Lymes disease in Dogs

1085 Views 2 Replies 2 Participants Last post by teddysteatime, Apr 27, 2009

teddysteatime

Discussion Starter · Apr 20, 2009

Does anyone know if a dog has lymes disease does the blood test always come back positive year after year, even though the dog has been treated.
With adults, once you have lymes disease you have it forever, you may not be symptomatic but it is with you for life.
So my situation is that my vet continues to take blood each year, each year he tells me that he has a low level of lymes and needs antibiotics.
I don't like using the medication since like adults when you really need it it will have built up resistant strains.
So if my dog is a lymes carrier just want to know if the effects are the same as humans. The vet doesn't seem to answer my questions. Only illicits fear by saying "O he has to be treated or he will be very sick".
Any help would be appreciated.

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MegaMuttMom

· #2 · Apr 20, 2009

teddysteatime said:
Does anyone know if a dog has lymes disease does the blood test always come back positive year after year, even though the dog has been treated.
With adults, once you have lymes disease you have it forever, you may not be symptomatic but it is with you for life.
So my situation is that my vet continues to take blood each year, each year he tells me that he has a low level of lymes and needs antibiotics.
I don't like using the medication since like adults when you really need it it will have built up resistant strains.
So if my dog is a lymes carrier just want to know if the effects are the same as humans. The vet doesn't seem to answer my questions. Only illicits fear by saying "O he has to be treated or he will be very sick".
Any help would be appreciated.

Well, I am not an expert but, my vet said that all dogs in New England will likely test positive for Lyme. This means they have been exposed but, it does not mean they necessarily have the disease.

My dog had Lyme, the disease, and got better with 6 weeks of Doxy. He will test positive for the rest of his life. I, personally, would not be trusting this vet and treating my dog every year without evidence of active disease.
Antibiotics have their own risks, and unnecessary use should be avoided.

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teddysteatime

Discussion Starter · #3 · Apr 27, 2009

Thanks for the quick reply, I go today and I definitely agree with you, my Brant has thank goodness been symptom free, so I will speak to the vet.
Thanks again.

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