Tick Transmitted Lyme Disease in Dogs and Cats

Lyme Disease is the Most Common Tick Transmitted Disease in the World

Tick transmitted Lyme Disease can be fatal to pets and Humans – and requires pet owners to be diligent in checking their pets for Ticks embedded in their skin. Humans and pets do not get Lyme Disease directly from an infected pet, but a Dog and Cat can bring an infected Tick into your home which can potentially spread Lyme Disease to household members.

Lyme disease is transmitted by the bite of an infected tick and is caused by the bacterial spirochetes of the genus Borrelia – most commonly Borrelia burgdorferi in North America, and is known as Lyme borreliosis which affects Humans, Dogs and less often Cats.

Outward signs of Lyme Disease in Dogs is arthritis, which causes sudden lameness, and pain with or without swelling in one or more joints. Severe cases of Lyme Disease in Dogs may cause kidney failure and death.

While Lyme Disease is less common in Cats, they can become infected by a bacteria spirochete species of the Borrelia burgdorferi group, which then manifests itself in Cats as lameness due to inflammation of the joints, lack of appetite, and lethargy. Death can occur.

>> Learn How to Prevent Lyme Disease, and protect yourself and pets.

More to Explore:

Ticks on Pets, Which Hiding Places to Check

How to Identify a Tick on Your Pet

Common Tick Identification Chart

How to Safely Remove a Tick from Dog or Cat

About Tick Lyme Disease in Pets

Photos of common Ticks and where they are found geographically in the U.S., from the CDC.

Tick Removal Information is available from the CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention