Although very few tick bites result in illness, both dogs and cats that are bitten can tick bite become infected with Lyme disease, a tick-borne disease caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. Early removal of ticks is essential to reduce the risk of transmission. Our veterinarians strongly recommend the use of preventive tick medication and Borrelia vaccine to minimize the risk of serious illness. These measures help prevent tick bites and strengthen the dog's defenses against the disease, while encouraging regular inspection of the dog's coat after outdoor activities.
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Preventive measures
It is important to note that preventive measures such as tick repellent and vaccination do not provide complete protection against tick bites. It is therefore also recommended to inspect the dog's fur thoroughly after spending time outdoors, especially after areas with a high tick population. If a tick is detected, it should be removed as quickly as possible using suitable tick removal tweezers or a tick hook. This reduces the risk of transmission of infection to the dog or other tick-borne diseases. If the dog shows symptoms that may be related to Lyme disease, it is important to consult a veterinarian for proper diagnosis and treatment. By taking the necessary precautions, you can help protect your dog from Lyme disease and maintain its health and well-being.
Detection of Lyme disease
Lyme disease in dogs is an infection that can be difficult to detect with 100% certainty. Even among professionals, there is agreement that there is no test that can guarantee an accurate diagnosis of the disease. Therefore, it is common to consider Lyme disease as a clinical diagnosis and laboratory tests are only used as support to confirm the diagnosis. This is emphasized in most articles about Lyme disease and it is therefore important to be aware of the symptoms and signs of the disease in order to provide rapid and effective treatment to dogs suffering from the disease.
This means, first and foremost, that we must look at the medical history and symptoms, and that positive findings in laboratory tests can help support a probable diagnosis. A negative test should never be used to say that a patient does not have the disease if the clinical picture otherwise suggests that they may.
