Lyme disease is caused when a tick infected with the Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria bites a dog. Canine Lyme disease takes several weeks and possibly months to show symptoms. The first sign of Lyme is usually joint soreness, although other symptoms may appear in more advanced stages of the disease. Glomerular disease---a disease affecting the kidneys---is the most dangerous side effect of canine Lyme disease.
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Symptoms of Lyme Disease
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Pet Education says that it generally takes two to five months after the dog is bitten by an infected tick for symptoms of Lyme disease to appear. Joint soreness, lameness, lethargy, a fever (103 to 105 degree F), loss of appetite and swollen lymph nodes are the most prevalent. Dogs may also develop immune and neurological issues. In certain rare cases, dogs develop kidney disease.
Glomerular Disease
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When canine Lyme disease goes undetected for a long period of time, it can wreak havoc on a dog's immune system. The dog's immune system essentially works overtime to fight off the infection, and in doing so, releases lots of antibodies. The antibodies linger in the kidney and impact its function.
The glomerulus is a very small, but significant part of the kidney most affected by the lingering antibodies. It's responsible for separating urine from blood and feeds filtered blood back through the body and channels urine out of the body. Over time, antibodies produce holes in the glomerular impairing filtration. The dog begins to lose large amounts of protein, which exits the body as urine rather than filtered through the body in blood. This condition is known as Glomerular disease.
Signs of Glomerular Disease
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A dog with Glomerular disease is excessively thirsty and drinks plenty of water. Its body needs to consume water in order to produce urine to flush out toxins. When he can't eliminate enough toxins from his body, a toxic buildup occurs that can be fatal if not treated right away. Glomerular disease can also cause a dog to lose weight.
Diagnosis
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A veterinarian performs a blood test (called a C6 antibody test) to check for antibodies in the blood. Since the test alone doesn't confirm infection, the results, together with other information, are used to make a presumptive diagnosis. When Lyme disease is suspected, the dog is given drug therapy. If its symptoms begin to subside within 48 hours of treatment, then the diagnosis is confirmed.
Dogs with Lyme disease should be regularly screened for kidney disease. A veterinarian takes urine cultures to check for proteins. The presence of proteins indicates kidney damage.
Treatment
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Drug therapy is used to treat canine Lyme disease. Pet Education reports doxycycline or amoxicillin are two of the most commonly prescribed antibiotics to treat this disease. Both are effective. Dogs should be on antibiotics for at least 14 days, but 30 days is recommended by Pet Education. Pain relievers also may be prescribed to alleviate joint swelling.
Dogs diagnosed with Glomerular disease may be treated with a low-protein and low-sodium diet, ACE inhibitors, low dose aspirin and omega-3 fatty acid supplements.
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