My dog has Lyme disease, no improvement, and swollen legs. What to do?

Hello. It is possible for a swollen lymph node to be associated with a limp especially if the node is enlarged due to infection. Lyme disease is only one cause of limping in a dog & usually does not cause lymph nodes to enlarge. They will get big from infection, inflammation or cancer, so if you had not had the leg examined recently, I hope you can do so soon. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

I'm sorry to hear that Diamond isn't doing well. There are many potential reasons for lameness and lethargy. The first thing that comes to mind would be a tick-related illness such as Lyme disease. Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses can cause significant joint inflammation, fever and general malaise. I would ensure that Diamond has easy access to food and water and that you offer him some yummy options such as low-sodium chicken broth to drink and boiled chicken to eat. You can also try applying a cool compress to his swollen paw. If these ministrations are not successful and Diamond continues to be lethargic and inappetant, I would strongly recommend that you have him seen by a veterinarian. Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses are relatively easy to diagnose and are treatable. Other potential causes for his symptoms would be an injury, infection or cancer. Your veterinarian will be able to determine what is going on.

I'm sorry to hear that Kirou has not been feeling well. The swelling on her muzzle is certainly quite prominent. Lameness that shifts between different legs and joints is most commonly caused by tick-borne diseases (such as lyme disease), but could also be due to immune-mediated or other infectious diseases. At this point, Kirou should go back to her vet for a recheck and some diagnostic testing. Blood tests are available to determine if tick borne diseases are present. If extra fluid is palpable in any of her joints, the vet may need to draw out a sample for analysis. Biopsies may also be needed of the lesions on her muzzle. Kirou's clinical signs are a bit unusual and will require some testing to get to the bottom of the issue. I hope that she's on the mend soon!

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.

Poor Ness! It is a good idea to take her to the vet on Monday. For now, I would rest her completely. If you have a crate, I would keep her in that to keep him from moving too much. If you don't have a crate, I would confine her in a small room. Take her outside to potty on a lead only, and bring her right back in when she's done. Try to keep her as quiet and still as possible.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Max! Most dogs with Lyme improve on doxycycline with in 3 days and STAY better. They don't relapse on meds. The most common reason for initially doing well on the doxycycline and then getting worse again is immune mediated polyarthopathy. That is treated with immunosuppressants like prednisone. I would get a second opinion. I wish Max a speedy recovery!

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/