Lyme disease is a bacterial infection brought on by the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi. Animals and humans change into infected via the bite of a tick. It’s a standard misconception that Lyme disease is brought on by ticks, as ticks merely spread the disease. Lyme disease is principally spread by Ixodes ticks. These commonly feed off deer and other wildlife similar to rabbits and foxes.
Lyme disease may be very common in North America and affects all types of mammals, including humans. It just isn’t quite common in cats, but they’ll get infected too.
What Is Lyme Disease in Cats?
Lyme disease in cats is brought on by Borrelia burgdorferi which is a bacterium and is transmitted by tick bites. Lyme disease is a debilitating disease that has effects on many various organs and systems within the body, including the joints, the nervous system, the center, and the kidneys. There are a minimum of 4 known varieties of tick which are believed to spread the disease. Probably the most common of those ticks is the deer tick, also often known as the black-legged tick.
Cats change into infected when an infected tick bites the cat. When the tick becomes attached to the cat, it takes between 1 and a couple of days for the bacteria to be transmitted. They pass the bacteria on through their saliva. This is the reason it’s at all times advised to quickly remove ticks seen attached. The chance of infection is highest when the ticks are in search of hosts—that is springtime for nymphs and spring and fall for adults. Once a cat has been bitten by an infected tick, it may possibly take months for clinical signs to develop, and a few cats may never show any clinical signs.
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What Are the Signs of Lyme Disease in Cats?
It is definitely very rare for cats to display clinical signs after they are infected with Lyme disease. Common signs are generalized and non-specific and should include:
- Lameness
- Lethargy
- Increased sleeping time
- Lack of appetite
- Less interactive than usual
- Fever
- Stiffness of joints
- Swelling of joints
If the disease has spread to organs within the body and has began to affect them, further clinical signs could also be seen similar to:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Weight reduction
- Edema of the limbs
- Tremors
- Swollen abdomen
Unlike humans and dogs, cats tend to not react after they are bitten on the bite sight. Dogs and humans often get a characteristic “bull’s eye” rash, but this just isn’t commonly reported in cats.
What Are the Causes of Lyme Disease in Cats?
The explanation for Lyme disease in cats is being bitten by a tick infected with Borrelia Burgdorferi.
The tick will need to have latched onto the cat for twenty-four–48 hours for the bacteria to be transmitted. The bacteria invade the body and replicate rapidly, migrating through the tissues and affecting multiple organs.
As a result of the very fact they groom themselves recurrently, cats often remove ticks while they’re licking themselves. This often occurs before the bacteria has had a likelihood to be transmitted to the cat from the tick. This may occasionally explain why Lyme disease is quite a bit less common in cats in comparison with other animals similar to dogs.
How Is Lyme Disease Diagnosed in Cats?
Diagnosis of Lyme disease is normally based on clinical signs and history. Your vet is prone to rule out other causes of any clinical signs present first, as Lyme disease just isn’t quite common in cats. Your vet will speak to you first to get a full history, including any relevant travel history and whether your cat goes outdoors or not. They may examine your cat from head to tail they usually may then determine to perform blood tests and urinalysis.
There’s a selected blood test for Lyme disease that might be carried out, and other diagnostic tests may help your vet assess the severity of the disease. Frustratingly, cats may not test positive for Lyme disease for as much as 8 weeks after a bite.
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How Do I Take care of a Cat with Lyme Disease
Cats which are diagnosed with Lyme disease must be given a course of antibiotics. The standard length of the course is 30 days, although some cats may require a protracted course of antibiotics—this depends upon how severe the infection is. The antibiotic often given to treat Lyme disease is doxycycline. This may be very effective against the bacteria; nevertheless, it just isn’t tolerated well by all cats. Some cats can develop esophageal strictures when given oral doxycycline because the tablet can get stuck. Your vet may offer your cat the liquid form or advise you to flush the tablet down your cat’s throat with water after giving them the tablet.
In addition to antibiotics, your vet may prescribe pain relief similar to non-steroidal anti-inflammatories. This might be helpful for joint pain. Depending on how severe the infection is, they may administer supportive care, for instance, intravenous fluid therapy, and dietary support. This all depends upon what organs have been affected.
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Ceaselessly Asked Questions
Can cats survive Lyme disease?
Lyme disease may be very rare in cats. In case your cat does change into infected, and the infection is identified early, then the prognosis is sweet. Cats could make a full recovery with prompt administration of antibiotics if the disease is caught within the mild, early stages. If a cat gets the disease and for some reason, it goes unnoticed and untreated, then it should be more complicated to treat, and recovery shall be longer.
How serious is Lyme disease in cats?
Lyme disease might be very serious in cats whether it is left undiagnosed. If cats are infected, the disease can progress to cause lameness, lethargy, stiffness in limbs fatigue, respiratory difficulties, and kidney problems amongst other things. Alternatively, some cats might be infected but show no clinical signs in any respect, so the severity of the disease does vary.
Can cats pass Lyme disease onto humans?
It just isn’t possible for cats to pass Lyme disease directly onto humans. Your cat may, nevertheless, bring infected ticks into the house, they usually can easily move out of your cat to you. In the event that they bite any humans in the home they usually are infected with Borrelia burgdorferi, they are going to pass it on, and the humans can change into infected. This is the reason it’s so necessary to make use of tick prevention parasite treatment.
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Conclusion
Lyme disease is comparatively rare in cats. It’s brought on by bacteria and spread by ticks. If caught early, it is easy to treat, and the prognosis is sweet. If the disease has been allowed to progress, it may possibly turn into a debilitating condition and the prognosis is poorer. Common complications include long-term kidney damage and arthritis.
It’s a zoonotic disease so humans should be careful too. It is vitally necessary to maintain up up to now with tick prevention treatment, especially in areas where there are numerous ticks.
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