Lyme's Disease - Do you routinely test?

[The Quahog]

Going back to the original question, which is no. 2....why wouldn't you treat if it came up positive?

Barb -
Rather than bludgeon yet another thread to death, ( I promised myself I'd stay clear of the health forums...), mind if I handle that one through a PM?
I really would be interested in other people's thoughts and experiences rather than once again playing the bully. - Dr. Mac

 

[BarbV]

Barb -
Rather than bludgeon yet another thread to death, ( I promised myself I'd stay clear of the health forums...), mind if I handle that one through a PM?
I really would be interested in other people's thoughts and experiences rather than once again playing the bully. - Dr. Mac

Definitely! I'm obviously missing something fundamental here. And because Lyme has finally moved its way into my region, I'm very interested in this, but have not had the experience of others so far. So I'm a peasant when it comes to this topic.

And Dr. Mac, you have never "bludgeoned". Your opinion is totally welcome. Yet at the same time, we never want to put you in an ackward situation or put you at any risk.

 

[danisgoat]

Going back to the original question, which is no. 2....why wouldn't you treat if it came up positive?

The Lyme's disease blood test, as I understand it, tests for the antibodies to Lyme's disease. So....you can get a positive for several reasons, including, but not limited to:

1. Your dog has received the Lyme's vaccine and therefore has antibodies
2. Your dog had Lymes disease in the past and now has the antibodies to it

So...to answer your question, I would not treat a dog just because it showed a positive Lyme test because I am not comfortable giving antibiotics as strong as the ones used for Lymes disease if the dogs were not symptomatic.

On the other end of the spectrum....you can test negative to Lymes disease and still have it because your body has not yet produced the antibodies, and yet you have symptoms.

It is not a black and white situation. There are lots of blurried points in between and many people share different opinions.

does that help any?

And...I again say, I can be wrong on these points.

 

[danisgoat]

Barb -
Rather than bludgeon yet another thread to death, ( I promised myself I'd stay clear of the health forums...), mind if I handle that one through a PM?
I really would be interested in other people's thoughts and experiences rather than once again playing the bully. - Dr. Mac

Oh oops....didn't see this before I answered the question.


Hopefully I did not totally mess up with my explanation.

BTW....you are totally NOT a bully Dr. Mac. I am totally excited that you brought up this subject. It is so interesting to me.

 

[missjenneygirl]

Here, here! Dr. Mac is the voice of reason when our emotions get out of hand, and fly down a path that has no answers. We salute you, and appreciate any post you put on this forum. Thank you for your sage advice.

 

[danisgoat]

Here, here! Dr. Mac is the voice of reason when our emotions get out of hand, and fly down a path that has no answers. We salute you, and appreciate any post you put on this forum. Thank you for your sage advice.

Ain't that the truth, with Lymes disease.

There are no proven correct answers. UGH.

 

[BarbV]

The Lyme's disease blood test, as I understand it, tests for the antibodies to Lyme's disease. So....you can get a positive for several reasons, including, but not limited to:

1. Your dog has received the Lyme's vaccine and therefore has antibodies
2. Your dog had Lymes disease in the past and now has the antibodies to it

So...to answer your question, I would not treat a dog just because it showed a positive Lyme test because I am not comfortable giving antibiotics as strong as the ones used for Lymes disease if the dogs were not symptomatic.

On the other end of the spectrum....you can test negative to Lymes disease and still have it because your body has not yet produced the antibodies, and yet you have symptoms.


It is not a black and white situation. There are lots of blurried points in between and many people share different opinions.

does that help any?

And...I again say, I can be wrong on these points.

Ok, that's what I was looking for. I somehow missed that pups could get a false positive.

Now that, being said, I still ask the question as to whether or perhaps bi-annual bloodwork would be a good thing? To test for things like thyroid, liver, kidnesy

My own doctor does it? Why would we not do it for dogs?

 

[danisgoat]

Ok, that's what I was looking for. I somehow missed that pups could get a false positive.

Now that, being said, I still ask the question as to whether or perhaps bi-annual bloodwork would be a good thing? To test for things like thyroid, liver, kidnesy

My own doctor does it? Why would we not do it for dogs?

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).

 

[Lightplum]

Ok, that's what I was looking for. I somehow missed that pups could get a false positive.

Now that, being said, I still ask the question as to whether or perhaps bi-annual bloodwork would be a good thing? To test for things like thyroid, liver, kidnesy

My own doctor does it? Why would we not do it for dogs?

I think its a unnecessary test that if your dogs been exposed to Lyme antibodies its always going to come up with the false positive and than you would be treating a dog who doesn't need it.
The majority of vets around here will only treat with antibiotics if they are displaying symptoms since the majority of dogs here are already exposed to lyme and carrying the antibodies.

 

[Smudge]

I've always been very surprised that my dogs have never seemed to have ticks on them. I've found one or two of the fat ticks, but never any of the deer ticks on Gizmo, Smudge, or Fluffy. So far I haven't found any ticks on Fluffy or Smudge at all.

I did once get a deer tick on my eyelid when I was playing in the woods.

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