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                                   LYME DISEASE

It is also known as BORRELIOSIS. It is a tick born bacterial disease of zoonotic importance. Dogs are at higher risk. Generally Lyme disease is transmitted through the bite of very tiny ticks commonly known as Deer TICK, Black Legged Tick, and American Dog Tick.

Tick bites:

Tiny rodents especially white footed mouse carry in their bodies thousands of Borrelia bacteria without getting sick. When ticks bite mouse, the bacteria goes into tick's gut & multiply. When this tick bite and suck the blood of Deer/Dog/Human etc, they produce the disease by transmitting the bacteria.

Lyme Disease Symptoms:

Most common lyme disease signs are limping of usually one fore limb, swelling of lymph nodes in affected limb, temperature up to 103 F, limping in 3-4 weeks progress to very painful leg where dog is unable to use effected leg, ultimately involving joints leading to Lyme Arthritis & muscle pain leading to refusal to move. Cardiac and neurological signs are also seen in severe cases.
           Lyme Disease Rash- In human beings signs are fatigue, fever, headache, joint & muscle pain, enlarged lymph nodes, swollen knee & many patients show typical skin rash known as Bullseye Rash or Erythema Migrans which develops from tick bite area.

Lyme Treatment:

Generally Tetracycline, Penicillin & Aspirin are highly effective for the lyme disease treatment and mitigating some of the lyme disease effects. Rapid recovery is seen in limb and joint pain. Medicine is to be used at least for 2-3 weeks under supervision of VET.

Prevention:

One should keep the ticks population at minimum by using insecticides and anti tick medicines. The dog owners must take their dogs for the lyme disease test to the veterinarian or he can take his beloved dog to the lyme disease center for the treatment of lyme disease.
   By use of lyme disease vaccination. Two doses of lyme disease vaccine are given to Dog by S/C route at age of 9 weeks and 12 weeks & then given annually for the lyme disease diagnosis.

Tick removal:

while removing ticks from body, always remove mouth part of tick embedded in skin as it may result in irritation, infection and abcess
  One can use insecticides and anti tick medicines such as Frontline plus, K9Advantix, Cypermethrin, Amitraz, Ivermectin etc which kills ticks.

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