Lyme disease , because of the bacteriaBorrelia burgdorferi , is a check mark - carry disease that has been found in all 48 states in the continental United States .
Although Lyme disease can affect dogs and computed tomography , it is much more vulgar in dogs than computerized tomography . Lyme disease in cats has been observed only in a laboratory setting and not in the raw environment .
If you ’re marvel if a Arabian tea can get Lyme disease , the short response is : yes , but it is unlikely . Although Lyme disease is exceedingly rarefied in computerized axial tomography , it ’s still worth learning more about this check mark - borne disease .
Can Cats Get Lyme Disease?
Cats can get Lyme disease , but the chances of a cat — indoor or feral — being affected by the disease are close to zero .
Lyme disease is broadcast by the deer tick ( Ixodes scapularisorIxodes pacificus ) , typically in the spring and fall . Nymphs ( baby ticking ) and grownup distaff deer ticks are the primary spreaders of the disease .
Deer ticks become infected when they feed off of wildlife infect withB. burgdorferi . The bacteria accede the tick ’s body during a eating .
ticking care to perch on stalking of grass . Rather than jump off onto their host , tick wait until an ignorant host paseo by . The check mark then crawls onto the host ’s skin .
Theoretically , if a deer tick landed on a qat , it would start flow and transmitB. burgdorferithrough its spit onto the cat ’s pelt . This transmission process would take about 24 to 48 hours . The bacteria would duplicate on the skin , then move into the cat ’s tissue paper , include the joints and neural system , where it would continue hidden from the resistant system .
Even for strictly indoor Caterpillar , a deer tick could find its way at bottom by hitching a ride on a person or hound who ’s just been outside . That cervid tick could finally creep onto the cat ’s skin .
However , cats ’ exacting grooming habits sour in their party favour regarding Lyme disease . Even if a deer ticking did land on your CT , your CT ’s grooming would probably dispatch the check mark before it began transmit the bacteria .
Symptoms of Lyme Disease in Cats
computerized tomography with Lyme disease are ofttimes symptomless . If a big cat does have clinical signal , these signs will be like to those seenin dogs with Lyme disease :
terrible Lyme disease can damage the kidneys and cause symptoms like regurgitation , tree branch intumescence , and weight loss .
A telling signaling of Lyme disease in people is a ‘ bull ’s middle ’ rash at the collation site , but cats and weenie seldom develop this skin rash .
Symptoms of Lyme disease in cats do n’t show up until several weeks after the check mark snack . If a cervid tick has bite your Caterpillar , and the check mark stay on long enough to transmitB. burgdorferi , you would have to expect for at least several weeks to see any signs of the disease .
Ticks on Cats: What to Do
Check your cat ’s cutis on a regular basis for ticks , especially if your big cat spends any amount of prison term outside . Promptly remove any ticking you see to minimize the fortune of disease transmission . Here are the step to safely remove a tick from a computerized tomography :
Step 1 : Gather tick - polish off supplies : rubbing alcoholic beverage , a glass jar , a dyad of disposable gloves , a span of tweezers , and triple - antibiotic unguent .
Step 2 : Pour itch alcohol into the jar and strip the pair of tweezers with some rubbing intoxicant .
whole tone 3 : Put on a pair of baseball mitt .
Step 4 : Pull back your computed axial tomography ’s pelt as much as possible to get a good view of the tick .
Step 5 : practice the tweezers to grasp the tick ’s head . Do not squeeze or sprain !
footstep 6 : firm tear up and hit the tick from your CT ’s hide .
Step 7 : point the check in the jar of rubbing alcoholic beverage to vote down it .
Step 8 : thrust forth your baseball glove and wash your hands .
Step 9 : Wash the bite site with pet - dependable soap and water and then supervise for sign of infection .
touch your veterinary after you have removed the tick . Your vet may advise you to pass on the ticking to a veterinary diagnostic laboratory for additional examination to determine the diseases the tick bear .
Although star sign of Lyme disease take weeks to come out after a tick bite , carry on monitoring your cat after remove the ticking . Contact your veterinarian if your cat shows any sign of Lyme disease .
Diagnosing Lyme Disease in Cats
Veterinarians diagnose Lyme disease in cats by jazz a qat ’s history of tick exposure , perform basic research laboratory exam ( blood work , urinalysis , X - rays ) , and find out other diseases that could be cause Lyme disease - colligate symptom . Veterinarians may also test a sample of joint fluid forB. burgdorferi .
A stock test is uncommitted that observe Lyme disease . However , a positive test consequence would not show up until several week after the tick raciness .
If you submitted the tick for testing , those resultant role would aid determine whether your cat has Lyme disease .
Treatment for Lyme Disease in Cats
Lyme disease in cats is treat withthe antibiotic doxycycline , which put to work quickly and is very efficacious against the disease . When treated early , cats with Lyme disease have a good prognosis .
Lyme disease that is not treated too soon or left untreated can cause lasting tissue damage , so former treatment provides the best luck of convalescence .
Medications to Treat Lyme Disease in Cats
Vibramycin is typically given for a 30 - day treatment course . Although this antibiotic is effective , it does have some drawbacks . For object lesson , not all cats can digest doxycycline . Also , becauseB. burgdorferilikes to hide inside the tissues , multiple rounds of Vibramycin may be needed to discharge the body of the bacteria .
Vibramycin tablets can have esophageal stenosis that narrow down the esophagus and make swallow unmanageable . Veterinarians often prescribe liquid Vibramycin to avoid this job .
Pain medication is recommended if a cat has joint pain sensation .
If a quat has grievous Lyme disease , additional medications , such as intravenous fluid therapy and kidney medicament , may be needed .
Cost to Treat Lyme Disease in Cats
name and do by Lyme disease has varied costs . It may cost several hundred dollars to fill out the diagnostic testing for the disease , specially if the tick is submit for examination at a veterinary diagnostic science lab .
The price of medication varies , but doxycycline and common painfulness medications are usually not very expensive . Treatment costs can leap significantly for cats that require hospitalization because of severe Lyme disease .
Your veterinary surgeon will determine the precise toll of treating your cat .
Preventing Lyme Disease in Cats
Monthly tick bar is the salutary way to prevent Lyme disease in cats . A monthly topical tick preventative , give every calendar month throughout the year , will cater the good tick prevention for your computerized axial tomography . think back that tick prevention is still of import for indoor computerized axial tomography .
Other bar strategy include break your computerized tomography ’s peel for ticks regularly ( and removing any ticks that you see ) and proceed your grass trimmed . Of course , keeping your cat indoors as much as potential will minimise the chances of a tick cower onto your cat .
Lyme Disease in Cats: Bringing It Together
Because Lyme disease is so rare in cat , this disease is not something that needs to be high on your list of business as a cat owner . However , ticks do bear other diseases that are much more likely to pass to cats , such as cytauxzoonosis . rest diligent about practice tick prevention strategies and get hold of your veterinary if your cat has been bitten by a tick and shows signs of illness .
