How Do You Know if Your Dog Has Lyme Nephritis
The critters that cause this and how they pass information technology on.
The problem starts with the Ixodes species of tick (specifically the Ixodes scapularis, or deer tick, in the eastern United states of america). These critters deport the bacteria that crusade Lyme: specifically a gram negative spirochete called Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb). This infectious amanuensis multiplies inside the tick and will enter the animal at the end of the tick's feeding cycle (approximately 48-72 hours afterwards attachment). The amanuensis then replicates in the skin at the tick bite site followed by migration through the tissue. Lyme disease is endemic to the northeastern United States (Massachusetts to Maryland), northward central states and northern California.
Lyme does not begin to show signs in a canis familiaris for weeks to months following infection. The well-nigh mutual signs are fever, lack of appetite and joint pain. The most serious possible consequence of infection with Lyme disease is glomerular disease leading to renal failure (more on this later on).
End it before it starts.
There are two main parts to prevention of Lyme disease: vaccination and tick prevention. Allow's tackle the second first. If y'all live in an endemic expanse (and, allow's face up it, fifty-fifty if you don't) information technology is VERY of import that your canis familiaris have good tick prevention. There are many different medications/medicated products out in that location including Frontline, Revolution, Advantix and the Preventic collar. You may alive in an area where there is resistance to one, or more, of these products. Talk over this with your veterinarian, make the best choice for your pet and brand sure you are applying the chosen product correctly.
Now for vaccination. If you live in an endemic area then vaccination for Lyme disease is a good idea. It is a class of 2 vaccines given three-iv weeks apart and so an almanac booster. Information technology is of import to note at this bespeak that according to about studies just approximately 5% of all dogs infected volition actually testify signs of affliction. Also approximately 1-2% of vaccinated dogs will all the same get the disease (aught is 100% effective). The have home message nearly prevention is this: Good tick prevention will help more than vaccination when information technology comes to keeping your dog from beingness exposed.
The examination y'all don't desire to pass.
Before talking about testing I want to take a moment to hash out how the body reacts to infection. When the trunk is attacked it forms antibodies in response to the role of the bacteria (or other attacker) known every bit the antigen. This is besides how vaccines piece of work; they stimulate the trunk'south allowed system to produce antibodies to a specific disease. If the body becomes exposed to the illness again it will recognize, and fight it off, faster. All tests for Lyme disease examination for the antibiotic and not the antigen. This becomes important before long.
The nearly mutual test performed by pocket-sized animate being veterinarians is either the Snap-3 or Snap-4 examination by Idexx laboratories. These two tests too examination for heartworm disease, Lyme affliction and other tick borne diseases. Many vets use these combination tests as a screening tool. Both are C6 tests that are sensitive as well, and specific for, antibodies that have been formed due to natural exposure to Bb. C6 is a peptide (a unique surface area of one of the surface antigens of Bb). This peptide remains constant and e'er detectable in a torso infected by Bb. Dogs exposed to Bb will examination C6 positive within 3-5 weeks and can stay positive for years. Vaccines, however, exercise not incorporate this particular peptide. In other words, these tests will not come positive for Bb in vaccinated animals.
So what's the problem (or why all the controversy surrounding Lyme tests)? It lies in the fact that at that place is no proven correlation to testing positive and whether or not your dog will go symptomatic for Lyme disease. In fact-as stated above-approximately ninety-95% of all dogs that test positive will not come downward with the disease. In some owned areas upwardly to 70-90% of all good for you dogs will come up positive. Which leads to the question of whether or non testing on a regular basis is necessary and the diagnosis of Lyme disease?
So my dog is positive, now what?
The big question to ask yourself (or your vet will ask) is whether or not your dog is showing symptoms for Lyme. Do they have a fever? Are they eating? Are they limping? How's their energy level? If the answers to all of these are good and normal then your domestic dog is what we call an asymptomatic positive. And now the can of worms opens. I'm going to lay out what I've found in my research for this article. BUT this is where that disclaimer at the top bears repeating. This is my opinion and, as with any illness, you demand to consult with your veterinary before deciding on any handling course.
