What does a positive Lyme test mean for your dog?
First: Don’t panic! A positive Lyme test does not necessarily mean your dog has an active Lyme infection right now requiring treatment. It means that at some point your dog has been exposed to the Lyme organism and produced antibodies. The test does not tell us if the exposure was recent or in the past or whether your dog requires treatment.
How often should a dog be tested for Lyme disease?
Lyme specialists are recommending that lyme positive dog’s urine be tested 2-4 times a year for the life of the dog so that we try to catch any disease process early.
Is there a blood test for Lyme disease?
The primary blood test for Lyme diagnosis is the C6, which detects against a specific protein by that name. If your dog’s blood has antibodies, he’s been exposed to the Lyme disease bacteria. It takes three to five weeks for antibodies to develop after a tick bite.
What happens if your dog has Lyme disease?
In rare cases Lyme disease in dogs has been associated with kidney failure — a life-threatening complication. Bear in mind that you might not be thinking about tick bites when signs start to appear.
First: Don’t panic! A positive Lyme test does not necessarily mean your dog has an active Lyme infection right now requiring treatment. It means that at some point your dog has been exposed to the Lyme organism and produced antibodies. The test does not tell us if the exposure was recent or in the past or whether your dog requires treatment.
The primary blood test for Lyme diagnosis is the C6, which detects against a specific protein by that name. If your dog’s blood has antibodies, he’s been exposed to the Lyme disease bacteria. It takes three to five weeks for antibodies to develop after a tick bite.
How long does it take for a dog to show symptoms of Lyme disease?
Dogs testing positive for Lyme disease might not display any symptoms, or might develop vague, intermittent symptoms that occur long after you’ve found a tick on your pet. Generally, dogs develop symptoms within six months of infection. Lameness in young dogs can result from Lyme disease.
Why is my dog at risk for Lyme disease?
You are at risk of Lyme disease because you venture into the same outdoor environment as your dog and encounter ticks not because your dog is positive. Though most dogs that get Lyme disease will develop arthritis, there is another form of disease that is important to note.
