What is Lyme Disease?
One of the most common tick-transmitted diseases in the United States and worldwide, Lyme disease, or borreliosis, is a multifaceted infectious disease syndrome that can cause serious problems for dogs. Although it is most frequently reported in people and dogs, Lyme disease has also been seen in cats, horses and cattle.
Lyme disease, also known as Lyme borreliosis, is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. The disease is classified by the World Health Organisation as an infectious or parasitic disease. Borrelia burgdorferi belongs to the bacterial genus Borrelia . These in turn are members of a larger family of bacteria called Spirochaetes.
Lyme disease is an illness that can be passed to animals and people through a bite from the Ixodes tick. The tick must be on the dog for 24 to 48 hours before transmission of the disease occurs. These ticks are very tiny in the nymph stage that occurs during spring and summer. When they are engorged they are about the size of a small apple seed. In our area most ticks are common dog ticks but the ticks responsible for Lyme disease can also be found in this area. Preventative medicine is best; ask your Veterinarian.
