Lymes

Only from a human perceptive, I have Lyme and Doxy is the best drug for Lyme.  In humans if you catch Lyme in the early stages Doxy can cure you.  If you are in a later stage aggressive antibiotics are necessary because the Lyme hides deep into your cells and weeks to months of antibiotics are necessary to penetrate in and then they need to be prolonged to kill the infection.  You do kill the Lyme at some point the issue in the later stages it the damage it already caused.  If the Lyme has attacked muscles, joints, organs, once these areas are damaged by the desease then the treatment will extend into those specific areas and many times are only managed and never cured - the damage is done so to speak.  Good luck to your friends dog!

If it HAS affected the kidneys then frankly they waited WAY too long to do anything.  Dog tick disease symptoms do mirror stuff like arthritis, but if you don't DO anything you're just asking for it to get way worse.

Doxy is the drug of choice and often it takes months and months of it.  They're going to have to do some bloodwork to check the kidneys.  But if it is a UTI then it may be that doxy just isn't the right drug for it.  (and it's not unheard of to have a dog or person on two antibiotics at the same time.

 Tell them NOT to just run out of antibiotics -- you don't want the disease to become resistant.  (if a disease/bacteria successfully survives thru an antibiotic and then the antibiotic is discontinued then the disease becomes "resistant" to that disease -- you gotta CONTINUE it until all disease is gone so tell them to take the dog back BEFORE they run out of antibiotic).

 Is there any nausea or vomiting?  In other words sign of advanced kidney problems?  Bloodwork is probably absolutely needed.

Thanks to both of you guys for answering...and I will pass the info along. Callie I checked back into past email to find the info...and don't have it anymore...but I do remember her saying that she wishes her DH wouldn't take Austin because of something in the illness line...whether it be not eating much, or if he was dribbling back then....or what. I can't rmember. But he did go hunting....it was just a few days.  

Just yesterday she wrote after the Doxy was started that he is feeling really good and acting great so she was happy that the meds seemed to be working.  But when he had that accident early this morning...it scared her into thinking something is wrong with his kidneys.  She wrote that they treated a round of antibiotics for a UTI..and the symptoms went away... but then he tested Pos. for lymes.  She took him off Cranberry... Now the peeing started again... she put him back on.  

Does lymes usually affect the kidneys??  I mean is that a usual symptom?

Yes most definitely, Part of the results of this decease is that its an auto immune system decease and the autoimmune system can attack the kidneys.

dyan

Does lymes usually affect the kidneys??  I mean is that a usual symptom?

Hi Dyan.  I'm no expert but as far as I understood (Willow has/had Lyme disease) that yes, it can effect the kidneys but that's a much more advanced symptom-if that makes sense.  In other words, that would be one of the biggies that could happen if it was left untreated. 

My own thoughts just as a dog mom are that he's probably got a UTI in addition to the Lyme disease and that's what's causing the symptoms they are noticing with the urinating.  A lot of times it takes a culture to get them on the right antibiotic for that.  So, he may need two--one for they Lyme and one for the UTI. 

Either way--make sure they get him on the right treatment for the Lyme especially.  I never figured Lyme to be such a big deal.  I always hiked with her all over the place and figured if she got Lyme disease we'd treat it--not that I wanted that but I never thought it might bring on something else that might endanger her life.  And, I'm pretty sure that her IMT started because of the Lyme.  I have no proof, but I'm pretty sure. 

No, ours isn't either, they only stay open until 1pm.

Don't take him off cranberry.  Cranberry is simply glucose and glucose will 'bond' with infection cells and make them too slippery to stick to the urinary tract.  It's benign -- it's NOT going to affect the action of the doxycycline and it's more than possible the UTI just hasn't been sufficiently treated yet. 

Having accidents can be symptomatic of a LOT of things -- don't jump to the worst case scenario, but if she's worried she needs to have his blood tested.  But don't take away the one thing that might *help* the poor thing be more comfortable if it IS a UTI.

Okay Callie...I will make sure to tell her.

Thanks!

Heard from Vicki for a second tonight. I guess she did call the vet to ask him a few questions about Austin...the vet said there is no treatment except diet if the kidneys are affected.  She is taking him back in to get that checked.  She said the doctor felt the UTI was very mild but wanted to check that again also.  

So I wonder if this is all having something to do with lymes...or two seperate problems.

Well, Austins tests for kidneys has come out negative,,,thank goodness.

The vet has givin him Ammonil Tabs, which I guess is used as a urinary acidifier..... but now she is wondering if the Cranberry pills that have 100 mgs of Vit. C might be making his PH in his urine high.

He is not acting sick so that is good...its just this dribbling now and drinking more water than usual. Don't know if any of this has to do with  his Lymes.

He's probably still got a UTI.  And some drugs will worsen a UTI (I can't take Amoxyl -- it ALWAYS gives me a UTI and they *give it* for uti's!!  But that's what it does to ME!!)

d-mannose is awesome stuff -- it's like cranberry to the 3rd power

calliecritturs

d-mannose is awesome stuff -- it's like cranberry to the 3rd power

Don't think I ever heard of it Callie!

Talked to Austins Mom today....he is eating like crazy.... feeling good and playing......but still peeing...and a lot.     She is worried!   She has stopped the cranberry pills....only because she wants to see if without them he will get worse or what. Since the vet told him he tested positive for a mild UTI.........she is thinking maybe the cranberry pills are helping in keeping it under control but not getting rid of it.  Maybe....I know I think I have a UTI..and am keeping control of it with Cranberry juice.......but I can feel something is still not right.

Luckily Austin is not sick....but if it was a UTI.... you would think the antibiotic would show some improvement by now.