Lyme Disease in Dogs
Dogs are susceptible to many types of diseases that do not necessarily include diseases they may get vaccinated for. Many people do not realize that many canine diseases can be spread from dog to human. One of those diseases is Lyme disease, which is spread through ticks that carry bacteria called Borrelia Burgdorferi. Lyme disease displays little to no symptoms and can cause failing organs like the heart or kidneys, or even attack the central nervous system. The central nervous system controls the brain, which in turn controls moods. In general, when the nervous system is affected, it can negatively affect moods, causing severe mood swings. With severe mood swings a dog may act different than normal. That behavior can lead to a dog attacking you or your family and causing a dog bite-related injury or fatality. In 2001 there were over 300,000 dog bite-related injuries treated, while canine Lyme disease was growing. You may need to contact an Arizona dog bite attorney if you or someone you know has been bitten by a dog with or without Lyme disease.
A dog owner is responsible for maintaining their dogs’ health and actions. Dog bite-related injuries are not inexpensive. Each year there are millions of dollars spent towards medical care because of injuries. Almost a million people out of the estimated 4 million people who are bitten by a dog seek medical attention. An Arizona dog bite attorney can help you regain the costs if you were bitten in the Phoenix area. Lyme disease can add another problem to a dog bite if a dog is infected.
Symptoms of dog bites:
- Abrasions
- Bruises
- Internal Bleeding
- Fractures
- Facial disfigurement
- Fatality
Some Symptoms of Lyme disease in Humans:
- Skin Rash
- Enlargement of the Heart or Kidney
- Nervous System change
- Swollen or tender lymph glands
- Lethargy
- Chills and body pain
- Headaches
Some Symptoms of Lyme disease in Dogs:
- Weakness
- Fever
- Discharging from the eyes or nose
- Enlargement of the Heart or Kidney
- Body pain and Swelling
- Paralysis
- Nervous System change
Overview of Lyme disease
Ticks have approximately a 2-3 year life cycle. In a ticks’ nymph and adult stages, they feed off animals like dogs. They are beige or tan during their nymph stage and black or red in the adult stage. The tick is the transportation method for Lyme disease and can transfer from the dog to the human. Symptoms are overlapping in both dogs and people leading to fatality if not treated. Lyme disease can be treated with antibiotics and is spread through a tick on the dog not the dog itself. However, since the nervous system can be affected besides a human getting Lyme disease, a change in a canine mood swings (irritability, aggression, shyness, detachment) can leave you or someone you love a victim of dog bite-related injury.
Contact an Arizona Dog Bite Attorney
If you are bitten and suffer a dog bite-related injury by a dog with or without lyme disease, our Arizona dog-bite injury lawyer can help get the legal advice you need to gain back to pain and suffering. For more about dogs bite injuries see www.azdogbitefirm.com.
