Lyme disease in dogs
Shifting lameness, fever, lethargy, off food in the weeks after a tick bite — phone the vet for Lyme testing.
In the next 60 seconds
- Phone the vet — Lyme testing usually needs a positive blood antibody plus clinical signs.
Recognise the signs
- Shifting lameness — different leg each day
- Fever
- Lethargy, off food
- Joint swelling
- Rare: kidney involvement (Lyme nephritis — serious)
First aid steps
- Phone the vet — Lyme testing usually needs a positive blood antibody plus clinical signs.
Do NOT
- Do not skip prevention assuming Lyme is rare.
- Do not assume every lameness in a tick-exposed dog is Lyme — many other causes.
When to phone the vet immediately
- Severe lethargy, vomiting, increased thirst (kidney involvement)
- Persistent severe lameness
Common causes
- Tick bite transmitting Borrelia burgdorferi
- UK distribution increasing — Highlands, South West, New Forest, East Anglia
What you'll need
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Amazon
O'Tom Tick Twister (multi-pack)
Removing ticks within 24–48 hours of attachment dramatically reduces Lyme disease transmission. Keep one in the car, walking bag, and home kit.
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Amazon
Credit-card sized backup for the wallet. Slides under the tick body and lifts cleanly without squeezing.
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What the vet will need to know
- Tick exposure history
- Tick prevention used
- Symptom timeline
Aftercare
- Antibiotic course (typically doxycycline 4 weeks).
- Most respond well to treatment.
- Lyme nephritis is more severe.
Prevention
- Year-round tick prevention. . A Tick Twister should be in every dog-walking bag — it's the UK vet default for safe tick removal.
- Daily tick checks after country walks.
- Prompt tick removal (see pet-tick-removal).
Frequently asked questions
Is Lyme common in UK dogs?
Increasingly recognised, particularly in tick hotspots. Many exposed dogs do not develop clinical disease.
Should I vaccinate?
Lyme vaccines exist but are not core. Discuss risk with the vet based on lifestyle and location.
Can humans catch Lyme from dogs?
Not directly — both get it from ticks. Tick prevention on the dog reduces ticks brought into the home.
Vet-prescribed treatments delivered to your door
Prescription and over-the-counter treatments from a licensed UK veterinary pharmacy — flea, tick, worm, skin and wound care for dogs and cats.
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