Lyme Disease

• 07-11-2007 6:51 PM

  erica1989 Joined on 02-21-2007 Clearwater, Florida Posts 2,724 Points 260

  Lyme Disease Reply Contact we recently brought a dog up for adoption with lyme disease - unfortunatly, none of us really know too much about it. It's not common in our area (not many wooded areas) I have tried to do some research, but I have not really found too much about it that I am finding helpful. I know it's not contagious to other dogs, they get it from ticks, etc. My main question here is - is it really treatable? He is on meds right now (I'm not sure which ones, I can look it up though), but will it ever go away? I need to be able to educate the public about the disease, but I cannot do that if I know nothing about it! any help would be greatly appreciated! thanks!

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• 07-11-2007 10:44 PM

  In reply to erica1989

  brookcove Joined on 09-10-2007 Semora, North Carolina, USA Posts 4,366 Points 335

  RE: Lyme Disease Reply Contact 1) Thank you for giving a home to a homeless pet - especially one with health issues! 2) Lyme can be tough to beat, especially if the dog has been dealing with it for a while. Ben carried Lyme in the subclinical phase for six months after we adopted him as a pup, and then "crashed" into chronic Lyme and began experiencing cycles where we'd treat his symptoms, then he'd be fine for a while, then he'd get sick again. But gradually the time between episodes got longer and the episodes themselves became milder, and eventually it went away. It took over a year though - and he had one more episode eighteen months out from our first treatment. It's not always that bad though - Ben has a terrible immune system. 3) Join Tick-L. You can Google it - it will come right up. It will make all the difference to you and your dog as you fight this. There is a wealth of knowledge there and a couple of the world's foremost experts on TBDs are active there - though most likely your questions can be answered through use of the archives alone. Good luck! Becca Shouse: Irena Farm, Semora, NC Cord, Ted, Gus, Zhi, Maggie, Lynn, Lu, Min and Tully Waiting: Bubo & Ben "We didn't have a phone, and we couldn't call you!" Helen, AIDS orphan. Don't let them die of ignorance - WorldHelp.net "I-Dog Biggest Loser" Official Cheerleader/Mascot Start 09/15/08: 186.4 lbs Current 185.5 lbs

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• 07-12-2007 10:45 AM

  In reply to erica1989

  JoAnnDe Joined on 01-16-2007 Clearwater, FL Posts 1,211 Points 0

  RE: Lyme Disease Reply Contact Michelle tested positive for Lyme disease about 5 years ago.   I don't think she had ever been tested for it before that.  She was treated twice but always came up positive after that.   Even tho she was always positive she never had a symptom.   I think its like humans - some are affected, some are not. People ask me if I think dogs go to heaven. I respond: Of course they do ! Heaven could only BE heaven if dogs are there Prancer: June(ish) 2006 - 13# poodle mix - rescue Michelle: 1994 - 2007. English Cocker Spaniel - shelter. RIP sweetheart - I'll see you again someday

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• 07-12-2007 8:48 PM

  In reply to erica1989

  erica1989 Joined on 02-21-2007 Clearwater, Florida Posts 2,724 Points 260

  RE: Lyme Disease Reply Contact 1) Thank you for giving a home to a homeless pet - especially one with health issues unfortunatly - I did not adopt him. I volunteer/work at an animal shelter, and we brought up a dog for adoption with the disease. The adoptions staff has very little knowledge of this disease, as we have not dealt with it previously. Radar (the positive dog) has not shown any clinical signs of lymes. He was a surrendered dog (the actual owner passed away), so we do not know how long he has had the disease. We are treating it, and he seems to be a very happy-go-lucky boy. I will pass along the Tick-L help sight to whoever adopts this sweetie. Thanks! =]

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• 07-12-2007 11:08 PM

  In reply to erica1989

  sophia Joined on 09-10-2007 Posts 442 Points 0

  RE: Lyme Disease Reply Contact My vet practices in Connecticut, which is a hotbed for Lyme Disease (Lyme CT is  the namesake). He says that many dogs in his area are infected and their bodies develop antibodies, but never develop disease and symptoms. It may be very much a case of individual by individual, as JoAnneDe wrote. Some immune systems fight it and some are not able to. I hope that this little guy that you speak of, doesn't develop disease and it's just another antibody that his immune system developed. Please keep us posted.

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• 07-14-2007 7:11 PM

  In reply to erica1989

  janet_rose Joined on 09-10-2007 DFW area, Texas Posts 3,748 Points 330

  RE: Lyme Disease Reply Contact http://www.minden.com/nowhereelse/canine_tick_disease.htm Doxycycline, a semi-synthetic tetracycline, is the drug of choice, the most effective against Ehrlichiosis and Lyme.  It is given at 10 milligrams per kilogram (1 kg = 2.2 lbs.) of the dog's body weight every twelve hours for six to eight weeks.  Another way to figure this, on the basis of pounds, is 5 mg. per pound of body weight.    This is twice the amount recommended in the Merck Veterinary Manual and is given for a longer period of time than the VMM recommends; however, vets who deal with tick disease all the time say that the higher doses and longer administration are successful far more often in treating this disease and preventing its recurrence.

  Filed under: Lyme med dosage, Lyme disease Post Points: 0

• 07-16-2007 12:30 AM

  In reply to erica1989

  erica1989 Joined on 02-21-2007 Clearwater, Florida Posts 2,724 Points 260

  RE: Lyme Disease Reply Contact thanks! I looked up his treatment sheet today and he is on the doxy for lymes, and other stuff for his bad skin (the poor boy...) my last remaining question (I think...) is: once he is done with his meds, and we retest him, is there a chance that the disease can come back? Or is it gone (as long as he is on preventative)? After going through this once, is his immune system more susceptible to getting lymes again?

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• 07-16-2007 1:37 AM

  In reply to erica1989

  janet_rose Joined on 09-10-2007 DFW area, Texas Posts 3,748 Points 330

  RE: Lyme Disease Reply Contact erica1989: thanks! I looked up his treatment sheet today and he is on the doxy for lymes, and other stuff for his bad skin (the poor boy...)  What is his doxy dosage?  That is super important.  He needs to be on 5 mg per pound of body weight twice a day for 6-8 weeks as described in my last post.  Many vets don't know that the dosage needs to be that high.   What kind of skin problem is he having? erica1989: my last remaining question (I think...) is: once he is done with his meds, and we retest him, is there a chance that the disease can come back?  Or is it gone (as long as he is on preventative)?  After going through this once, is his immune system more susceptible to getting lymes again? Yes, it can come back especially if he doesn't get the right dosage of doxy.  As Brookcove noted above, her dog spent over a year going between chronic Lyme and subclinical Lyme before they finally got it beat.   I know of no "preventative" for Lyme other than avoiding ticks.     http://www.thepetcenter.com/gen/lyme.html Can a dog contract Lyme Disease a second time?  Yes.  But, quite honestly, we don't know for sure if the reoccurrence is a second, distinct infection or a flare-up of the original episode (because the Borrelia organism replicates quite slowly).  TICK-L Links Page http://saluqi.home.netcom.com/ticklinks.htm

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• 07-16-2007 9:24 AM

  In reply to erica1989

  erica1989 Joined on 02-21-2007 Clearwater, Florida Posts 2,724 Points 260	RE: Lyme Disease Reply Contact I can look up the dosage when I get into work today... He is on cephalexin for his skin, I'm not sure of the exact problem - probably just dry and irritated.  I know he is also getting weekly medicated baths as well
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