What Are The Reasons Behind Cats Lyme Disease
The reasons for Lyme disease in cats have developed with time. A study that has been made in the USA showed that Lyme disease is a bacterial disease that enters the animal body by a bite of a young tick or a young female tick. A lot of different kinds of ticks are responsible for Lyme disease.
This study shows that mature ticks are more active in spring after a period of sleeping in winter. Those ticks need blood, and female ticks need blood more to finish up their life cycle for mating. So, it is asked to check pets skin and hair in springtime in case there are any ticks.
Fleas are different than ticks, they do not jump that you can notice them. Their movement in the body is crawling and perching some plants and surfaces till they find a host body, when they step up in the host body, bacteria starts to be reproduced around the bite that the tick makes. Then, the host blood is filled up by pathogens, and after few weeks of infection, the symptoms we mentioned start to appear as fever, lethargy, and painful tension, and inflammation in the cats joints and muscles.
In this case, it is urgent to check the vet if any of those symptoms have appeared during spring, which is the season of ticks action and movements. Vets have explained that Lyme disease can be found through blood tests. Yet, any delay or ignorance of checking the symptoms has other consequences on the health of the cat.
Lyme Disease Test For Dogs And Cats
To diagnose Lyme disease in dogs and cats, your veterinarian will take a detailed history of your pet and perform a thorough physical examination. There are now specific blood tests, called SNAP 4Dx tests, that are available to test for Lyme disease in cats and dogs using just a small drop of your pets blood.
Your veterinarian may also perform the following diagnostics to help provide an accurate diagnosis:
- Chemistry blood panel to evaluate kidney, liver and pancreatic function, as well as sugar levels
- Blood parasite screening
- Fecal tests to rule out intestinal parasites
- CBC
- Urine tests to screen for urinary tract infections or other diseases, to look for protein, and to evaluate the kidneys ability to concentrate urine
- An ECG to screen for an abnormal heart rhythm
Use Tick Repellent Collars
If you cant stand the thought of your feline being inside all day, you can make him an outdoor cat and still prevent ticks from biting him.
Invest in a tick repellent collar. This accessory will kill and repel fleas for up to 8 months. The collar doesnt have an odor and isnt greasy, so your cat wont be bothered by it.
You May Like: Horse Pellets As Cat Litter
Make Your Cat Stay Indoors
Outdoor cats, even those who split their time indoors and outdoors, are much more likely to get Lyme disease than strictly indoor cats. Because ticks transmit this condition, felines usually acquire it from roaming around outside.
With this in mind, you should know that indoor felines are not immune to the disease. Other pets may bring ticks into your yard or home. You and your family can also inadvertently track these arachnids indoors via your clothing.
Are Cats Affected By Lyme Disease
Lyme disease occurs most often in the Northeastern, upper Midwestern, and West Coast areas of the United States and southern Canada. Lyme disease frequently occurs in dogs but rarely affects cats . Experts are not entirely sure why this is, as cats can be affected by Borrelia infected ticks. However, they rarely contract Lyme disease.
Don’t Miss: Gargamel’s Cat Name
What Causes Lyme Disease In Cats
Lyme disease is transmitted through tick bites and subsequent feeding on the blood. Currently, there are four known species of ticks that can spread the disease, but the majority of transmissions stem from deer ticks, also known as black-legged ticks.
Once a tick attaches itself to the skin, it takes approximately 1 to 2 days for it to transmit the bacteria that causes Lyme disease . This is why prompt removal of ticks found on the body is extremely important.
Fortunately, because cats are such fastidious groomers, they will often remove ticks while cleaning themselves before they are at risk for infection.
Although cats usually do not get sick from Lyme disease, that doesnt mean they dont get exposed to it. While they may test positive for the disease, testing positive only proves exposure, which is not the same as illness. Naturally occurring Lyme disease has not ever been documented in cats.
