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.2Blackdogs! said:
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.
