What does it mean if your dog has Lyme disease?

What does it mean if your dog has Lyme disease?

Most importantly, a positive test result means that there are ticks with lyme disease on YOUR property or where your dog travels, so be very careful about getting ticks on yourself.

What to expect at the vet’s office for Lyme disease?

What to Expect at the Vet’s Office. Depending on the type of test used to screen for Lyme disease, a confirmatory test (e.g., a C6 antibody test or Western blot) may be necessary. Urine protein screening — In general, only dogs who have symptoms of Lyme disease (fever, swollen lymph nodes, shifting leg lameness,…

What kind of test do you use to test for Lyme disease?

This spring, dog owners may have noticed that we are using a different heartworm test this year. The test is called a 4DX and it detects antibodies to heartworm plus the tick borne diseases Lyme, Erlichia, and Anaplasma.

How much does it cost to test a dog for Lyme disease?

The urine sample will be sent to a lab and we will call you with results in a few days. Estimated cost of these initial tests is about $70. Further testing, medication/diet change, or future monitoring may also be offered based on the results of these preliminary tests and we will discuss costs of each.

Why are dogs not considered to have Lyme disease?

Because the other symptoms of the disease may be delayed or go unrecognized and because the symptoms are similar to those of many other diseases, Lyme disease in animals is often not considered until other diseases have been eliminated. “Affected dogs have been described as if they were ‘walking on eggshells’.”.

How can you tell if your dog has Lyme disease?

Some pets are infected with the Lyme disease organism for over a year before they finally show symptoms. By this time, the disease may be widespread throughout the body. Non-specific signs which may indicate that Lyme disease is affecting the kidneys include vomiting, lethargy,…

Is there a cure for Lyme disease in dogs?

Lyme disease is a tick-borne disease that can affect the two-legged and four-legged residents of your home. In dogs, the most common sign of Lyme disease is swollen, painful joints. Treated early and aggressively, Lyme disease can be cured. Unfortunately, a single course of antibiotics is not always enough.

Can a dog get Lyme disease from a tick bite?

Diagnosis of both diseases includes blood tests similar to those used to check for Lyme disease. Sometimes, dogs and people can become sick with “co-infection” of multiple tick-borne diseases, where more than one type of disease-causing bacteria is transmitted through a tick bite.