[Miriam Wade]

A friend who isn't an RTFer asked me to post this. Her 14 month old was recently diagnosed w/ Lyme's. Titer is 66, which vet says indicates "having the disease, as opposed to just exposure". The dog hasn't been vaccinated. She also shows no symptoms. There were a couple days of feeling a "little punky", but absolutely nothing since then.

Their home-visit vet is very circumspect of her requiring the doxycycline treatment and so I'm posting to try and get a general (vets especially please!) consensus of what is appropriate for this dog.

Thanks!

M

 

[ErinsEdge]

Not a vet but I would not have a problem with treating with Doxy.

 

[Miriam Wade]

Not a vet but I would not have a problem with treating with Doxy.

Thanks! That's what I told her, but unfortunately she has 2 vets that she likes & respects giving her opposing advice.

Oh-I already heard from one person-this isn't Finn "in disguise" :wink: He's a happy, healthy boy!

M

 

[hhlabradors]

I would not, not, NOT mess around. I would treat it. The risks of Doxy versus the risks of Lyme? No contest.

http://www.vintagegoldens.com/tick.htm


I lost a dog many years ago to complications of Lyme disease, despite being treated, albeit not nearly long enough. This is serious stuff.

 

[awesmlab]

I would treat. I've had all but one of my dogs have one or more TBD and I've done a lot of research in the last couple of years and it's amazing how little some vets know about the various TBDs. Here's a site with some great info: http://blackgsd.googlepages.com/home

Did the vet do a SNAP4 to test for Ehrlichia Canis and Anaplasma too? The SNAP4 is new and the SNAP3 didn't test for Anaplasma which vets are finding is very prevalent here in New England with a large percentage of dogs being co-infected. Info from IDEXX: http://www.idexx.com/animalhealth/testkits/4dx/levyinsightsfinal.pdf . Anaplasma isn't always diagnosed and can mimic a lot of other diseases.

ETA: there was a thread sometime in the past 6 months or so discussing Lyme and treatment dosages.

 

[Jim Person]

Treat it. Jet had Lyme that went undetected for awhile, he is now experiencing Chronic renal disease as a result of Lyme. Not very pleasant... I'd nip it in the butt asap. Jim

 

[2Blackdogs!]

Definately treat it. That same Doxy takes care of all the other mentioned tick born diseases too I believe so not sure I would test for them-one positve test would be enough for me. If they wait till the dog shows lamness there will be a good chance of arthritus later.

 

[Goldenboy]

Definately treat it. That same Doxy takes care of all the other mentioned tick born diseases too I believe so not sure I would test for them-one positve test would be enough for me. If they wait till the dog shows lamness there will be a good chance of arthritus later.

Will a course of Doxy now prevent lameness, or any other TBD symptom, later? I don't think so. Many dogs with TBD's are asymptomatic and remain so their entire lives. Doxy has been proven to be very effective at quickly resolving the symptoms, should they occur. Some people advocate treating with a course of Doxy even if the dog isn't displaying any clinical signs out of the theory that there may be symptoms present, only that they are very subtle. Other people claim that a dose twice that prescribed by a vet (5 milligrams per 10 pounds of body weight?) given over a period twice as long as that prescribed by a vet has produced some amazing results. (I believe that a subsequent scientific study has refuted this claim) Not all dogs can handle Doxy (stomach problems) so I have heard that tetracycline may be a suitable option.

Blue has been diagnosed with Lyme. He has never shown any signs of the disease. I chose to treat with a course of doxy. Saw no difference, but it made me feel better. I keep a course on hand and will remain vigilant watching for symptoms. I feel that catching it early may be critical.

My belief is that Lyme disease in dogs in the northeast will reach epidemic proportions. Vets in this region, even with their growing attention to TBD, are still behind the curve.

 

[Judy Chute]

Treat... If the dog shows symptoms....then it is well progressed into the disease..you do not want this to invade tissue....vs the blood stream. Once in tissue....tough to get rid of it, chronic..not good.

By the way...same with humans...

She should contact a very knowledgeable vet that is willing to treat the dog for Lyme positive test..and high titer.

 

[David Sours]

I would treat with out a doubt. The last thing you want is it to get worse and develope renal problems.

Good Luck,
David

 

[torg]

Lymes

Our one year old male was limping a little last fall for about three days, barely noticeable but by the third day he would not stand up. Took a couple steps and laid down, a few more steps and laid down again. He would not stand up. Took his temperature and it was 104.6 I did not know what was happening but with the prevalence of lymes up here, I had some tetracycline in the house and started him on it immediately. Next morning he was up walking around although he was stiff. I took him to the vets and he tested positive for lymes. She switched him to Doxy, because of being recommended medication although tetracycline would work. By three days he was running and playing with the dogs. It scared me enough that I bought enough doxy for all my dogs and treated them for three weeks.

 

[JusticeDog]

Treat. Definitely. Doxy will not hurt the dog. I just put one of mine back on Doxy because his effort level seemed down. He was intially treated with 6 weeks of doxy at 400 for 2 weeks, then 800, then 400. If he shows an improvement in his effort level, may keep him on long term..... There are some very well know field trialers that are now keeping their dogs on Doxy year round, and some do a course annually.

 

[Miriam Wade]

THANK YOU everyone & for those that PM'd too! I just rcvd a call from the dog's owner & she & her husband are reading all the info & couldn't be more grateful.

Off for a walk with them & the dog in question She's just a super dog (& Finn's best buddy) & I'm sure with this being caught early she'll be just fine.

Happy Easter!

Grateful Regards-

M