What are the long-term effects of Lyme disease on my dog's health?

Hello, While we know that Lyme disease can cause kidney disease, we cannot assume that the Lyme disease is causing kidney injury in this case. Many pets will test positive for Lyme disease on a screening test if they have been exposed to the disease. However, exposure does not equate to clinical infection in every case. In order to determine if Lyme disease is causing kidney injury, we need to measure antibody levels in the blood, ultrasound kidneys, and obtain a kidney biopsy. Without this information, it will be difficult to give a prognosis. I would advise you to follow up with your veterinarian to discuss recheck kidney values, abdominal ultrasound and urinalysis.

Some dogs show no symptoms with lyme disease, but we can see symptoms such as: fever (temperature over 103) which can result in lethargy/decreased appetite lameness which can sometimes shift between legs swelling of joints swelling of lymph nodes in rare cases lyme disease can affect the kidneys which could result in lethargy, decreased appetite, vomiting, increase or decrease in water consumption and urination. You can read more about this disease at: https://www.petcoach.co/article/lyme-disease-borreliosis-in-dogs/

I can imagine this must be very distressing for both you and Karlie. BUN and Creatinine are elevated with impaired kidney function. Karlie's initial BUN and Creatinine values were sky high. Lyme disease is a disease caused by a bacteria that is transmitted through tick bites which can cause kidney damage/kidney failure in some patients. If continued fluid therapy (daily intravenous or subcutaneous fluid therapy to flush out the toxins in the body that are normally filtered by the kidneys but are now circulating in Karlie's system) and a low protein renal diet +/- anti-nausea medication (to counter the extreme nausea and inappetance that comes with kidney damage) does not improve Karlie's appetite/attitude/activity level significantly, humane euthanasia is definitely an option to discuss further with your veterinarian.

If Rufus is still testing positive for Lyme disease, then yes he should continue to take the doxycycline. If you stop it and he's still positive for it, then the symptoms of it will come back. He needs to be treated until he is cleared of the disease. Studies have shown that some animals do not clear the organism after 30 days, and will relapse once the antibiotic is discontinued. While there can be side effects of antibiotics, the symptoms of Lyme disease can be quite severe and lead to fatal kidney failure. Not treating him will lead to much worse symptoms that the side effects of long term antibiotic use.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Loki. I recommend that she sees an emergency veterinarian today if possible. If not, then she must be seen first thing in the morning. While the swelling is not common, it may be due a complication of Lyme disease knowns as vasculitis. Blood vessels can become leaky due to inflammation and cause swelling of the limbs. Continue her medications as directed. Encourage her to eat and drink normally. I hope this information helps!

It is not common, but a very small percentage can become chronically infected. Usually in dogs, this is not the case, however they can reinfected or have a different type of tick borne disease that has similar symptoms

I'm sorry Thor has Lyme disease! The antibiotics can cause a loss of appetite as a side effect, so that could be why his appetite comes and goes. Lyme disease does cause painful and swollen joints, and that may explain why he doesn't want to get up and walks very stiffly. Difficulty breathing can also be part of the course of the disease. The normal course of treatment with antibiotics for Lyme disease is 30 days, but sometime treatment may go on longer. I would give your vet a call in the morning to let them know you haven't seen any improvement in Thor, and they can advise you if they want you to bring him in for a health check.