Is lyme disease fatal for pets?

Answer 1

If left undiagnosed and untreated it is fatal. If not treated in a timely manner, then you can have severe and irriversable joint damage and if the temperature spikes high enough sometimes permenant brain damage.
Though its now controlled with a round of antibiotics. Some people do not know this, but once a dog has Lyme's disease they will always have it. It never totally goes away, if can flare up from time to time. Normally have to watch for a flare up. My foster Basset/Lab mix, who's now my pet, came to me with Lyme's, I had her for a several months when she had gone into heat and was acting strange, lethargic, high temps, her eyes seems swollen and bulging, she lost her appetite, and she got lame in her front leg. I thought it was depression at first then got worried and took her in. The ran a blood test for Lyme's and she had it. After about a month of meds she was OK, but she tests positive ever time now for the Lyme's Disease and will test positive for the rest of her life. The vet also told me that even though you can vaccinate against it there is a chance the dog can still get it. That's why its really important to check your dogs, and treat your dogs for ticks all season long. Especially in the Northern woody climates.

Answer 2

Lyme disease is rarely, if ever, fatal.
Lyme disease is easily and effectively treated--if recognized early enough--with a course of antibiotics. The dog may seem to recover dramatically within the first couple of days, but as with all antibiotic treatment, it is important to continue with the medication for the entire prescribed period.
At one time, only the tiny Deer Tick was believed to carry Lyme, but now we know that it can also be transmitted by both the American Dog Tick and the Brown Dog Tick. If you have ticks, don't waste your time trying to identify which ticks they are!
The good news is that there is now an anti-Lyme vaccine for dogs. It is not 100% effective, but if your dog lives in tick country, some protection is better than none. Just remember that if your dog shows the symptoms, he could be infected--even if he has had the shot. The shot will also make the dog test positive for Lyme in the antibody test, so you will no longer be able to diagnose Lyme from that test.

Answer 3

If left untreated yes. The Lyme vaccination only works on 50% of the dogs. It can be treated but never really goes away. It stays in the central nervous system and can flare due to stress, illness and reinfection. I have my dogs tested yearly. I don't give them the vaccination. It costs about the same to have the blood work checked as it does for the shot. One of my seven dogs has tested positive and has been treated twice now. He is almost nine years old and showing no signs of permanent damage.


I totally agree with the poster above but, my dog does not always test positive. He has on two occasions in the past eight years. Both times treated and as I said not showing any damage to date. He was six months old the first time and didn't test positive again until age five.

Answer 4

Yes it is and it's very wide spread. It's all over the US now so if your going to be taking your dog out for walks and to the woods or out trail walking then it's a good idea to have your dog vaccinated against it.

Only Ticks carry Lyme disease!

Answer 5

Lyme in canines is treatable. some canines have not any indications some canines have lameness. in case you have self assurance Lyme affliction see your vet for a reasonably straight forward attempt that takes approximately 10 minutes and basically 2 drops of blood to run. it is going to inform you in case your canines has lyme affliction or heart malicious program or yet another tick born affliction

Answer 6

Yes ticks and fleas can carry Lyme disease and spread it by biting the host.

Answer 7

it can be, but on the other hand, sometimes you never even know your pet has it. my dog was diagnosed with it once, but we had no idea how long she has had it, and she will always test positive for it from now on. she never once acted any different, so we were quite surprised when we were told.

my bosses husband even has it! lol

Answer 8

It can be. Keep something on your dog. Ticks are very easy to control, but can take over if ignored.

Answer 9

Yes, my friend lost her black lab to it last year.