Lyme Disease, what exactly is it?

By Lynn and Scott Whittaker, Bow Wow U

Everyone has heard of the dreaded "Lyme Disease", but what exactly is it?
Lyme disease is caused by a corkscrew shaped bacterium, called Borellia Burgdorferi.
Essentially, the bacteria are carried by ticks that feed on humans and animals, thereby transmitting the disease from host to host.
Lyme disease was first discovered back in the early 1970’s in Lyme, CT ( thus the origination of the name ) when unusual symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis were noted in children. In the early 1980’s it was determined the bacteria Borellia Burgdorferi was the source of the disease. Since those days, the frequency of Lyme disease has increased exponentially.
Although there are a few types of tick that can transmit the disease, the most common is the Deer tick or Black-Legged tick.  The bacteria dwells in mice, deer, and other woodland mammals, but doesn’t cause the host to become sick; the tick feeds off such creatures, which then essentially becomes a means of transportation for the bacteria. The ticks hop from one creature to the next spreading this disease to other animals, including horses, cattle, cats, and humans. Researchers have found that infected ticks must feed for more than 24 hours to transmit the bacteria to a susceptible host, so quick detection of ticks on your pets is crucial.
Should you suspect that your pet has Lyme Disease, some of the common symptoms to watch for in dogs include arthritis, which may cause lameness, pain and swelling in one or more joints. Other symptoms include elevated body temperature, and a loss of appetite. However, Dr. Paul Cortesi, DVM of University Veterinary Hospital in Torrington, calls Lyme Disease, "the great impersonator". He says that the symptoms may present themselves one way in a particular dog and completely differently in another.
To diagnose the disease, a blood test an be taken to measure antibodies to the bacteria, but many dogs who live in highly infected areas, such as Connecticut, will test positive. A positive test may simply mean that the dog was exposed to the bacteria, Borrelia burgdorferi, but not all dogs who have been exposed will show symptoms. Some dogs who do have the disease, but in its early stages, may even test negative. Dogs who have had the Lyme vaccination, may also test positive depending on the type of blood test used. The treatment for Lyme Disease is antibiotic therapy.
Many dog owners may dispute a diagnosis of Lyme disease, as they have their dogs on a preventative medication and regularly inspect their animals for ticks. It’s important to note, however, that these ticks are almost microscopic in size, making them virtually undetectable. They are smaller than a period on this page.
Can Lyme disease be prevented? There are a number of things you can do to prevent ticks from biting you or your pet. Avoid heavily tick infested areas, especially in the spring when the ticks are most active ( which is now! ). Upon returning from the outdoors, do a thorough search on you and your animals. To remove ticks, use a pair of tweezers, pinching the tick as close to their head as possible. Be sure to get all the mouth parts as these have a tendency to tenaciously stick in the skin.
If you are suspicious of the tick you have removed, place it in some rubbing alcohol and bring the tick to your local health department. They can send it for analysis and notify you of what kind of tick it is and assist you with watching for signs and symptoms.  There are chemical topical solutions available for your dogs, as well as vaccinations, though many vets question the efficacy of these products.  Natural products are available for pets that offer an alternative to harsh chemicals, though none of these techniques are fool-proof. Your best defense against Lyme Disease is information