Tick Paralysis In Cats
Its important to enforce tick prevention and control for more than just the threat of lyme disease. A tick bite can also lead to whats known as tick paralysis, which occurs when a potent toxin is released into the cats bloodstream through the saliva of certain species of female tick. The toxin directly affects the nervous system and can cause lower motor neuron paralysis, or a loss of voluntary movement. Furthermore, a large infestation of ticks can cause a cat to become anemic.
While lyme disease in cats is uncommon, its best to take preventative measures against the possibilityespecially if your cat goes outdoors. This tick season, keep your cat safe and bite-free!
Don’t Miss: Calico Shorthair
Mouse And Rat Poison Do Not Work Immediately
Can cats get lyme disease from mice. Toxoplasma can make your cat sick and can cause various symptoms ranging from diarrhea, pneumonia, liver disease, or diseases of the nervous system. Littman adds that it also possible cats may be naturally resistant to getting ill from lyme, in the same way they are resistant to getting sick from leptospirosis, a disease caused by a bacteria from the same class that causes lyme. Can cats get lyme disease from eating mice?
Domestic animals including dogs, cats, cattle, and horses can also become infected. Yes, your cat can come in contact with this disease after eating and infected mice. Mice and rats may carry viruses, bacteria, parasites, and even toxins that can affect you or your cat.
Your cat may contract lyme disease themselves, or they could bring the disease to their people. The main species of ticks responsible for causing lyme disease in cats are deer ticks. The parasite is common in mice and birds, who pick up the parasite by eating infected stool or contaminated meat.
However, they dont typically develop symptoms of lyme disease. Lyme disease is regularly reported in japan, china, western europe, countries of the former soviet union, the united states, southern canada, and australia. Lyme disease is much more common in dogs, but it is important to know the signs, as the disease can lead to other severe problems such as kidney failure, neurological dysfunction, joint.
Pin on Spoonie
Is Lyme Disease Contagious For Humans Or Other Pets
Both humans and other animals, including dogs, can become infected with Lyme disease. However, they can contract the infection only if they are directly bitten by an infected tick a cat exposed to Lyme disease cannot directly pass along the infection. Keep in mind, however, that cats may bring unattached, infected ticks into the home, which can then attach themselves to another person or animal to infect them.
Recommended Reading: Lovecraft On Cats
E Exposure To The Bacteria That Causes Lyme Might Not Cause Any Symptoms
While antibiotics do exist to treat dogs with Lyme disease, some dogs develop latent infections that appear to go away and then recur periodically throughout their lifetime. Prevention is the best way to ensure your pet stays safe from this disease. Also, if you are killing the ticks your pet comes in contact with, they cannot bring those same ticks home to you.
If your pet goes outside, even just into the backyard, then it is a candidate for tick protection. Contact your veterinarian to get your pet a prescription.
Dr. Angie DeRosa, DVM
Companion Animal Clinic has been serving Blacksburg, Virginia and surrounding Montgomery and Christiansburg communities since 1974. We are an AAHA accredited veterinary hospital and provide quality, professional care for dogs, cats, exotics, and small mammals. Learn more about our amazing team.
Lyme Disease: An Overview
Lyme disease is caused by the spiral-shaped bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi, and it’s transmitted via an infected tick. Once a person or animal becomes infected, the bacteria travel through the bloodstream to multiple locations, such as the joints, kidneys and the heart, leading to health issues further down the line.
While it was once thought that only the deer tick transmitted Lyme disease, entomologists have since discovered that several species of common ticks may be involved in the disease’s transmission.
You May Like: How Many Cat Years Equals One Human Year
How Do I Keep Ticks Off My Horse
Really, the best way to keep the ticks off your horse after the initial blood sucking invasion is over, is in preventative measures by keeping trees and shrubs trimmed, grass cut, treating target areas, applying Equi-spot every few weeks, or by just plain keeping your horse hosed down with a good fly and tick repellent
Recommended Reading: Why Is My Cats Fur Greasy
Is There A Cure For Lyme Disease In Cats
Treatment for Lyme disease in cats often involves the use of antibiotics. Studies indicate that prompt treatment is essential for cats to achieve full recovery. However, if the treatment is delayed, it may take longer for the cat to recover while untreated infections can result in irreversible tissue damage.
