6 things dog owners should know about Lyme disease

Lyme disease is one of the most common tick-transmitted diseases in the world. Lyme disease primarily affects people, but dogs also are at risk.

Lyme disease is caused by a spirochete, borrelia burgdorferi, which is a type of bacterium, says VCA Animal Hospitals. Bacteria are contained in the bodies of blacklegged ticks, which are then passed to the host animal when bitten. Transmission of Lyme disease has been reported in dogs throughout the United States and Europe. It is most prevalent in the upper midwestern states, the Atlantic seaboard and the Pacific coastal states, advises PetMD.

Even though Lyme disease is widely known for its effects on humans, pet parents should learn about the ways that tick bites can affect their furry companions.

1. Lyme disease only causes symptoms in 5 to 10 percent of affected dogs. Many dogs have it but never show symptoms.

2. The animal health experts at Boehringer Ingelheim say dogs with Lyme disease can experience various symptoms, including joint swelling and pain, fever, lethargy, loss of appetite, and kidney problems. Dogs may not exhibit symptoms for weeks or months after being bitten.

3. Lyme disease is diagnosed based on the presence of certain symptoms. A Lyme disease antibody test can identify the presence of the disease, but only if the dog's body has produced antibodies. Testing is recommended no sooner than four weeks after a tick bite. Other tests include a polymerase chain reaction and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

4. Lyme disease is a year-round threat. Ticks do not die in the winter. Rather, they hide out and wait for the first warm day to arrive to move around. It's important to keep up with tick-control treatments no matter the month.

5. Most tick control remedies do not actually repel ticks, they just kill the tick shortly after the tick has bitten. That's good news since there is a greater chance of bacteria being transmitted the longer the tick is attached. Only tick collars repel ticks, but there are pros and cons to such products.

6. Ticks latch on to dogs in areas where blood vessels are closest to the surface of the skin. This includes the head, the neck and the ears. However, since adult ticks are quite big, dogs will attempt to bite them off if they are seen. Ticks tend to hide in places like inside the ears, between the toes and around the neck.

Pet owners should use gloves, tweezers or a tissue to form a barrier between the tick and their skin when removing ticks. The bacterium that causes Lyme disease can pass through a wound in the skin, says VCA Hospitals. Annual vaccination also can help dogs maintain immunity.