how do i know my dog is infected with lyme disease. i found a tick on him this morning?

Question

how soon will i start to see signs of it should i call the vet

Answer 1

First, you need to determine if this is the kind of tick that causes Lyme disease. The common wood tick does not. Wood ticks are the ones that are flat and black, about 1/4 inch long, and swell up into big half-inch grey bean-like things. They are disgusting and cause an itchy spot, but do not carry Lyme. So do not worry about any solid grey ticks, just remove them.

The deer tick, on the other hand, does carry the disease. Deer ticks are much smaller, only a tiny dot when first attached, and when engourged are only about 1/3 or an inch long and reddish-brown on the end of the abdomen.

Next, how long was the tick on the dog? A tick has to be there about 24 hours to pass the Lyme bacteria into the blood stream. If the tick is flat and barely attached, not to worry, just remove it. But if it is starting to swell or already engorged, you should remove it and save the tick. Do this by taping it with clear tape to a 3 x 5 card and mark the date the tick was found. Then, if your dog shows signs of illness, the tick can be tested for Lyme. (Humans should also save the ticks, if any.) The dog can be tested also, but it is easier to first take in the tick (and cheaper, I think.)

Answer 2

The only way to know for sure is to have him tested by your vet. It requires a blood test. Sometimes the dog will appear stiff and have trouble moving around when the lyme has been in his system for sometime. You may also want to try a tick preventative like Advantix to help keep him tick-free. There is also a lyme disease vaccine available that it worth it. Lyme is expensive to treat so if you can avoid it, it's much less work and money in the long run.

Answer 3

I live on a farm and all of the dogs we've ever had have gotten a ton of ticks - probably over 100 in their lifetime- and have never gotten lyme disease, even if you put the frontline or anything on them they will still get them, however, the thing that i've found to work the best is the flea/tick collars. Everyone in my area has dogs that constantly get ticks and none of them has ever gotten lyme disease. If I were you I wouldn't be concerned about 1 little tick, especially if you got it off. I dont know where you live though, (I live in michigan) and if you live in an area where ticks are prone to give lyme disease I would keep a close eye on your dog.

Answer 4

Try this site out: It gives many answers....Good luck!
Early symptoms of Lyme Disease possible

Question: We live in an area endemic for Lyme (Northeast).

Our dog recently had a very large, light colored tick (ie not your classic
dark brown/ black dog tick). We thought it was a skin tag (that's the color
it was) so it stayed on for at least a week before we examined it with a
hand lens, discovered its tiny legs and removed it. As I understand it, the
deer ticks which carry Lyme disease are this color.

He was vaccinated against Lyme disease, last booster last year. I know this
isn't 100% effective.

I know that the classic symptom of Lyme disease in dogs is lameness, I
assume from arthritis. Are there any early symptoms we should be watching
this dog for now? Should/ can he be tested (since presumably he has
antibodies from the vaccine)? What is the time course from tick bite to
symptoms? I don't suppose there is any way to look for a target rash as one
can in humans and anyway as I understand it the characteristic rash doesn't
always occur anyway.

THANK YOU

Answer: Mai-Lan-

I recently read a note from an epidemiologist in an area endemic for Lyme
disease and he said that less than 1% of ticks in his area carried the Lyme
disease organism. Hopefully, the odds will hold true and this won't become
a problem.

The early signs of Lyme disease in dogs are supposed to be loss of
appetite, fever and lethargy. Lameness may occur at the same time or may
occur later. In some dogs, enlargement of the lymph nodes (usually
generalized enlargement) occurs. In dogs, skin signs, heart disease, kidney
problems and neurologic signs are reported to be rare. Symptoms of Lyme
disease are usually delayed for several months but start to occur about 2
months after exposure and should show up by 5 to 6 months after a dog or
cat is bitten by a tick carrying the bacteria (Borrelia burgdorferi).

I am hoping you won't have to deal with this problem but it would be a good
idea to keep an eye out for telltale symptoms and to write down the date of
the tick removal so you don't forget when it was, just in case.

Answer 5

Well first of all it has to be a deer tick. A dear tick when not engorged with blood is about the size of a pin head..It is very tiny.

Did you keep the tick? If so (and you always should) take it to your vet and he can tell you if it is indeed a deer tick. He can also test your dog for lymes. And if poss. he will be fine with early treatment.

Lymes does not kill them or us, but it is a terrible disease and can cause much pain, memory loss etc..

Do you live in an area where there are deer? Or have you taken him where there are deer? If not than I highly doubt it was a deer tick.

Clean the area well with alcohol as well.
good luck..

Answer 6

Some things to watch for are soreness/stiffness in the legs and joints, he also may run a fever. Some vets offer an in-house test for Lyme disease. You may want to consider using Frontline Plus in the future to keep ticks off of him.
Here is a link with some more info:
http://www.thepetcenter.com/gen/lyme.html

Answer 7

There is only one way to tell for certain and that is to take him to a vet and have a blood test.

Unless the disease is very prevalent in you area then I wouldn’t bother unless the dog is showing symptoms of basically not being right.

You know your dog; I would forget about all the technical symptoms, you're not a vet. If you're dog isn't acting right, groggy, walking funny, and a lack of appetite.

Just watch for changes, remember the date you removed the tick, where you were when he got it and you should be fine.

Answer 8

If you see a change in his energy level, call the vet. My dog is a tick magnet and he doesn't have lymes disease.

Answer 9

Dogs are a lot stronger than us when it comes to fighting infection. If he's not showing any signs, don't worry. If he starts acting sick, then take him to the vet. I've pulled hundreds of ticks off of my animals while growing up in the countryside. Not one in 12 years had any problems from a tick bite. Don't be too overprotective.

Answer 10

Some infected dogs do not experience any symptoms of Lyme. Symptoms include lethargy, arthritis (displayed as joint pain, shifting from foot to foot, and lameness), loss of appetite, fever, fatigue, kidney damage, heart disorders, and neurologic disorders (including aggression, confusion, overeating). Symptoms can become chronic

Did you keep the tick? If not next time do. Just put it in a plastic bag. Be sure you write the date down and watch him for signs. He should be fine if you do this.