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LATEST NEWS RELEASE: LYME DISEASE IN THE DOG Fall has arrived and the lookout for ticks and Lyme disease begins. The pet owner desperately searches for new and better methods to protect their beloved dogs. This year dog owners can be more informed with some of the latest knowledge regarding Lyme disease in the dog. A consensus report on Lyme disease in the dog has been released in the March/April 2006 Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine. This journal releases information from veterinarians who are trained experts in internal medicine as well as infectious disease. Because of the extreme disparity of opinions in the veterinary community, this group of specialists stepped in and began to gather data and research studies to answer the numerous questions about this disease. Lyme disease is caused by a tick borne organism Borrelia burgdorferi that originated as a human illness in Lyme Connecticut in 1975. It became first recognized as a dog disease in 1984 and 1985. Because the organism is carried by ticks its distribution varies geographically with the highest risk in the Northeast and Midwest. Most people exposed to Borrelia show clinical signs including an acute illness (flu like symptoms, erythema migrans rash), subsequent arthritis, neurologic and cardiac disease. Only 10% of exposed humans will be asymptomatic. In a striking contrast, 95% of dogs bitten by an infected tick will be show no illness or sickness! The primary signs of Lyme disease in dogs are fever, anorexia, and arthritis. In a very small number of cases Lyme disease has been thought to be involved in cardiac, neurologic, and kidney cases. Owners want to know how common Lyme disease is. This is difficult to answer because there is no test that proves that an illness is from Lyme disease. In a Lyme infected area such as the Berkshires 70-90% of ALL healthy and ILL dogs will be positive on the current Lyme tests. Owners are very happy to accept the popular diagnosis of “Lyme disease,” but the veterinarian must be aware that a sick dog with a positive Lyme test has a high likelihood of being a coincidence. The patient more likely doe not have Lyme disease. Also a positive Lyme test, which does not mean Lyme illness, just exposure, can remain positive for many months to even years. How can Lyme disease be diagnosed: 1) there must be evidence of the disease (fever, not eating, lameness-usually multiple joints), 2) evidence of exposure, considering other possible illnesses, and 3) hopefully a rapid response to therapy. One month of doxycycline is the recommended treatment for Lyme disease in this consensus. The response should be dramatic and if improvement is not seen in 1-2 days reevaluation for another cause of the dog’s illness should be investigated. Although the exact mechanisms are not known, there may be a kidney form of Lyme disease. It is seen to appear most frequently in Labs, Shelties, and Retrievers. Interestingly about 30% of these dogs have had some history of arthritis and 30% had a history of Lyme vaccination. These dogs are seen mostly in the summer or fall with severe vomiting, diarrhea, and an increase in drinking and urination. Should you test your dog regularly for Lyme? The benefits cited remind owners about tick control and provide information about the environment. If a veterinarian is considering vaccinations a positive dog should not be vaccinated. The consensus of experts do not recommend vaccinating for Lyme disease. And because the vaccine is made against a bacterium, not a virus, the Lyme vaccines may have a higher risk of creating adverse effects or immune mediated reactions. There is concern the vaccines may be involved in an abnormal immune responses in some dogs. The effectiveness of the vaccine is unclear because of the difficulties of actually diagnosing the disease. A human Lyme disease vaccine was developed in December 1998, but was soon taken off the market because of poor sales. The vaccine was considered too risky and did create immune diseases in a group of genetically susceptible individuals. The pros and cons of Lyme vaccination are clearly outlined in this consensus. Yet again the majority of experts in this report are against Lyme vaccination. The emphasis for tick prevention should be the main emphasis. There is no product currently available that totally eliminates tick exposure and provides 100% protection. Each has its benefits, potential problems and limitations. Your veterinarian should educate you about these products and help you select the best product for your dog. This excellent scientific article answers many questions about Lyme disease as well as it underscores the need for more scientific research. Below is this author’s outline of the main points that every owner should consider about Lyme prevention, testing, prevalence, and treatment. CANINE LYME SUMMARY: - Tick control is the primary emphasis for dogs and humans. - Most of the Internal Medicine experts DO NOT recommend Lyme vaccines. - All current Lyme tests DO NOT diagnose the disease. They only tell you the dog has been exposed. - Routine Lyme blood testing is controversial, since in an endemic area such as the Berkshires, anywhere from 70-90% of dogs will be positive. This can lead to over diagnosis and over treatment of the disease. Most dogs with a positive test will NEVER become ill with Lyme disease nor require treatment. - A dog that tests positive on a Lyme test can stay positive for months to years. - Treating dogs with antibiotics based on positive Lyme tests can create problems, is controversial and may be contraindicated. Donna M. Raditic DVM Nutrition Resident Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist VCA All Caring Animal Hospital 440 Stockbridge Road Great Barrington, MA 01230 The email for this journal is JVIM@AACVIM.org |
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