In pets, Lyme disease can be hard to detect

Meteorologist Cecily Tynan was on vacation when her 6-year-old dog, Sandy, became sick.

The dog developed severe bleeding from her mouth after playing with a stick. The next morning, after a bout of black diarrhea, the family took Sandy to an emergency veterinarian.

Tests and X-rays couldn’t pinpoint the source of the problem. The next day, Sandy was lethargic, hiding under the bed and holding up her paw.

Two days later, when the dog was unable to use both front legs, the family went back to the vet. This time there was a diagnosis: Lyme disease.

Tiny deer ticks are the primary carrier of the bacterium that causes Lyme disease.

In Sandy’s case, the mouth bleeding was unrelated, likely from a cut she got while playing with a stick. The diarrhea was a result of ingesting blood.

“She is on some mega antibiotics now and, finally starting to act like herself again,” Tynan posted to Facebook. “Not quite running around yet, but at least able to use both front legs and not hiding all day under a bed!”

While a bull’s-eye rash is an indicator of Lyme disease in humans, it is harder to detect in furry pets who may not show symptoms for two to five months after a tick bite.

Typical symptoms in animals include fever, loss of appetite, lameness, joint swelling and decreased activity.

To help your pets avoid Lyme disease, ask your vet about reliable tick-preventive products. Dogs should avoid tall grass, marshes and wooded areas where ticks are often found.