How to Keep Your Rottweiler Safe
From Lyme Disease
Lyme disease is caused by a
bacterium that is transmitted to rottweilers through tick bites. It
is, unfortunately, becoming more prevalent and it is important that
rottweiler owners understand the symptoms for early detection and
the preventive measures they can take to protect their rottweiler.
Early Warning Signs
The most common symptom of Lyme
Disease in dogs is limping. Often, the limping begins in one of the
front legs. Limping can come on suddenly. It often begins as a
barely noticeable limp and progresses to complete disuse of the
affected leg in a matter of days.
Other symptoms include lymph node
swelling in the legs that are affected by limping and an elevated
temperature. These can be more difficult for an owner to detect at
home and are often detected by a vet when the owner brings the dog
in for limping.
It is extremely important for
owners to take their rottweilers to the vet as soon as they notice
limping or any other signs of Lyme Disease. Lyme Disease is
treatable especially, with early detection and treatment. Without
proper treatment, permanent joint and nerve damage can occur. The
Lyme Disease bacteria can also spread to vital organs such as the
heart. The most common treatment for Lyme Disease is antibiotics
that are administered over the course of a few weeks.
Prevention
There are a few steps that owners
should take to prevent Lyme Disease and to make sure that if the dog
does contract the disease that it is detected early. These steps
include:
·
Vaccinations: Your
vet may be able to give your rottweiler a vaccine to prevent Lyme
Disease. This is most commonly given as two shots with annual
boosters.
·
Monthly Medications:
Consult with your vet to determine if you live in an area where
monthly medications, administered at home, would be beneficial for
your rottweiler.
·
Tick Collars: These
may be effective at preventing the tick bites that transmit the Lyme
Disease bacteria.
·
Education: Educate
yourself, through reading or talks with your vet, about where ticks
are most commonly found. While it is true that ticks can be found
anywhere, they are most often found in high grass or brushy areas.
Keep your rottweiler away from areas that are most likely to have
high concentrations of ticks. Also, there are only a few kinds of
ticks (albeit common ones) that carry Lyme Disease. Know what these
ticks look like so that if you do find one on your rottweiler you
can know whether you should be concerned about Lyme Disease.
·
Tick Checks: Examine
your rottweiler carefully whenever you come in from outside.
Promptly remove any ticks that you find on your rottweiler. The
sooner you find a tick and remove it, the less likely your
rottweiler is to be infected. If the tick is a kind that may be a
Lyme Disease carrier then you can bring it to the vet to see if this
particular tick was in fact a carrier.
So, while Lyme Disease can be
frightening and have serious consequences, the consequences can be
minimized with good prevention and early detection.
Written by Ryan Matthews of
Oh My Dog Supplies
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