In some cases, additional therapy is necessary to help the affected organ systems recover. This is often the case if the kidneys, heart, or nerves have been affected.
Read Also: Can Cats Eat Cinnamon Toast Crunch
Preventing Lyme Disease In Cats
Despite its rarity, its important to take preventative measures to protect your cat from becoming infected with Lyme disease, as well as other diseases spread by ticks.
Cats are excellent groomers on their own, but its still important to brush your cat carefully and check their coat for ticks, especially if theyve been outside. To protect yourself when removing a tick, always wear gloves. They can be difficult to kill, so dispose of them in rubbing alcohol to ensure they dont attach themselves to anyone else in the home.
Tick control medications and products are available . Talk to your vet to see if they are appropriate for your cat.
How Can I Treat Lyme Disease In My Cat
Lyme disease is diagnosed through a series of laboratory tests and blood analysis. When caught early it is easily treated with antibiotics. Many patients see an improvement or dissipation of symptoms within three to five days of beginning antibiotics, with total eradication within four weeks after beginning treatment. However, more severe cases can leave lasting effects, including long-term joint pain even after the bacteria has been removed for the cats system.
Don’t Miss: Can You Use Regular Nail Clippers On A Cat
Can I Get Lyme Disease From My Pet
If your pet has been diagnosed with Lyme disease you are not at risk of becoming infected directly from your animal. The bacteria increase to high levels in the blood of wildlife, but humans and domestic animals develop only low levels of the bacteria in their blood and at not high enough to infect a feeding tick.
Preventing Ticks From Affecting Your Cat
The good news is that ticks dont have to be a nuisance for you or your cat. There are dozens of preventive treatments currently available, and our Charlotte Animal Hospital veterinarian will be happy to go through these with you in further detail. Types of preventives include collars, spot-on treatments and octal medications.
You should also check her coat thoroughly every day and remove any ticks immediately and safely, disposing of them before they can cause further risk of infection.
If you would like to know more about tick-borne diseases in cats, please contact our veterinary team in Port Charlotte, FL who will be happy to advise you at Charlotte Animal Hospital.
June 20, 2018/ SVP
Recommended Reading: Why Does My Female Dog Hump My Male Cat
Why Would Cats Be Less Prone To Lyme
Ticks infected with Lyme disease transmit the illness by biting. The infection enters the body through the blood, which the ticks feed on. It takes two to four days for a tick to transmit Lyme disease into a cat, says Dr. Littman, but since cats are fastidious groomers, it is likely they remove the ticks before the infection can get into their bodies.
Dr. Littman adds that it also possible cats may be naturally resistant to getting ill from Lyme, in the same way they are resistant to getting sick from leptospirosis, a disease caused by a bacteria from the same class that causes Lyme.
But just because cats usually dont get sick from Lyme disease, that doesnt mean they dont get exposed to it. Some cats found with ticks, and who have symptoms such as fever and lethargy, have been found to test positive for Lyme. However, testing positive only proves exposure, says Dr. Littman. It doesnt prove that any signs of illness are due to Lyme. Even treatment with the antibiotic doxycycline doesnt prove the cause of illness to be Lyme, Dr. Littman notes, since doxycycline treats many other kinds of infection and has anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic properties that may help an ill cat feel better, whether she has Lyme or not.
How To Treat Lyme Disease In Dogs And Cats
The success of Lyme disease treatment in dogs and cats is dependent upon how quickly your pet is diagnosed and how advanced the disease has progressed.
Doxycycline, an antibiotic, is the most commonly utilized medicine to treat Lyme disease. However, your veterinarian may prescribe a different antibiotic according to your pets unique case and circumstance.
In general, most pets respond well to treatment and chronic consequences can be avoided. It is always advised to follow up with your veterinarian after starting treatment for assessment and further testing.