Onward. Let'southward hitting the easy 1 starting time, your creature is positive for Lyme and has symptoms. They should, and will, be treated by your veterinarian. First choice antibiotics are doxycycline or amoxicillin. Typically dogs are treated for a calendar month, though no ane knows how long it takes to truly clear a dog of the carrier state (be clear of the illness). There is a second C6 exam (called a Quant C6) that tests for the aforementioned antibodies as the SNAP test but information technology quantifies the level of antibody nowadays. There is some use in using this test in dogs receiving treatment as you tin test before and after to see if antibiotic levels falling which may give you an idea of if the treatment is working (more than on that afterward-meet below).
And the murky, scarier part.
Less piece of cake 1. Asymptomatic animals. Showtime question, is it worth doing the Quant C6 exam in these animals? Well, maybe. At that place is no evidence that antibiotic levels as measured past this examination correlates to whether or not the dog volition get symptomatic and, if so, the severity of the affliction. Is information technology worth treating asymptomatic animals with a class of doxycycline? Well, possibly. In that location are arguments for this, primarily of the "if we don't treat will my creature get worse later?" diversity-no one knows the answer.
Arguments confronting include: overuse of antibiotics can lead to resistance (and no i wants doxycycline resistant Lyme disease), doxycycline can lead to unwanted side effects (typically vomiting, diarrhea and lowering of ambition) and, finally, back to most of these dogs will not get sick. So what's the answer……that, for me, leads to the most concerning of all the potential consequences of Lyme disease.
A small pct of dogs that get Lyme disease may get Lyme nephritis. This is a kidney affliction thought (right now) to be acquired by antibody/antigen allowed complex formation that are deposited in the kidneys and lead to acute renal failure. These dogs have, unfortunately, a universally grave prognosis. They get downhill and dice very quickly even with aggressive treatment. How tin you lot tell if this rare consequence will occur in your dog? you lot tin't. BUT it does assist reply whether or non yous should treat asymptomatic dogs.
Back to my canis familiaris is an asymptomatic positive now what? First have their urine tested for poly peptide. This should involve both a total urinalysis and a test called a urine protein/creatinine ratio. If these are both normal then these tests should be repeated every vi or so months to brand sure at that place are no changes. If either test is abnormal and then total blood work should be performed (to include a chemical science profile and complete blood count). It is likewise a adept idea to talk to your vet about testing for possible co-infectious agents (Anaplasmosis, Bartonella to name 2) equally there is a reasonable adventure the renal disease could have been acquired by another infectious agent. If there is poly peptide in the urine then, in my opinion, yes practise a course of antibiotics. If there is no urine protein, no clinical signs of Lyme disease, you lot live in an endemic area where there is no fashion to know how long your dog has been positive, well, like I said, murky. Talk to your vet. You'll get information, you'll get dislocated (welcome to the lodge) and you'll brand the best conclusion for you and your pet.
I concluding thing, exercise you vaccinate an already positive dog? Almost experts say no. Why? Vaccines are to help prevent infection in the commencement place, they're infected now. The proverbial equus caballus has left the barn. There is no testify that vaccinating a positive animal will either aid clear the disease faster and/or help preclude them beingness infected over again.
The final word on Lyme: it is murky, information technology is confusing and 1 matter I tin tell you for sure is if y'all go 5 vets in a room to talk well-nigh Lyme, especially nearly handling of asymptomatic positive dogs, you will get at least 11 opinions at ever increasing volume levels. This is not a bad thing; in fact I call up it's a adept 1. The more questions means in that location are more people out there looking for answers. And peradventure one day nosotros'll have them-but not today. All-time advice I've got is Prevention First, with good prevention hopefully you won't have to deal with decisions on treatment. Just if y'all practice hash out it with a veterinary professional and make the conclusion the suits you best. Good Luck.
Source: http://k9aquaticcenter.com/dog-and-lyme-disease-the-good-the-bad-and-the-scary/#:~:text=Lyme%20does%20not%20begin%20to,(more%20on%20this%20later).
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