Lyme disease in dogs? About This Page:

[Huntermom]

My Charlie recently tested positive for Lyme during a routine check up. He is two years old. We have had him for a year. He has not had any symptoms and is generally active and agile. He can jump from the floor to a table top from a standstill, walks 3 miles a day, plays ball for another hour or so and eats like there is no tomorrow.

The vet has him on 30 days of antibiotics, but from what I've read, the positive test may be because he has been exposed and fought off the disease.

I am giving him the antibiotics right now and he is tolerating them without a problem, but part of me is feeling they are overkill.

Any opinions?

[cubfancolleen]

Our dog (a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel) has Lyme disease. Once they have it, they always have it, and it can recur. Rory (our dog) is currently on his second recurrance (he originally had Lyme's disease in 2009, and then the first recurrance in 2010).
When he has it, we know, as he instantly becomes completely lethargic. He's had some major problems with his platelets because of it, so we have to be very careful that he doesn't bruise, or he could bleed out internally.
He's back on the antibiotics now (doxycycline, I believe). I wouldn't mess around with it if your vet says your dog has it. Having lived with this now for 2 years, it is serious stuff for a doggy.
Hope Charlie continues to stay his normal, perky self!

[Bee]

Originally Posted by cubfancolleen

Our dog (a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel) has Lyme disease. Once they have it, they always have it, and it can recur. Rory (our dog) is currently on his second recurrance (he originally had Lyme's disease in 2009, and then the first recurrance in 2010).
When he has it, we know, as he instantly becomes completely lethargic. He's had some major problems with his platelets because of it, so we have to be very careful that he doesn't bruise, or he could bleed out internally.
He's back on the antibiotics now (doxycycline, I believe). I wouldn't mess around with it if your vet says your dog has it. Having lived with this now for 2 years, it is serious stuff for a doggy.
Hope Charlie continues to stay his normal, perky self!

same thing with my dog We found a tick on him and apparently thats what gave him the lyme disease. We haven't had another occurance since he was diagnosed.. (knocks on woood)

[KMB733]

At the vet office were I work we are seeing more and more dogs test positive for Lyme. We usually have the clients on a 3 week dose of antibotics (Doxycycline). You may see Charlie continue to test positive for at least another year. The test we use at least is really sensitive.

I've seen clients who don't do the antibotic and the dog develops symptons and the dog is really painful. I'd stay the course with the antibotic.

[scrappyjae]

Judging by what happened to my DS with Lymes, I wouldn't mess aroung with your dog who can't tell you if something is hurting or not. I would do wdat the vet tells you to.

[Huntermom]

I am giving the doxycycline and he seems to not be having any problems. I have been told that some dogs do not do well with it but he seems fine after two doses. There is no problem feeding it to him-he eats almost anything-edible or not.

I always worry about over exposure to antibiotics and try to medically treat my dogs the same way I did my kids. I am just concerned about giving him the antibiotics for no reason and then have them not work when we need them. He has been immunized against Lyme by us, but was not when we got him. And while he tested positive, the vets office says their policy is to treat a first positive test, regardless of whether the dog has symptoms.

We tend to have lots of dog ticks. I haven't seen many deer ticks.

To those of you that have dogs with Lyme, I hope they have fully recovered.

[Chrissi]

When we adopted our bulldog (age 5 at the time), she came to us with a bunch of health problems - including obesity and stiffness. We assumed the stiffness in her back end was because of her weight, but at her first vet visit, she tested positive for Lyme Disease. It presents differently in dogs than in humans, though. Our dog, Lola, had been slowly going lame in her back legs over several months and had steadily gained weight because of it and the lack of medical care. A month after we began the antibiotics, she had gotten back a LOT of use in her back legs, began taking long walks, and lost 10 pounds. It's been nearly two years since we adopted her and she tested positive for Lyme Disease. We've gotten her weight under control and we still take brisk walks, but we have to be careful. She never fully recovered because she had Lyme Disease for a long time with her previous owners before we adopted her and recognized the immediate need for medical care in her. She still limps a little on cold days and has trouble getting her legs to work after she's been napping for a few hours. I wish we'd adopted her sooner. We could have saved her some of the discomfort she's still having today, but her quality of life has improved exponentially with good care and treatment. She even RUNS up and down the stairs on those short little legs of hers these days!!!

I think the antibiotics are absolutely essential. It's only a month's worth of treatment and our vet is stingy with antibiotics in the first place. If she recommends them, I KNOW they're necessary and not precautionary.

[Huntermom]

It's funny. Most of the stuff I found on the internet made it sound like he had been exposed but fought off the disease. He has never had any symptoms of being sick at all. The stuff my DD found seemed to indicate that the incubation period is so long, you can have the disease without showing any symptoms. I guess that's why you shouldn't rely on the internet.

I am giving the doxycycline. The vet's office made it sound like more of a precaution.

[CinderAbby]

Dogs can't talk - they can't tell you when something hurts, if something doesn't feel right. If a vet recommends an antibiotic, I don't think it's overkill. Of course the alternative is to not give him the meds and have to take him to the vet for that IV that gives the huge hump on the back and leave him there all day for observation (which BTW is a lot more expensive than a month worth of pills). That happened to us because Sadie's symptoms came on very suddenly (AND she was given flea and tick medicine every month which apparantly doesn't work).

[Huntermom]

Please don't doubt that I am giving Charlie his antibiotics (as well as vitamin E, fish oil, glucosamine, a premium dog food and half wet feed, per the vet's instructions).

This is a new vet to me and it was presented as "we always treat when I dog tests positive as a precaution." It is also my understanding that there is an additional test that can be done to determine whether or not there actually is an infection or the antibodies are the result of having fought off the disease. Charlie was a rescue from the south. I know little about his first year. For all I know he could have been immunized before we got him and that's why the test is positive.

I am wondering if I should think about the further test, although he has been immunized. It is also my understanding that the immunization is not 100% effective. All my dogs have received Lyme immunizations.

If Charlie were my kid, I might have immediately pushed for the further testing. But I also knew my pediatrician well. I have only met this vet three times.

It sounds like Lyme is an even more horrible in dogs than people. I do hope all your dogs have done well with treatment.

[Belle*]

Lyme disease is rampant in CT on both animals and people. A good friend of mine opted against antibiotics when his dog tested positive for the same reasons you are contemplating it. However, six months later the dog became very ill with symptoms including partial parylization and had to be treated far more aggressively than he may have had to be, had he had the antibiotics the first time around. He is doing better but has flares pretty frequently.

Further testing may be a good idea but I think you are doing the right thing giving him the antibiotics right now.

[KMB733]

On another note that I forgot to mention yesterday. Doxycycline can cause upset stomachs (i.e diarrhea). If that happens ask your Vet about a probiotic for Charlie. We use one called fortiflora which you mix into the food and does a good job.

[Huntermom]

Thanks Kathy. I had heard some dogs have trouble with it. He seems to be tolerating it fine. I do give them yogurt with their food every morning.

[Teresa]

Poor Charlie. We haven't seen as much of Lyme Disease here in the Midwest as you in the East have, but it's starting to be more common. You're a wonderful animal owner to care enough to continue with his treatment, even when you weren't sure of it.
I agree with you, sometimes antibiotics are given for no reason, but that's usually in kids whose parents aren't happy to hear "It's viral, there is nothing we can do other than wait it out." Our pediatrician says that's his biggest problem - parents who don't realize medicine won't take care of everything.