Lyme Disease in Humans Vs. Dogs

Lyme disease can be serious in both humans and canines, but the method of treatment and how the disease progresses differ greatly. Ticks that carry Lyme disease transmit the disease via a bite.

Features

• While Lyme disease comes from a tick bite in humans and canines, the symptoms of the disease are vastly different, as is the recovery time.

Human Lyme Disease

• When Lyme disease infects a person bitten by a tick, a red rash develops around the area, followed by flu-like symptoms almost immediately. Weeks later, 15 percent of people will develop joint pain and roughly 5 percent will develop a heart-rhythm disturbance.

Canine Lyme Disease

• A dog will not display symptoms for several weeks to months after being infected. When symptoms do appear, they display arthritis symptoms with an occasional fever. Dogs normally make a full recovery after a short course of antibiotics.

Treatment

• Lyme disease in both humans and dogs is treated with antibiotics. Humans have lasting effects from being infected, while dogs tend to recover quickly and totally.

Human Significance

• Months after a human has been infected, 60 percent continue having arthritis-like pain and neurological disturbances. Dogs rarely develop heart or neurological reactions because of the infection.