Question About Lyme Disease

[Sharon]

I know that a limping dog can be a symptom of lyme disease, but it can also just be saying that the dog has strained a ligament or tendon.

If it is lyme disease I know that a blood test is needed to verify that ........................

Question:
If it's lyme disease does the limp stay for months or does it go away in a couple days like a ligament pull.?

Thanks.

[Mike50]

My avatar dog was test for it and it was positive it showed up in the blood work. It was on the front right paw.
most times it shows up on the front not sure why. It was gone in about week.

[mcbosco]

No easy answer to that. The lameness could clear up in one leg and show up in another in rotation. A blood test is just one tool in the diagnosis. Many dogs show a positive test and have no clinical symptoms. I have a seen a few dogs with a lyme limp and it is much less severe than an injury.

Does the dog have fever? Is the dog eating? How are its spirits?

Being in NJ and having been desensitized somewhat to Lyme, I don't think I would run a dog to the vet right away just because of limp. I would wait a day or two and see if it improves. If the dog is high risk then maybe a trip the vet is order.

I would take the dog's the temperature and monitor its eating habits.

[Red]

How old in the dog?
My pup tested + for Lyme but no real symptoms(except the limping), we treated for Lyme but Vet said because of age we couldn't rule out PANOSTEITIS...

[Sharon]

No easy answer to that. The lameness could clear up in one leg and show up in another in rotation. A blood test is just one tool in the diagnosis. Many dogs show a positive test and have no clinical symptoms. I have a seen a few dogs with a lyme limp and it is much less severe than an injury.

Does the dog have fever? Is the dog eating? How are its spirits?

Being in NJ and having been desensitized somewhat to Lyme, I don't think I would run a dog to the vet right away just because of limp. I would wait a day or two and see if it improves. If the dog is high risk then maybe a trip the vet is order.

I would take the dog's the temperature and monitor its eating habits.

Thanks.
Seems perfectly happy , no temp,. eating fine , just hind leg contracted up - can't extend it without pain. It's been 3 days but every day it relaxes a bit more.
Ever had a dog that came up lame after every hunt? ( 6 years old).

[birddog1968]

is he pointing his toe or letting his leg hang when standing up?

[stlgsp]

When my female came down with lymes, she was hunched up and could barely walk, with pain in every joint. She would wince when one of the other dogs accidentally bumped into her. After 24 hours of doxy she was walking much better but still in pain. After 3 days almost all of the pain was gone. Took her on a short hunt two weeks later. She shows no symptoms now, we blood test annually, the titers go up and down.

[Sharon]

is he pointing his toe or letting his leg hang when standing up?

No toe point ; it just hangs. Today he is putting it down when he is standing but keep it high up when walking.

[marysburg]

Torn ACL? Luxated patella? Three days is a long time to pack a leg and not bear weight.

[Sharon]

leg is still bad - vet to=morrow.

[bonasa]

It will work out with a lyme test. Usually they test for Lyme, heart worm and erlichiosis when they do a blood test. My male comes up positive for Lyme every 6 mos and I do a month of doxy. He gets better within a week and is good for 4-6 months. Did you have a lyme vaccine when the dog was a puppy? Out of curiosity what treatment do you use to repel ticks?

[birddog1968]

It will work out with a lyme test. Usually they test for Lyme, heart worm and erlichiosis when they do a blood test. My male comes up positive for Lyme every 6 mos and I do a month of doxy. He gets better within a week and is good for 4-6 months. Did you have a lyme vaccine when the dog was a puppy? Out of curiosity what treatment do you use to repel ticks?

Just curious, but you say he tests positive every six months, and he gets better in a week? Is the dog being tested because of symptoms?


All mine test positive but don't need treatment...... a positive test result doesn't necessarily mean an active infection.

[Sharon]

It will work out with a lyme test. Usually they test for Lyme, heart worm and erlichiosis when they do a blood test. My male comes up positive for Lyme every 6 mos and I do a month of doxy. He gets better within a week and is good for 4-6 months. Did you have a lyme vaccine when the dog was a puppy? Out of curiosity what treatment do you use to repel ticks?

No vaccine. There are big question marks about its' effectiveness. I use Advantage 50 / Heartguard. I'll find out to-morrow what the problem is. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

http://www.veterinarypracticenews.com/v ... -lyme.aspx

[bonasa]

He begins to favor the right wrist and shortly develops pain in every joint. Is very cautious when he gets up from being bedded and winces going up and down stairs every 4 to 6 months. Like night and day with doxy.

Sharon-Let us know how it turns out , best of luck to the dog

Birddog- Is your tick problem as bad in Delmarva as it is in CT/NY?

[Sharon]

Vet said "a pulled muscle". Needs rest . " Don't let her run as hard as she wants nor as long as she wants." Sure. That will be easy to do.

[birddog1968]

Birddog- Is your tick problem as bad in Delmarva as it is in CT/NY?

Yup, bad and steady growing ! All my dogs test positive and have had treatable bouts, and i had it 3 years ago.


Lyme tests are wildly inaccurate.....almost to the point of being worthless. the tider only shows the dog has been exposed and has the antibodies, not that it has a active infection.