dog and cat tick bite and Lyme disease symptoms

dog and cat tick bite and Lyme disease symptoms . Unfortunately, Lyme disease becoming more common in humans and animals in The Netherlands . Veterinarians see an increasing number of dogs and cats with symptoms of Lyme disease . To prevent complications, early identification and treatment is necessary . It is therefore important to know the symptoms , so you may notice in time for your pet .

What is Lyme disease ?

Lyme disease is an infectious disease transmitted by ticks, his spider-like parasites . The Dutch tick , the brown sheep tick or castor Ixodus , the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi or the agent of Lyme disease transmission . Not every sign of being infected with the bacterium Borellia burgdorferi . The bacteria can be transmitted through a bite to humans and animals. In this way, a dog or a cat up of Lyme disease .

It is extremely important that the tick within 24 hours after it has bitten down to the body of your pet is removed. In that case, probably no connection between the host and the tick 's stomach , implying there is no pathogenic bacteria or other pathogens are transmitted .

Where are ticks ?

Draw on hold in low vegetation , such as shrubs and grasses . When the cat or dog walk past them they fall and settle in the skin and then suck blood for a period . After the tick is soaked , let it fall from his host . He starts the next phase of its lifecycle . The tick itself can cause irritation to the spot where it attaches itself . Sign in cats and dogs preferred sites for neck , ears , head and legs , but they can also occur elsewhere on the body .

Life cycle of the tick

The size of a tick can vary from 2 mm up to 1 cm . There are several stages in the lifecycle of the tick that together about 2 years , but it can also only one years up to 3 years to complete. This depends on the availability of food. The life cycle of the tick begins with a female lays eggs stitch , which then plays a larva . It has six legs and no sexual characteristics . After a blood meal ( human or animal) tick the late fall and is the sign larva moults to a nymph sign with eight legs . The nymph has no gender . After a blood meal, the nymph moults into an adult tick , including eight husky . These characteristics do have sex . After they have fed , they mate. The female lays eggs and dies shortly thereafter . Adult ticks can swell enormously when they are soaked with blood.

Symptoms, signs and symptoms of Lyme disease in dogs and cats

Although more dogs with Lyme disease than cats are both susceptible to this disease . Symptoms may include:

• A red , swollen area on the site of the tick bite , which pulled away after a few days .
• Loss of neuromuscular function that are functions of the basic motor skills . This usually starts in the back and then pulls forward . The first signs may be weakness in the hind leg , widening the front legs in three days .
• Fatigue.
• Loss of appetite .
• Lethargy and listlessness .
• Paralysis .
• Pain in muscles and joints.
• Fever.

Severe cases of Lyme disease can cause paralysis and muscle and cardiac tissue damage, possibly resulting in death .

Treatment Lyme disease in cats and dogs

Treatment should begin in the first week of illness , so the chance of cure is high. Treatment for Lyme disease usually consists of administering antibiotics for a period of three weeks . Scientific studies show that the dog or cat for three weeks should be treated before any symptoms of Lyme disease have disappeared .

Preventing Lyme Disease

First and foremost , the best prevention is a good sign band for your pet . This band is somewhat like a flea collar , but is also not easy to compare . A sign band colostrum very good protection , according to research . Sign within 24 hours slain and their adhesion is strongly inhibited during this time . The band is six months long.

It is wise your dog after a ( forest) to walk properly for the presence of ticks . Draw on the coat cases , must first find a good spot and are often making them quite easy quite apart from the coat combed or can be picked . Sit down the tick , use tweezers to sign a removal of the parasite . Do not use alcohol or something similar , since there is just more prone to infection. The tick can panic the stomach contents into the wound spit , where bacteria and other pathogens come along . After removing the tick , you are advised to disinfect the bite wound .