WTNH-TV - Channel 8 News New Haven, CT May 12, 2006
A new test for Lyme disease in your pets
(WTNH, May 12, 2006 Updated 12:52 PM ) _ This may be the rainy season, but it's also the beginning of tick season. And here in Connecticut experts are warning the public to be pro-active about Lyme disease, which also means taking care of your pets.
by News Channel 8's Jodi Latina
The test is called 3Dx -- it tests for Lyme disease, heartworm and canine ehrlichiosis -- and it's saving lives.
Five-year-old Max Ainsworth, a shepherd-pit bull mix is being tested for Lyme disease.
"Your dog is 50 percent more likely to get it than you are."
West Haven veterinarian Dr. Ralph Padilla says for the last year he has relied on the 3Dx test to tell whether a dog has been infected by a deer tick.
"We're finding more and more dogs have Lyme disease and clients are unaware of it," says Dr. Padilla.
He says symptoms in animals include lameness, fever and joint swelling.
In about eight minutes doctors can get a result, prior to this test it would take days to diagnose.
"In the past 30 days we've had 30 cases -- a case a day -- it's quite remarkable," says Dr. Padilla.
Although vets can diagnose a dog within minutes, researchers still struggle to definitively tell whether humans have the disease.
Today, experts on Lyme disease are at the University of New Haven talking about just that.
"You can have all the early symptoms and still have a negative test," says Dr. Kirby Stafford, CT Agriculture Station.
He's Connecticut's tick expert and says until researchers come up with better tests the best bet for people is prevention.
Back at the animal clinic, Max Ainsworth's test is positive. He'll be prescribed antibiotics and come back for a follow up.
Your pet can get the trademark bullseye rash but it's hard to see because of their fur.
The newest test, 4Dx, was approved just this past Wednesday. It will test for Lyme disease, heartworm, ehrlichiosis, and anaplasma, which is another infection caused by deer ticks. Tests can cost as much as $45.
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treepatrol
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 4117
posted
4dx its all for dogs
-------------------- Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Remember Iam not a Doctor Just someone struggling like you with Tick Borne Diseases.
posted
The K-9 4DX is similar to the K-9 3DX, it is an Elisa test, and we all know how reliable those are...
Posts: 98 | From MA | Registered: Dec 2005
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posted
For many years, my vet has been using the SNAP or 3Dx test to check for heartworm. The last 4 years, the test has also included Lyme and Erlichiosis.
Many dogs test positive for Lyme with no apparent symptoms. In our area, it is very common for dogs to test positive. I have 3 dogs and only the puppy was neg. the other 2 had no symptoms.
One of my dogs had been treated for Lyme twice.
It would be nice if they could use it for humans, but then the insurance companies would have no excuse to not pay for the needed drugs. The other issue with the test is that a lot of dogs who have been treated for lyme continue to come up positive on the test even if they appear cured of their symptoms.
My Lyme dog has not had symptoms now for over 3 years, but she still tests positive for Lyme.
Posts: 175 | From ma. | Registered: Aug 2005
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posted
Ya, the problem is the cure takes a lifetime ...
Posts: 121 | From Memphis, TN | Registered: Dec 2004
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luvs2ride
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 8090
posted
When my vet did our dogs spring shots this year she said the tests were all neg for lyme in our dogs (she ran the test while we waited).
I just stared at her and thought "yeah right! there is no such test for lyme that can give you the results in minutes."
Maybe I was wrong. Why can't my vet test me?
This is like the West Nile vaccine for horses. Don't have one for dogs or humans. How come horses have one and have had it for years now?
Many in the horse world do not trust the West Nile vaccine. Should we trust the doggie lyme test?
-------------------- When the Power of Love overcomes the Love of Power, there will be Peace. Posts: 3038 | From america | Registered: Oct 2005
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posted
For me, the question is not wether or not to trust the dog Snap test. It can only tell you if the dog has been exposed to Lyme not that they have the disease. The symptoms tell you that just like with people.
The problem is developing a vaccine. Vaccines are not big money makers like drugs for impotency and when they go wrong, the consequences are a lot bigger than with a dog having a bad reaction.
Still, it would be really interesting to see if the Snap test worked for detecting Lyme in people and the Heartworm and Erlichiosis are in there too!
Posts: 175 | From ma. | Registered: Aug 2005
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lymednva
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9098
posted
My understanding is that dogs are easier to dx and easier to treat for Lyme. My older one has tested positive for the past three years. She's been treated, and seemed fine.
Every year about this time she gets a bit droopy, but she is not showing any of the classic signs of Lyme in dogs like joint pain, or swelling. She still comes up and down the stairs and runs after my 1 1/2 year old dog, who tested negative.
-------------------- Lymednva Posts: 2407 | From over the river and through the woods | Registered: Apr 2006
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