posted
My dog is exhibiting many lyme symptoms. I know b/c I have lyme. We limp together and this sucks!
I made an appointment with the vet, even though she has been innoculated for lyme in the past.
She's 7 and a big dog. The last time she went to the vet, she said it was arthritis as she was ageing.
I don't believe this. She has had many ticks on her, I even took one off of her tonight when she went out to piddle. Only 30 seconds, but when I checked her after, I found a tick on her paw.
Of course, I killed it!!!
I want the vet to treat her for lyme and give her pain-killers for arthritis, if that's what she has.
To think that my sweet big baby is suffering as we do, with no treatment, kills me.
Crap...if I couldn't talk, the ducks I was sent to would say it's arthritis and old age.
I WANT HER TREATED!! If I have lyme, I know how she reacts, and she is just like me in the limping and sad face.
[ 22. May 2007, 05:52 PM: Message edited by: tothepoorhouse ]
Posts: 867 | From PA | Registered: Jan 2006
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Geneal
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 10375
posted
I am sorry to hear about your dog.
I know they (vets) can easily test for Lyme in dogs.
One of my seven dogs recently started limping.
She is a big girl (79 lbs).
The vet knows my whole family has Lyme.
Also went fairly quickly with a "arthritis" diagnosis without checking for Lyme.
However, this girl (Maggie) is not listless, lacking appetite or showing any of the other
Manifistations of Lyme in canines. I have seen an improvement with her leg and anti-arthritis meds.
However, I think I am going to have her tested anyway when I take her back next week for her rabies shot.
She is such a good girl..Grew up with my babies.
Won't come in the house unless the kids are in first.
I owe that to her (and to me).
Hope your "baby" is feeling better soon.
Hugs,
Geneal
Posts: 6250 | From Louisiana | Registered: Oct 2006
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Truthfinder
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posted
Both of the vets I've talked to here say that the main symptom they watch for with TBDs is a "roving lameness", or limping that seems to change to different legs on different days, or go from back leg to front leg, etc.
So, watch carefully to see if your dog always limps on the same leg or in the same way. This can be helpful to the vet in distinguishing it from arthritis.
I think this observation has ALMOST convinced me that my dog does NOT have Lyme or a TBD, and that it really is arthritis (although his x-rays only show a little change in one knee, and that isn't even the leg he usually limps on.)
He is doing very well being treated for arthritis and is a happy dog. That's what is important to me.
Good luck, guys.
Tracy
-------------------- Tracy .... Prayers for the Lyme Community - every day at 6 p.m. Pacific Time and 9 p.m. Eastern Time � just take a few moments to say a prayer wherever you are�. Posts: 2966 | From Colorado | Registered: Dec 2005
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CaliforniaLyme
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posted
Poor baby!!!! I hope she stops limping soon!!!!!
-------------------- There is no wealth but life. -John Ruskin
All truth goes through 3 stages: first it is ridiculed: then it is violently opposed: finally it is accepted as self evident. - Schopenhauer Posts: 5639 | From Aptos CA USA | Registered: Apr 2005
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posted
Thanks all. She went to the vet today and she still insists it's arthritis. She did a lyme test and said it was negative.
Are dog lyme tests more accurate than human tests?
THe dog does change the limp, sometimes it's her back legs, sometimes the back.
Posts: 867 | From PA | Registered: Jan 2006
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Truthfinder
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TTPH, I think Lyme tests for dogs are more accurate, but I also think it might depend on the test!
I assumed that my vet used the IDEXX Snap 3-D test which is very popular and seems to be pretty accurate, but he didn't.
I found out later that the Snap 3-D tests have a short shelf life and since my vet doesn't test that many dogs for Lyme, he won't order those tests. So he uses a different IDEXX test.... the older type used before the Snap 3-D tests came out. I don't think the older tests are as good.
Yes, if the limping changes, I would still be suspicious, too. Any other symptoms like lethargy or fatigue, or even behavioral stuff like your dog not wanting to be touched, especially in certain spots? (That's all I can remember to look for....)
