Recognizing the symptoms of Lyme disease is very important. If you dog gets Lyme disease it is very serious and dangerous if left untreated. With early detection by the owner, treatment can be done, and the dog will have suffered less, and the outcome will be much better.

Lyme disease is a disease that is caused and transmitted by the deer tick. Deer ticks do not jump or fly, but are easily caught. The deer tick lives in areas of low growing plants, grass areas, and wooded areas. Deer ticks wait for white footed mice, white tailed deer, and dogs to come walking through, and then attach themselves.

This deer tick does not only affect the dog, but the other people in the household as well. It is a good idea to check your dog for deer ticks if you have just been in an area that has deer ticks. The ticks bite is not a stinging bite, so your dog may have many on him, but not act any different than normal. A through check of the dog will help you determine if he has any. The deer tick can be on any part of the dogs body, but the feet, head, ears and neck area are the most popular. It may be hard to see the ticks due to the dogs coat, but do as thorough of a check as possible.

The most common time of year for the dear ticks is from fall to spring, when you and your dog are spending the most time outside. It is becoming more popular in many states, where is used to be primarily in the Midwest, and the Northwestern states. Due to the increase in its popularity, it is important to know the symptoms so that you can have your dog treated.

Symptoms to look for will be a fever, listlessness, and an onset of lameness along with warmth, pain and swelling of the joints. The site around the initial bite may also be inflamed. If these symptoms occur it is important to make a visit to the vets office.

Catching lyme disease in its early stages is very crucial to making sure the dog does not have any long term affects. Long term affects include paralysis. The disease will affect the front and hind limbs, the muscles in the chest, which will disable the respiratory muscles. If your dog has lyme disease and it is an advanced infection hospitalization may be necessary.

Just remember to check your dog for deer ticks after walking through areas that are likely to be populated with them. Early detection is the best way to avoid any suffering and long term affects.

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Article by Kelly Marshall of Oh My Dog Supplies - your online source for upscale dog beds and wrought iron dog feeders.