Dogs and Lymes

mare-nitt · 02-26-2008, 09:59 PM

Ok, I know way off topic, but... are there any dog lovers that have experience with lymes and their dogs?
I have a lab who is limping on her front legs when she first gets up, and we had her tested for lymes, it came back negative. The vet feels she was exposed to it, so she could still develop it, so we need to get her tested on and off for awhile.
In the meantime I feel I am not doing anything for her, and I am concerned about the lymes and the damage it can do.
So has anyone experienced this same type of treatment method, kinda just wait and see. Any suggestions.
Or, should I take her to another vet and get more tests. I just want to be treating this correctly.
Thanks

Ingrid · 02-27-2008, 05:16 AM

My county is one of the top hot-spots of Lyme in the country. Our doctors and vets tend to be a little more aggressive in treating for lyme disease. If you have a rash or show any symptoms, they treat, even if the test itself is non-conclusive. The doctors around here have seen so much of it that they don't always depend on a test to prove them right. Since the treatment is antibiotics, I don't see why some won't treat without the lab work.

evona · 02-27-2008, 05:35 AM

I would suggest going to another vet if nothing more than a second opinion. I was bit by a tick her in California while backpacking and my doc gave me the antibiotics without the rash as a preventative measure. I am a firm believer that antibiotics are overused, but I see no problem using it to prevent such a serious disease.

vaknitter · 02-27-2008, 04:43 PM

My dog came up lame on his back legs and got real mean, stopped eating and drinking and the vet thought it was lyme disease. He went into the doggie ICU for a week of IV antibiotics and fluids. He was on a specific antibiotic (who's name escapes me but I can find out if you want to know) it was in pill form, but he kept throwing it up so we paid $$$ to buy it in liquid form (I believe from Cornell) and slowly transitioned him to the pill and he was on that for almost 3 months. As time went by the vet decided it was more likely Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever than Lyme disease, but it took him MONTHS to stop limping and perk up. It has been a few years now and he still does not have the strength in his back legs to jump in/out of the truck like he used to. He is back to going up/down the stairs and on/off the bed and goes walking with my dad 2x/day. He is on Duramaxx and has also has a narcotic pain killer for when the limping gets really bad. He lost a lot of weight and now eats hamburger and rice with dog food like 3x day and the box of bones is literally where he can get them whenever he wants a snack. YUP, he's spoiled.
Best of Luck - I know the agony of finding answers for our pets. I have 2 of my own and the above mentioned one that I had to leave home with my parents when I got out of college. I would go for a second opinion - do you have a vet school nearby?

bailsmom · 02-27-2008, 04:47 PM

My husband had all the symptoms of Lyme's and the test came back negative but they still gave him the antibiotics for it and he got better.

I would think the vet would do the same thing just as a precaution, one round of antibiotics won't hurt anyone. I would push for him to treat your pup for it, remember, HE works for YOU!!!

Hope your pup feels better soon.

Sunshine's Mom · 02-27-2008, 05:33 PM

I have a lab, too. She started getting what we called "gimpy" in one hind leg when she first got up from an extended lie down or nap. She'd hobble around for a bit, then it seemed to go away.

We took her to the vet because she was only 4 (she'll be 5 on March 7). The vet said that it wasn't lyme, it wasn't a ligament issue either. She suggested that we give her glucosamine everyday because, perhaps, it was a touch of arthritis. I've been giving her 1500 mils of glucosamine every day since last summer and she hasn't been "gimpy" since. Maybe that will help.

I give her Joint Ensure that I buy at Petco ($27.00 for 100 chewable pills). I wrap them in roast beef and down they go!!! Best thing I've done for her.

Jeremy · 02-27-2008, 06:54 PM

Lyme CT is about 25 min from my house so we see a lot of Lyme disease around. If it goes untreated for too long its really difficult or impossible to cure. The tests are iffy and there are many false negatives. If it were my dog I would have the vet treat it as if its Lyme. Long term, Lyme affects the cardiac and neurological systems so don't put off treatment.

mare-nitt · 02-28-2008, 02:47 AM

Thanks guys, I will call tomorrow and just ask to treat her for lymes, because the pain pills they gave her are not stopping her from limping.
We live in the north woods of WI, and last year was the worst year I have seen in a long time. Lymes is so scary for people and pets.
I will keep you posted.

bailsmom · 02-28-2008, 05:39 AM

Just a curious question, but do you treat her with a flea and tick medication every month? If you don't, I would start tomorrow. Ours has been on it for years and we live in a tick habitat, ugh, I get so angry when I find one of those darn things on her little body. But none of them have survived from trying to suck her blood, that stuff really works. Thank God!

As soon as we find one on her, usually after a walk in the woods which she loves, I take that little piece of crap and drown it in alcohol. Kills them every time!

One more thing, since I'm married to a Certified Arborist, (That's a Tree Person

) I feel I am qualified to make this suggestion: If you have a RELIABLE Tree Care Company that you can call then I would do that and sign up for the Tick program. Out here they treat, I believe 2-3 times a year, and it costs less than $200.00. I know that sounds like a lot of money but it's worth every penny to know that those things can't get to her on your lawn. And it's a lot cheaper than going to the vet and getting meds and tests run on your animals multiple times in their lives.

P.S. If you did know what an Arborist was then please don't take my explaining it as an insult to your intelligence. We've met quite a few people who don't know what an Arborist is, so I just wanted to make sure you knew.

Okay, I'm done and climbing off my soapbox now.

mare-nitt · 02-28-2008, 12:16 PM

bailsmom, yes we use the monthly tick treatment. but we live on 40 acres of heavily wooded land, God's country, so there are lots of ticks. And I don't let her run the woods, but ticks are in grass like the lawn, so there is not way around them.
Like you said even with the treatment, you will get a tick that sinks his teeth in.
Treating our yard might be a thought, but I hate chemicals in nature even using the tick treatment is not a good thing except for the health of the dog. I will look in to that. Thanks for the info.