Also Check: Are Cat And Dog Nail Clippers The Same
What Are The Symptoms
The symptoms of Lyme disease are not always obvious. Many cats never exhibit symptoms at all.
One of the predominant signs of the disease in cats is lameness. Lyme disease causes an inflammation of the joints that makes it difficult, if not impossible, for a cat to use its limbs. This typically presents as acute lameness, or shifting-leg lameness, wherein the cat will experience lameness in one leg for three to four days, then shift to the other leg for another few days. The inflammation can cause pain in the limbs but is treatable with antibiotics.
Cats also develop kidney problems when contracting Lyme disease. Left untreated, it can result in total kidney failure.
Other symptoms include:
How Long Does It Take To Show The Symptoms
When it comes to humans, it doesnt take more time to show the bullseye rash around the bitten place. However, in the case of dogs, no such rash is visible.
Thats why it takes longer and can be between two to five months after the tick bite. Once you see the symptoms, you should be aware that its been a long time since some ticks have bitten your dog, and you should consult your vet right away.
Read Also: Gargamels Cat Name
Read Also: Gargamel Smurfs Cat Name
Signs Of Lyme Disease In Cats
The same organism that causes Lyme disease in dogs, Borrelia burgdorferi, is also responsible for feline Lyme disease. The ticks which bite the cat may become infected with this bacteria after feeding upon rodents, mice etc. The main species of ticks responsible for causing Lyme disease in cats are Deer ticks. Cats are also likelier to spend time outdoors in grassy areas where such ticks typically dwell. The common symptoms and signs of Lyme disease in cats are:
- Lethargy
- Pain in joints and stiffness in back- your cat might protest upon being picked up.
- Fever
Preventing Feline Lyme Disease
The best way of ensuring that your cat remains safe from Lyme Disease is to prevent and repel ticks causing it in the first place. You could use tick collars as well as tick control shampoos, sprays and powders on the pets as well as its surroundings. This will ensure killing off the tick eggs and larvae. It is important to treat your yards with organic, food grade diatomaceous powder as well as with beneficial nematodes.
You must also de-clutter and mow your lawn regularly including around the fences to reduce hiding places of rodents, mice etc that usually carry such disease harboring deer ticks. You must also check your cats daily for ticks. You could make use of flea combs to remove fleas and ticks.
Do browse through this website for best tick control products to help prevent feline Lyme disease in your cats.
Don’t Miss: Diy Pine Pellet Litter Box
Can Cats Get Lyme Disease From Ticks
Lyme disease is relatively unheard of in cats. Yet, as a cat owner, you need to be aware of this fatal disease particularly since it is known to lead to heart disease as well as kidney failure in cats. Moreover, treating the disease becomes hard since the symptoms keep coming back when not nipped in the bud. So, if you have been wondering can cats get Lyme disease from ticks, the answer unfortunately is, Yes, they could. Let us study feline Lyme disease signs and symptoms and also effective Lyme disease treatment and prevention in cats.
Recovery Of Lyme Disease In Cats
Recovery will depend on how long the cat has had Lyme disease and whether or not it has caused tissue damage. However, since there are so few cases of Lyme disease in cats, there is little information available on the treatment methods and recovery prognoses of tissue that has been irreversibly damaged by Lyme disease.
While there is a vaccine for dogs that will help prevent Lyme disease, there is no preventative vaccine for cats, so youll want to ensure you take necessary preventative measures at home. Always brush your cat carefully after it goes outside, checking their coat carefully for ticks. If you do see a tick, always wear gloves during removal. Never touch the tick with your bare hands, and only remove it using a pair of tweezers. Ticks are notoriously difficult to kill, so ensure that you dispose of them in isopropyl alcohol.
Consult your vet regarding which tick and flea medications are safe to administer to your cat. The vet may prescribe a round of antibiotics for use at home. Your vet may also schedule a follow-up appointment to ensure that the disease has been fully eradicated.
*Wag! may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page. Items are sold by the retailer, not Wag!.
Lyme Disease Average Cost
Recommended Reading: How Long Do Nail Caps Last On Cats