Political Humor

Isis is suffering from a brutal case of Lyme disease. She has spent the last two days living under the young’un’s bed. She can’t use her left front paw at all, and it’s obvious that her other legs are in a great bit of pain as well.

She’s been on antibiotics since her trip to the vet 2 days ago, and she’s shown some mild improvement. As you can see, she’s moved from under the bed to on the bed.

According to the CDC:

Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi and is transmitted to humans by the bite of infected blacklegged ticks. Typical symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, and a characteristic skin rash called erythema migrans. If left untreated, infection can spread to joints, the heart, and the nervous system. Lyme disease is diagnosed based on symptoms, physical findings (e.g., rash), and the possibility of exposure to infected ticks; laboratory testing is helpful in the later stages of disease. Most cases of Lyme disease can be treated successfully with a few weeks of antibiotics. Steps to prevent Lyme disease include using insect repellent, removing ticks promptly, landscaping, and integrated pest management. The ticks that transmit Lyme disease can occasionally transmit other tick-borne diseases as well.

Hopefully we’ll be seeing more improvement over the next few days. It breaks my heart to see her struggle like this. She’s such a good girl.

See also, Lyme Disease Foundation, and some FAQs on Lyme Disease. You can also enter the term in your favorite search engine, of course.