Canine Lyme disease
Treatment
Treatment protocols
Asking clients how much time their dogs spend outside during a typical day is important, because most pet owners are unaware that this is a high risk factor for canine Lyme disease in many areas of the United States.
A positive dog with signs is a sick dog
- Dogs that test positive, and show clinical signs must be treated with antibiotic therapy immediately
- Most practitioners prefer doxycycline, because it will also treat other tick-borne diseases, such as canine anaplasmosis, that may exist as a co-infection
- Approximately two weeks after the start of the treatment, the dog should be vaccinated with a Lyme vaccine to help prevent future infection
To treat or not to treat a positive, asymptomatic dog?
- A positive dog is not necessarily a sick dog
- At the time of the test the dog may not show any clinical signs
- Treating or not treating a positive, asymptomatic dog is up to the veterinarian and the pet owner
- He may develop signs weeks or months later and need to be treated
- His immune system may overcome the infection and he will never be sick
Two clinical cases
Two cases from a practitioner in a veterinary clinic in a Lyme endemic area in Minnesota demonstrate how treatment protocols are based on a combination of testing, clinical signs, risk factors and the approval of the dog owner. The cases show treatment procedures for a positive, symptomatic dog in Case 1 and the complexities of treating a positive, asymptomatic dog in Case 2.
CASE 1 - Zola:
Diagnosis and treatment for a symptomatic dog that tested positive for Lyme disease.
This case demonstrates that:
- Annual screening with the IDEXX SNAP® 4Dx® test for Lyme disease is important, whether the dog is symptomatic or asymptomatic
- A Lyme positive test, can confirm a diagnosis based on presenting signs
- Treatment is clearly indicated for a positive, symptomatic dog
- Lyme vaccination should be given two weeks after the start of antibiotic therapy to prevent future infection
- Monitor for the quantitative C6 level annually to make sure the infection is under control
- About 75 percent of dogs will have a lifelong C6 titer even if the infection is under control
CASE 2 - Archie:
Diagnosis and treatment for an asymptomatic dog that tested positive for Lyme and anaplasmosis infections.
This case demonstrates that:
- Annual screening with the IDEXX SNAP® 4Dx® test allows the veterinarian to catch infections in the subclinical phase before they have a chance to cause the disease
- Dogs testing positive but asymptomatic for Lyme disease and anaplasmosis (co-infections) are at increased risk for developing clinical disease
- The decision to treat or not to treat a positive asymptomatic dog is up to the veterinarian and the pet owner
- Positive, asymptomatic dogs should be vaccinated with a Lyme vaccine to prevent future infection
- Many dogs will become symptomatic later
- Some dogs will never have clinical signs
- Once a dog is C6 positive, it will usually remain C6 positive for life, even if the infection is under control
- Preventive strategies such as tick control and Lyme vaccination can help reduce the risk of Lyme disease