Lyme Disease Cats

Lyme is a disease caused by a bacterium called Borrelia burgdorferi. It is spread by ticks which carry it, after biting mice of other animals which suffer from lyme. People can get infected if bitten by ticks.

The disease has three stages: primary lyme disease, secondary lyme disease and tertiary lyme disease. The risks of being infected increase if one holds animals which carry the disorder, if performing activities such as gardening or hiking and also by simply walking through grass. If a person gets infected he/she will have specific symptoms which include chills, fever, headaches or muscle pains. Sometimes joint inflammations or stiff neck are possible if the disease's stage is advanced.

Not every person who has been bitten by a tick can develop the lyme disease. It depends on everyone's immune system. The treatment includes use of antibiotics and close observation for a period of at least thirty days. There are some possible complications on advanced stages of the lyme disease that include: heart problems, nervous system damage such as sleep disorders, muscle paralysis, decreased concentration or pain.

Cats are also affected by the lyme disease. If you own a cat you should check it regularly to prevent the infestation. It is difficult to recognize whether your cat has been bitten or not, as the lyme can only be diagnosed if the owner finds ticks on the feline. Some animals don't have symptoms at all until 10 hours after being bitten. That's why it is imperative to remove the parasite as soon as possible, before it begins to suck the cat's blood. If infected, the cat looses its appetite and has stiff muscle or joints. Symptoms such fever, fatigue or sudden collapse is likely to appear.

Removing a tick from the cat requires maximum attention. If you have a cat which has been bitten, be sure you have removed the whole tick without leaving its head stuck in the flesh because this can cause abscess, getting infected. Treatment is efficient if started on time. Vets treat cats which have lyme disease with antibiotics such as amoxicillin, doxycycline or tetracycline. In order to avoid lyme disease, it is recommended to keep the animals indoors if possible. Even if the lyme disease is not life threatening it is more persistent in humans and dogs than cats. Unfortunately it can go undiagnosed for a very long time, causing discomforts if progresses untreated.

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