Lyme's Disease - Do you routinely test?

[BarbV]

Bloodwork is great for things like thyroid, liver, kidneys. I don't think anyone is denying that.

Here, in this thread, we are talking specifically about routinely testing for Lymes Disease and treating only based on a positive Lyme Test result (with no symptoms).

Whatever! Not the first time that we strayed....

 

[danisgoat]

So if a dog gets lyme they will show a false positive for it for the rest of their life?

Maybe....maybe not.

That is part of what stinks about Lymes Disease.

And please someone step in and correct me if I am getting any of my facts wrong.

 

[Smudge]

Maybe....maybe not.

That is part of what stinks about Lymes Disease.

And please someone step in and correct me if I am getting any of my facts wrong.

I've never dealt with lyme before, but there are lyme carrying ticks in our region. I always check for ticks, but I like to read things like this so in case I have a problem I'll know a little bit about it.

 

[Ann]

I don't know about the false positive thing, but I do know that Barkley has had Lyme several times and has always tested negative. His symptoms are so classic that we treat him when they're exhibited with doxycylene and without fail, in 24 hours he's better. That's all the answer I need.

 

[Fergusmom]

My vet doesn't routinly test for Lyme. I know it's here as I know of humans that have contracted it. I haven't heard of any dogs but I'm sure there are some. This area is a big on hunting lots of dogs in the woods. She does ask if I want the vaccine but I don't take the boys into the woods and try to keep them out of long grass so I don't have a big problem with ticks. I know the vaccine isn't that effective so I don't vaccinate.

 

[Justicemom]

At the clinic I worked, we tested for lyme with the yearly heartworm test using the 3DX Idexx Snaptest and now 4DX Idexx snaptest. The snaptest detects C6 antibodies which are from natural infections and will not cross react with vaccination caused antibodies, unlike IFA and western blot tests. So you can use this test on vaccinated dogs.

With the dog that tests postive with no obvious clinical signs, I recommend an UA and urine protein/creatinine test to check for protein in the urine to check for kidney involvement. If positive for that recommend treatment with doxycycline. The others, I discuss with owners doing a quantative c6 test to get a look at actual antibody level to determine need for treatment(<30 don't treat and monitor , > 30treat and retest in 6 months) vs treatment without the quant C6. Will also talk about tick preventatives and daily check over of the pups to see if their is anything we can do to boost reexposure prevention.

 

[Abby's Dad]

At the clinic I worked, we tested for lyme with the yearly heartworm test using the 3DX Idexx Snaptest and now 4DX Idexx snaptest. The snaptest detects C6 antibodies which are from natural infections and will not cross react with vaccination caused antibodies, unlike IFA and western blot tests. So you can use this test on vaccinated dogs.

With the dog that tests postive with no obvious clinical signs, I recommend an UA and urine protein/creatinine test to check for protein in the urine to check for kidney involvement. If positive for that recommend treatment with doxycycline. The others, I discuss with owners doing a quantative c6 test to get a look at actual antibody level to determine need for treatment(<30 don't treat and monitor , > 30treat and retest in 6 months) vs treatment without the quant C6. Will also talk about tick preventatives and daily check over of the pups to see if their is anything we can do to boost reexposure prevention.

This test is the test my vet has done in the past I believe. I also believe she has sent out blood work to Colorado?? to get a titer level??? and check for ehrlichiosis and always checked kidney function. Never really trusted the in house tests.

 

[danisgoat]

At the clinic I worked, we tested for lyme with the yearly heartworm test using the 3DX Idexx Snaptest and now 4DX Idexx snaptest. The snaptest detects C6 antibodies which are from natural infections and will not cross react with vaccination caused antibodies, unlike IFA and western blot tests. So you can use this test on vaccinated dogs.

With the dog that tests postive with no obvious clinical signs, I recommend an UA and urine protein/creatinine test to check for protein in the urine to check for kidney involvement. If positive for that recommend treatment with doxycycline. The others, I discuss with owners doing a quantative c6 test to get a look at actual antibody level to determine need for treatment(<30 don't treat and monitor , > 30treat and retest in 6 months) vs treatment without the quant C6. Will also talk about tick preventatives and daily check over of the pups to see if their is anything we can do to boost reexposure prevention.

Thank-you so much for this Dr. Shelli. This makes so much sense to me...and it corrects my above statement regarding how tests will show a positive if you had the vaccine.

This is exactly the kind of discussion...information I was hoping for in starting this thread, and I really appreciate your input.

Danielle