John L
Well-known member
My friends retreiver has been showing signs of what we thought was age related issues. His Lab is 9 years old and towards the end of last season was starting to tire easily after each hunt and was also having some problems getting back in the boat and truck. We thought he was just getting up there in age and starting to show early signs of Arthritis or just plain getting tired. During the last few months he has been getting fatigued after long walks and it looked as though his hips were also acting up. Whe he was picked up to help get in the truck he would shows signs of discomfort.
He was brought to the vet 2 days ago and the test came back confirmed it was Lyme disease and it has probably been that all along. This dog does not live in an area where there are deer ticks or hunt upland game where he could have picked up ticks. The vet said it was probably transfered from a bird that he had retreived. The doc said to he could have pick up the tick from handling a bird that had cooled down and the tick released it's self and jumped on the dog since the bird was cold.
So consider this a warning to vaccinate your dogs even if you do not live in an area where there is a tick problem and don't let your dogs handle cold birds.
My friends Lab is now on antibiotics and time will tell how well his recovery goes. The doc said there is no cure but the meds should help.
Here are some symptoms of lyme disease in dogs:
Many dogs with lyme disease have recurrent lameness of the limbs due to inflammation of the joints. Others, meanwhile, may develop acute lameness, which lasts for only three to four days but recurs days to weeks later, with lameness in the same leg, or in other legs. Better known as “shifting-leg lameness,” this condition is characterized by lameness in one leg, with a return to normal function, and another leg is then involved; one or more joints may be swollen and warm; a pain response is elicited by feeling the joint; responds well to antibiotic treatment.
Some dogs may also develop kidney problems. If left untreated, it may lead to glomerulonephritis, which causes inflammation and accompanying dysfunction of the kidney's glomeruli (essentially, a blood filter). Eventually, total kidney failure sets in and the dog begins to exhibit such signs as vomiting, diarrhea, lack of appetite, weight loss, increased urination and thirst, fluid buildup in the abdomen and fluid buildup in the tissues, especially the legs and under the skin.
Other symptoms associated with lyme disease include:
He was brought to the vet 2 days ago and the test came back confirmed it was Lyme disease and it has probably been that all along. This dog does not live in an area where there are deer ticks or hunt upland game where he could have picked up ticks. The vet said it was probably transfered from a bird that he had retreived. The doc said to he could have pick up the tick from handling a bird that had cooled down and the tick released it's self and jumped on the dog since the bird was cold.
So consider this a warning to vaccinate your dogs even if you do not live in an area where there is a tick problem and don't let your dogs handle cold birds.
My friends Lab is now on antibiotics and time will tell how well his recovery goes. The doc said there is no cure but the meds should help.
Here are some symptoms of lyme disease in dogs:
Many dogs with lyme disease have recurrent lameness of the limbs due to inflammation of the joints. Others, meanwhile, may develop acute lameness, which lasts for only three to four days but recurs days to weeks later, with lameness in the same leg, or in other legs. Better known as “shifting-leg lameness,” this condition is characterized by lameness in one leg, with a return to normal function, and another leg is then involved; one or more joints may be swollen and warm; a pain response is elicited by feeling the joint; responds well to antibiotic treatment.
Some dogs may also develop kidney problems. If left untreated, it may lead to glomerulonephritis, which causes inflammation and accompanying dysfunction of the kidney's glomeruli (essentially, a blood filter). Eventually, total kidney failure sets in and the dog begins to exhibit such signs as vomiting, diarrhea, lack of appetite, weight loss, increased urination and thirst, fluid buildup in the abdomen and fluid buildup in the tissues, especially the legs and under the skin.
Other symptoms associated with lyme disease include:
- Stiff walk with an arched back
- Sensitive to touch
- Difficulty breathing
- Fever, lack of appetite, and depression may accompany inflammation of the joints
- Superficial lymph nodes close to the site of the infecting tick bite may be swollen
- Heart abnormalities are reported, but rare; they include complete heart block
- Nervous system complications (rare)
