Lyme disease is a long-term condition where a dog has a hard time fighting off certain bacteria, called Lyme bac teria. This disease can be endemic (rare) or epidemic (common), depending on your dog’s location.
Most cases are unknown because doctors do not know what tests to run to confirm the diagnosis. Because this condition is so rare, there are very few veterinarians who diagnose it.
However, when it does happen, the symptoms are awful. Dogs may have disorientation and/or memory loss, muscle and/or brain weakness, incoordination, and/or depreciation of thirst and hunger. They may also have changes in mood or no sign of fatigue or dehydration.
Contents:
Bedrest
When your dog has Lyme disease, his or she may need to be housebound. This means that the dog must live in a house with no outside access.
It can be difficult to teach your dog not to jump on furniture, pull on the leash, or just plain have fun without playing with other dogs. Also, your dog may have trouble traveling in and out of a vehicle, so having him or her confined to a home with one other dog is helpful.
Since Lyme disease is an infectious disease, you cannot just give your dog some medication and expect the same effects as a more common tick-borne illness. You must use a safe and effective treatment for your pet!
Additionally, since travel is hard for dogs with Lyme disease, you must find another way to get them out of the house. These remedies are affordable and safe solutions for dogs affected by Lyme disease.
Antibiotics
There are some antibiotic drugs that are only effective against Lyme disease. Most tetracyclic antibiotics like Cloxacillin and Piperacillin have the same effect as humans: It cuts away protein in your body that it recognizes, in this case, phosphorus.
This makes it difficult for the disease to grow and spread, especially if your dog is not also human.
However, some cephalosporins can only be taken by humans, so your vet can test you before giving it. Some dogs do not tolerate it well and have trouble getting their minds and bodies to cooperate.
Some dogs even develop resistant strains of Lyme disease as a result.
Anti-inflammatory medications
It may be necessary to treat your dog with a anti-inflammatory medication for Lyme disease. Several studies have found that the drug diflubenzuron is effective against Lyme larvae, making it a good choice for treating dogs.
In one study, treated dogs were half as likely to develop a new infection within 1 year as untreated dogs. In another study, dogs who were treated with diflubenzuron were less likely to wander off during the day than those who were not treated.
However, this drug is not suitable for all dog breeds. Some breeds may be unable to tolerize it and develop side effects such as neurological problems or even death. In these cases, there are alternatives available that do not require special treatment however).
As mentioned before, Erythridiol is an alternative drug that does not need to be administered by a vet but you can find it at most pet stores. Make sure to ask your vet if it is appropriate for your dog.
Humidifier
This tip is for those who have a humidifier nearby your dog. It may help alleviate dry air caused by the fan in the humidifier.
Wet wipes can be difficult to use with dogs, as their sensitive noses can make them overdo it. Therefore, they recommended brand of wet wipes is very reassuring to dogs.
Many brands of wet wipes are designed for household cleaning tasks such as drying dishes or cleaning up after meal dishes. Some of these brands include OnePot© dishwashing liquid, Mrs. Gs Bedtime talc, and Evapo Life Vitamin D3 Hand & Foot Wash and Sunblock® Spray.
Dogs do not have skin sensitivity to water like we do, so making sure the dog has access to water is important.
Increase fluids into the body
Dehydration is one of the leading causes of dog Lyme disease, also known as Lyme borreliosis. Overhydration can also be another risk factor for dog Lyme disease.
As humans, we usually drink a couple of glasses of water every day, so why not our dogs? Even small amounts of water can help promote favorable immune system function and reduce symptoms of inflammatory conditions such as lyme disease.
However, if your dog has lymerickesy disease, you may need to be more mindful about how much water they drink. Limited drinking may help prevent excessive dehydration and possible counter-reactions in the body.
In order to increase fluids into the body, all you need to do is give them a small amount of dry kibble or a few cups of plain water every few hours! It will take a while to help rehydrate them, but it could save them from future counter-reactions.
Natural remedies
There are a few things that are almost always available, and they are usually in the form of vitamin & mineral supplements, tinctures, and bullae treatments.
These things can help lower your dog’s T lymphocyte count which is what protects you against certain infections, and can even make your dog more vulnerable to some forms of the disease.
Some things even reduce the amount of antibodies your dog has against Lyme disease, which can make it more difficult to diagnose and treat. If this is important to your dog, then using these treatments is imperative.
As with any health issue, do your best to be honest with your dogs about their symptoms. If your dog seems a little better but you think they may be better than usual, give them something that may help improve their mood or appetite because of that.
Garlic
garlic can be a very bad ingredient for dogs. It can cause a dog to have a severe and painful reaction to it. This is known as an ear garlic treatment.
Ear garlic is the removal of an ear with the help of a tonguetongue. When applied, it helps transport vital nutrients and medication into the dog’s system.
It is also considered a preventative against infections, including Lyme disease. Because of this, many veterinarians will prescribe it for dogs.
However, there are some types of garlic that are not appropriate for dogs. The right type of garlic should not be eaten, it should not be smoked, and it should not be boiled. It must be minced before applying into the dog’s system.
Silver nitrate solution
A possible cure or therapy for dogs with Lyme disease is silver nitrate. This medication can be applied to the dog’s skin in the form of a solution. This solution causes the blood and lymphatic system to absorb and process silver more efficiently.
As a result, you can almost triple the amount of silver in the body that is available to fight infection.
This is a safe way for your dog to get his own dose of silver because it is administered by a veterinarian. It must be done very carefully and right-after all other treatments have been completed, of course!
Many veterinarians have come up with ways to administer silver nitrate. One way is by using an antiseptic wipe. These are typically used on children’s toys and things like that because they are getting exposed to them before they are put into use.