One of the vets here would put your dog on doxy just because of the 'roving lameness' issue - he wouldn't even bother to do a test. Like he said, "if it walks like a duck..... it's probably a duck".
(Now, that's assuming that your vet doesn't find bony arthritic nodules on the leg bones upon examination or other clear indications of arthritis.)
Tough call. Sometimes I wish I had access to a Pet Psychic or something.
Tracy
-------------------- Tracy .... Prayers for the Lyme Community - every day at 6 p.m. Pacific Time and 9 p.m. Eastern Time � just take a few moments to say a prayer wherever you are�. Posts: 2966 | From Colorado | Registered: Dec 2005
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lymednva
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Gee, that's too bad about your dog. In this area it is common for vets to test for Lyme at annual visits.
One of my dogs has tested positive for it, been treated and is now fine, other than slowing down with age. She doesn't exhibit the symptoms mentioned earlier in this thread. I do watch her closely for any signs of recurrence.
My other dog is young and extremely active. No signs of Lyme in her, but I also know she'll be tested when we go in soon for annual visit.
I would suggest that you watch for the symptoms listed above and the roving pain. They are good predictors of Lyme in dogs, along with the correct test.
-------------------- Lymednva Posts: 2407 | From over the river and through the woods | Registered: Apr 2006
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posted
I just called the vet's office and asked. They said for lyme testing, they do a 4DX????
Anyone know if this is accurate?
I just Googled it and it seems accurate...one of the latest that tests for heartworm, Ehrlichia canis, Lyme disease and Anaplasma hagocytophilum in dogs.
Diagnosis for each is available in 8 MINUTES!!!!!!
WHY CAN'T THEY DO THIS FOR HUMANS???
Thanks!
Posts: 867 | From PA | Registered: Jan 2006
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posted
Veryyy interesting. I called the company who sells the 4DX test to vets.
I spoke with one of their vets, and asked about their claim that it is 98% effective in diagnosing all of these illnesses in dogs.
The vet said she was NOT ALLOWED to talk to me as a dog owner. She could only consult with vets.
Huh?
Anyway, I wouldn't hang up and said, "I just don't know wny you can diagnose a dog with lyme with this test, but not humans? Can you explain that?"
She said, "she couldn't talk to me about it....but then added, the test was originally done with humans and was effective......that I should Google the C6 Antibody Study done by Tulane University".
Seems to me like she was saying it does work on humans, but that now it's only used for dogs.
posted
yep....husband said the vet determined no lyme in 8 minutes!!
Good for dogs, not for us. Posts: 867 | From PA | Registered: Jan 2006
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Truthfinder
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posted
The Snap 3-D and 4-D tests are (supposedly) the newer and better tests. The older-type Lyme `panel' my vet did included Lyme, Ehrlichea, and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.
The C6 ELISA (or MELISA) or whatever it is called for humans didn't turn out to be that great, from everything I've read.
Well, there is one other option........
Have your dog tested with the new Flow Cytometry ANTIGEN Lyme test at Central Florida Research, Inc.
I couldn't find anything about this on the CFR website, but on the Bowen website, it says this:
quote:Attention Pet Lovers!! Your dog or cat may be tested as well. Please have your veterinarian contact Central Florida Research, Inc. for information and pricing.
You know, I'm getting tired of playing the guessing-game with Lyme antibody tests. Whether it's human or pet testing, we keep running into the same problems.
If I feel the need to have my dog (or cat) tested in the future, I'm going to contact CFR. And I don't really care how much the test costs. A definitive answer is worth quite a bit to me.
Tracy
-------------------- Tracy .... Prayers for the Lyme Community - every day at 6 p.m. Pacific Time and 9 p.m. Eastern Time � just take a few moments to say a prayer wherever you are�. Posts: 2966 | From Colorado | Registered: Dec 2005
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Truthfinder
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Healthywalthywise, I got a bit confused there for a bit, but I like your new name....
Tracy
-------------------- Tracy .... Prayers for the Lyme Community - every day at 6 p.m. Pacific Time and 9 p.m. Eastern Time � just take a few moments to say a prayer wherever you are�. Posts: 2966 | From Colorado | Registered: Dec 2005
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