Dogs are infected with the bacteria that causes Lyme disease when they are bitten by an infected tick--usually a deer tick. Many dogs will test positive for Lyme disease but show no symptoms. At one time, veterinarians recommended that dogs that showed no symptoms not be treated, but that recommendation has generally changed. The antibiotics used are relatively safe, so there is little risk, and the bacteria are easier to treat if treatment begins at the onset of disease.
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Symptoms
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Many dogs never develop symptoms. Those that do may have swollen lymph nodes, with a few rarely developing heart, neurological and kidney problems.
Treatment
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Early-stage Lyme disease in dogs is treated with a 30-day cycle of doxycycline. In more advanced cases, the course of antibiotics may be longer.
Not Treating
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It is not known if a dog that tests positive will ever develop symptoms of Lyme disease. But it is known that untreated, Lyme disease can cause arthritis, kidney disease and myocarditis in canines.
Remission
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If your dog tests positive for Lyme disease, even if it has no symptoms, it will most likely carry the disease in its body for the rest of its life. According to Ron Hines DVM, most veterinarians believe the antibiotics only cause the disease to go into remission.
Vaccination
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There is a vaccination for Lyme disease in dogs, though there are associated risks. If your dog tests positive for Lyme disease, it is generally not recommended that it receive the vaccine.
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