Ticks & Lyme Disease in Dogs — Symptoms & Prevention

Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne disease in Belgium. Every year, thousands of dogs are infected — and many owners don't recognise the symptoms in time. Here's the complete guide to protecting your dog.

What is Lyme disease in dogs?

Lyme disease (borreliosis) is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, transmitted by ticks (mainly Ixodes ricinus, the forest tick). The tick must be attached for at least 24 to 48 hours to transmit the bacterium.

Symptoms of Lyme disease in dogs

Early symptoms (2-5 months after infection)

• 🔴 Intermittent lameness (the dog limps on one leg, then another)
• 🔴 Joint pain — swollen, warm joints
• 🔴 Fever (39.5°C to 40.5°C)
• 🔴 Loss of appetite
• 🔴 Fatigue, lethargy
• 🔴 Swollen lymph nodes

Late symptoms (if untreated)

• 🔴 Kidney problems (glomerulonephritis) — serious and potentially fatal
• 🔴 Heart problems
• 🔴 Neurological problems

What to do if a tick bites your dog

Belgium — Tick risk areas

According to the Belgian Scientific Institute of Public Health, the highest-risk areas are:

• 🌲 The Ardennes forest and Hautes Fagnes — Very high risk
• 🌲 The Sonian Forest (Brussels) — High risk
• 🌲 Hertogenwald and the German-speaking region — High risk
• 🌾 Rural areas in Wallonia and Flanders — Medium to high risk
• 🏙️ Urban parks in Brussels — Some risk present

Is there a Lyme vaccine for dogs?

Yes — the Lyme vaccine (Nobivac Lyme) is available from Belgian vets. It's recommended for dogs living in or regularly walking through wooded areas. Best combined with an anti-tick collar for maximum protection.

Prevention — The best protection

Prevention remains the best treatment:

• ✅ Natural repellent anti-tick collar (our Collier-Protect)
• ✅ Checking the fur after every walk in the forest
• ✅ Annual vaccination if in a risk area
• ✅ Avoiding tall grass during the season (April-November)

What's the outlook if the disease is caught in time?

When caught early, Lyme disease is generally treated well in dogs thanks to antibiotic treatment prescribed by a vet, with a good outlook in most cases. This is exactly why monitoring after a tick bite is so important: the sooner treatment begins, the better the chances of a full recovery with no long-term complications.

Frequently asked questions

Do all dogs bitten by an infected tick develop the disease?

No, only some of the exposed dogs develop clinical symptoms. Many infected dogs remain asymptomatic, which doesn't mean you should be any less vigilant after spotting a bite.

Can a vaccinated dog still catch Lyme disease?

The vaccine significantly reduces the risk but doesn't offer 100% protection. It's still recommended to combine it with anti-tick protection (collar, regular checks) even for a vaccinated dog.

How long after the bite do symptoms appear?

Early symptoms can appear anywhere from 2 to 5 months after infection, which can make the link to a tick bite hard to establish if you didn't note the date of the bite.