What are the numbers for Lyme disease?
A recently released estimate based on insurance records suggests that each year approximately 476,000 Americans are diagnosed and treated for Lyme disease. This number is likely an over-estimate of actual infections because patients are sometimes treated presumptively in medical practice.
What happens when a dog tests positive for Lyme disease?
In addition to doing the QC6 test, your veterinarian may want to take samples of blood and urine to assess kidney function and to look for protein in the urine. A positive test for protein in the urine could signal serious underlying kidney disease. If my dog tests positive, does he need to be treated?
What to do if your dog has Lyme disease?
For a dog with symptoms of Lyme disease and a positive test, we treat with an antibiotic called doxycycline for 30 days plus pain relievers as needed. Typically we see an improvement in symptoms within 1-3 days once starting treatment.
Where can I get a blood test for Lyme disease?
The test can be done by your veterinarian in-clinic or the blood sample can be sent to an outside laboratory for testing. If the C6 test is positive, what is the next step? A positive C6 test means antibodies to C6 were found. The next step is to do a QC6 test, which determines if the levels of antibody are high enough to justify treatment.
Where are Lyme disease positive dogs found in Canada?
In Canada, Lyme-positive dogs are found mostly in southern Ontario and southern Manitoba. A smaller number of cases are reported each year in Southern Quebec and the Maritime Provinces. How do Ticks Get on People and Dogs?
Does your dog really have Lyme or need antibiotics?
If your dog is symptomatic or the test results show harmful effects from the Lyme disease, your dog will likely be treated with antibiotics. In most cases, symptoms like lameness or joint pain will start to improve within the first week.
How to tell if your dog or PET has Lyme disease?
Other symptoms associated with Lyme disease in dogs include: Stiff walk with an arched back Sensitivity to touch Difficulty breathing Fever, lack of appetite, and depression Superficial lymph nodes close to the site of the infecting tick bite may be swollen Heart abnormalities are reported, but rare Nervous system complications (rare)
How likely is your dog to get Lyme disease?
Migrating deer, birds, and other wildlife affected by ticks often wander into developed areas, or on common walking trails. If the wildlife that wanders close to your property carries an infected tick, your dog is still at-risk of catching Lyme disease. Only around 5-10% of dogs show symptoms of Lyme disease.
How does Lyme disease physically effect my Dog?
A small percentage of dogs develop kidney failure as a result of Lyme disease. Clinical signs include vomiting, weight loss, poor appetite, lethargy, increased thirst and urination , and abnormal accumulations of fluid within the body .
What is the normal range for Lyme?
Normal levels vary depending on the laboratory assay performed, as follows. Borrelia burgdorferi antibody enzyme immunoassay (Lyme index value) : < 0.9 = negative. 0.91-1.09 = equivocal.
Can Lyme disease ever go away?
Although most cases of Lyme disease can be cured with a 2- to 4-week course of oral antibiotics, patients can sometimes have symptoms of pain, fatigue, or difficulty thinking that last for more than 6 months after they finish treatment. This condition is called ”Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome” (PTLDS).
