Hello. I am new to the East coast and found an engorged deer tick on my dog this morning. Time is of the essence.
I am naive about treatment for canines.
I looked for some advice on this topic but cannot find anything immediate and practical to address this.
I am afraid to call vet (especially on Sunday) because I am used to being disregarded about Lyme Disease. I have some garlic pills.
What should I do? I have a 20lb miniature schnauzer that I love immensely and do not want him to suffer like the rest of us.
Thank you for your time.
[ 10-16-2011, 02:25 PM: Message edited by: J-Dog ]
Posted by Robin123 (Member # 9197) on :
Others will tell you about petcare there, but I'd like to suggest using Orange Guard (TKO Orange as concentrate form) as a protection on fur.
It's an essential oil derived from oranges, and can kill and deter bugs. It's sold in hardware stores. Put a little in a spray bottle, fill with water and lightly rub/mist on pet fur.
I use it as my tick repellent - I spray it on my clothing. It's biodegradable so needs to be applied every 24 hours. I also spray it on the immediate ground environment. Use other essential oils for skin.
Posted by mom2kids (Member # 31972) on :
Vets have no problem treating LD. Take the tick off and save it, though I don't know if vets can test ticks for LD. Don't panic, call vet first thing in the morning and see what they say.
BTW, welcome to the east coast.
Posted by Jamers (Member # 28016) on :
Yes, my vets were well aware of LD in pets. Take her in on Monday if they can get you in for treatment. They will probably give her Doxycycline for a couple of weeks.
Posted by lpkayak (Member # 5230) on :
my mini schnauzer died last thanks giving at 13. he lived many yrs in endemic nys-not sure where you are
docs there were quick to give me 100mg doxy a day for 30 days every time i pulled ticks off him
i use the orange stuff now in nj to keep bugs out of house but had to use pyrethin based spray or drops to keep schnauzer tick free in ny and ct
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Calling tomorrow should be fine. Hope he is OK!
here is a thread in General Support about dosing for dogs:
I'll move this one over there too.
Posted by J-Dog (Member # 13160) on :
Thank you for your helpful responses. I called the vet and got a totally unsatisfying answer.
They said to come in around a month from now for the blood test and if that is positive then they would prescribe antibiotics.
Otherwise, no other medication would be given at this point in time.
So, just wait and see if your dog becomes lame. Is this ok? I should think not but, I really do not know.
Thank you for your time.
Posted by triathlongal (Member # 31684) on :
Check out my post on General Support re; Canine Dosage 500mgs.
The 4DX is a great diagnostic tool for dogs. We never wait to test if she has ben bitten and is showing symptoms.
Right now my Golden is on 500 mgs. of Doxy for Lyme and Anaplasmosis.
If she is already showing signs then, IMO/E, you do not want to wait. Co-infections, especially Anaplasmosis can cause kidney problems.
The past few weeks we had been finding a lot of ticks on our Golden and she was just not herself.
Luckily our Vet tests ASAP with the 4DX and she came up positive for lyme and co. Her markers were much higher then last year so we knew she was re-infected.
Posted by linky123 (Member # 19974) on :
Maybe try a different vet.
Posted by lpkayak (Member # 5230) on :
there was a recent post about how to buy dog doxy online w/o script
if you cant find it pmk me where you are...i might know a lyme friendly vet
or post your location...it really should not be hard to find a good vet here
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
I posted the link on dosing above.
Seems dogs recover more easily than us humans!!
Posted by J-Dog (Member # 13160) on :
Thank you for your help. This is really stressing me out.
I am in the process of looking for a lyme friendly vet here in the Lehigh Valley Pa (or south-eastern PA).
This place is totally infested with ticks. It is really shocking. Thank you.