooks and crannies your dog DOESN’T want you touching.

Here are the commonly overlooked hiding spots for ticks:

• Under front legs (armpits)
• Inside the groin area (even on their male and female parts — as a nurse I’ve seen ticks attached to both male and female genitalia. Which means Fido can get one there too)
• Under the tail
• Between the toes / Paws
• Mouth / Gums / Nose
• Eyelids
• Elbow
• In and around ears (especially if your pup has floppy ears like Jasper)
• Under their collar
• On or under their accessories (Example: Bandanas or bows)

What if I find a tick on my dog?

If you notice a tick on your dog, remove it IMMEDIATELY. When removing a tick, be sure to use these safety measures:

• Wear gloves – Remember that the disease causing bacteria is located in the tick’s saliva. When you are extracting the tick from your dog, there is the possibility of coming into contact with this saliva. It is important to take any and all precautions to avoid infection.
• Use tweezers or a tick remover – When removing a tick, get as close as possible to the dog’s skin. Avoid squeezing the tick’s body when using tweezers (this can crush the tick and release toxins into the dog’s bloodstream). Ensure you have a firm grip and slowly pull away from the skin. DO NOT TWIST OR TURN. PULL STRAIGHT UP IN A SMOOTH MOTION.
• Ensure the head has been removed
• Rub the bite with disinfectant
• Keep the tick in an airtight container – This allows your veterinarian to test the tick at a later date and determine if the tick was carrying any diseases that may transmit to your dog.

Our favorite find has been this tick test kit that you can purchase and keep on hand for any tick bites that may occur (on dogs or humans). If you or your furry companion are bit by a tick, you mail this kit to the Northeast Wildlife DNA Laboratory in Pennsylvania. They will then test the tick for Lyme disease. This allows for faster diagnosis and treatment of your canine companion (as it takes 3-5 weeks after infection for Lyme disease antibodies to show up on your dog’s blood work). This kit comes with absolutely everything you will need: a tick remover, specimen bag, three control labels, Lyme disease test submission form, and a pre-addressed mailing label. They will notify you within 3 days of receiving your kit and THERE ARE NO HIDDEN COSTS OR FOLLOW-UP FEES. All you have to do is place the tick in the provided specimen bag, fill everything out and drop it off at the post office. Easy-peasy.

Purchase here: Tick testing kit

Recognizing Symptoms

Oftentimes, you may not see a tick before it falls off and/or dies. For this reason, it is important to remain vigilant for early indicators and symptoms of Lyme disease. Although it is not uncommon for symptoms to appear weeks, months or even a year after infection, it is important to be able to recognize these indicators. The Most common symptoms of  Lyme disease in dogs include:

• Loss of appetite
• Lethargy
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Fever (Commonly: 103-105 degrees)
• Apparent lameness (Even occasional)
• Generalized Stiffness, discomfort and/or pain
• Swollen joints
• More serious symptoms that may be present: Heart irregularities and Neurological changes or dysfunction

A tell-tale sign of Lyme disease is the red ‘bullseye’ rash. This rash is not always present and/or may be difficult to visualize on a dog (given that dogs are covered in fur). Unless the tick bite takes place in a relatively fur-free area, then you will not visualize this rash.

Testing

In order to obtain a definitive diagnosis of Lyme disease, your veterinary team will complete a series of urine and blood tests. These tests are known as C6 tests and detect the antibodies against a protein called “C6.” The presence of these antibodies is indicative of an active Lyme disease infection. As stated previously, it can take 3-5 weeks after infection for these antibodies to develop in the bloodstream. A great way to speed up your diagnosis and treatment? SAVE THE TICK AND HAVE IT TESTED.

Reminder: Tick testing kit

(We seriously take this everywhere)

Treatment

What if your dog is diagnosed with Lyme disease? Generally, your dog will begin a course of antibiotics, such as Doxycycline, for about 3-4 weeks. Additionally, Lyme disease often results in damage to joints and/or organs which will need to be addressed as well. Medications for pain, swelling and other symptoms are often prescribed in conjunction with their antibiotics. If there is no improvement after 3-5 days, it is generally recommended that you revisit the veterinarian for another evaluation. This could be an indication that your dog requires additional or alternative treatment options.

Being an outdoorsy family, safety is our number one concern (especially when it comes to our fur baby). So, I want to know: Was this blog post helpful to you? Did you already know this information? Have you, a family member or a pet been diagnosed with Lyme disease? I would love to hear your story and thoughts in the comments down below!

As always, give us a howl via Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, email or the comment section below! We’re always happy to help (or talk, Dog Mom loves to talk).

Don’t forget to PIN the image below to your Pinterest board!