If your dog is showing symptoms of Lyme disease, you may want to consider treating it with Doxycycline. The following article discusses what Lyme disease is in dogs, what Doxycycline does to treat it, and how it works.
Read on to learn more. If your dog has the symptoms of Lyme disease, you should talk to your veterinarian as soon as possible.
How does Doxycycline Treat Lyme Disease in Dogs?
In dogs, antibiotics like Doxycycline and Amoxicillin are used to treat the infection. While antibiotics can lead to gastrointestinal symptoms and sometimes recurrence, they do not eliminate the bacteria that causes Lyme disease.
Therefore, antibiotic treatments should be continued for about a week to a month, depending on the severity of the infection.
Symptoms of the disease may last months, even years, so it is important to monitor the health of your pet.
Lyme disease in dogs is transmitted by ticks. The most common source of this disease is the deer tick.
The disease is most common in the northeast, upper Midwest, and Pacific Northwest. In dogs, however, it can occur anywhere. While the disease is more common in dogs, humans can contract it by being in the same areas. In some cases, it is fatal if the dog gets a severe case.
What is Doxycycline Used For in Dogs?
Doxycycline belongs to a class of antibiotics called tetracyclines. These are a broad spectrum of antibiotics that work by inducing bacterial death by inhibiting protein synthesis. Protein synthesis is a necessary process in living cells.
The antibiotic blocks the production of protein in certain bacteria, but not in others. It works in conjunction with other medications to treat different infections in dogs.
Doxycycline is commonly prescribed to treat bacterial infections in dogs and cats. It is not FDA-approved for use in humans, but it is used in many situations.
While Doxycycline is usually safe and effective for most conditions, it can cause side effects, so be sure to monitor your pet closely while using this drug.
To learn more about doxycycline and other antibiotics, read our article on Doxycycline and other antibiotics.
What is Lyme Disease in Dogs?
Treatment for dogs with Lyme disease depends on the severity of the infection. Early Lyme disease can be treated with antibiotics and blood work.
Severe cases may require hospitalization with IV antibiotics and fluids. The initial office visit will be more expensive than hospitalization because it will involve diagnostic tests and medication.
Early Lyme disease in dogs is treatable with antibiotics and blood tests, but severe cases can be fatal, particularly if they affect the kidneys.
Diagnosis of Lyme disease in dogs is usually based on symptoms and history. If a dog exhibits recent lameness or has a mild fever, the veterinarian may suspect Lyme disease.
Blood tests for other diseases, including chronic fatigue syndrome and thyroid disease, are rarely useful for Lyme diagnosis.
Antibodies to Lyme disease bacteria can be detected at least four to six weeks after the initial infection.
Signs and Symptoms of Lyme Disease in Dogs
Infection with the bacteria that causes Lyme disease is transmitted from black-legged ticks to dogs by biting them. Dogs with Lyme disease can become lame, feverish, or show other symptoms.
Their joints may also swell. Symptoms include arthritis, swollen lymph nodes, and loss of appetite. In severe cases, dogs can even die from the infection. However, the good news is that Lyme disease can be prevented.
Typically, treatment for Lyme disease in dogs begins with a course of antibiotics (Doxycycline, tetracycline, and amoxicillin). X-rays and joint taps are also commonly done.
Antibiotics can resolve most symptoms in two to four weeks, although a longer course may be required for more stubborn cases. Anti-inflammatory medications may also be given to help ease joint pain.
Can Antibiotics Treat Lyme Disease in Dogs?
Treatment for canine Lyme disease begins with antibiotics. In dogs, the antibiotics used are usually doxycycline, amoxicillin, and azithromycin.
A prolonged course of antibiotic treatment may be needed, or a specialist may prescribe therapy that treats the various organs affected by Lyme disease. These organs include the heart, joints, and nerves. The prognosis is guarded.
While it is common for dogs to acquire Lyme disease from ticks, this disease can occur in other species.
While there appears to be no breed-specific risk for developing Lyme disease, hunting and working dogs are more likely to be exposed to ticks than pet owners. Puppies may also have an increased risk.
Clinical symptoms are rare, and about five to fifteen percent of infected dogs exhibit symptoms. However, if the dog develops lameness, the veterinarian can perform joint fluid analysis to rule out other causes of lameness.
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