Maggie was diagnosed with Chronic Lyme

lacey9875

lacey9875

New member
I am so upset. The vet called yesterday afternoon and said she has a UTI and tested positive for Lyme, but the vet said "Chronic" because it's been in her system for a few weeks. She's on Cefepoboxine for the UTI and has to have another urine sample done after that to check the proteins in her liver to see if it's being affected. The vet said she may have to go on a special low-protein diet if it is, and something else but honestly I was so upset I couldn't really hear her. I'm still not sure how it's different from regular Lyme Disease and why it's not being treated unless it's because of the anti-biotic for the UTI, and I can't even think about it without crying. My poor baby bear, she'll only be 4 in June, and I feel HORRIBLE that I didn't notice anything off with her.

I am going to start trimming her and keeping her fur shorter so I can check her better, and I plan on cutting every damn tree in my back yard down. Any thoughts, prayers, suggestions or comments are appreciated, because I have no idea what to do with this.
 
YorkvilleNewfie

YorkvilleNewfie

New member
Ok. Deep breaths, Dawn! First off, if she's only had Lyme for a few weeks, she would have been asymptomatic, meaning, no signs of it. Symptoms don't appear for months afterward (like fevers and joint pain) so, do not feel guilty about not noticing anything wrong with her. She likely has nothing evidently wrong with her as a result of the infection. I find it strange that he's calling this "chronic Lyme" if she's only been infected for a few weeks. Did he do a urinalysis? Did they check her antibody levels? And if I were you, I would ask him straight away, why is she not on Doxy? If it's because of the UTI, I get it, but if not...why the hell not?!
 
YorkvilleNewfie

YorkvilleNewfie

New member
Oops. Read too fast. So he IS going to check her kidney function through urinalysis. Good. I know that you're really good at worrying, but try not to (easier said than done, I know!). Lots and lots of dogs get Lyme (especially out east by you) and many of them have no real problems and get over the infection just fine and dandy. And she's only had the infection for a few weeks! That's pretty good news! So, deep breaths, 'kay? :hugs:
 
Last edited:
Pregreen

Pregreen

New member
Maggie will be fine. I'm unsure why your vet doesn't have her on Doxy as it can be taken with antibiotics. I kid you not, my dogs test positive for Lyme every time they have blood work. We treat with Doxy whenever they have a flare. I've also had dogs with a UTI test positive for Lyme and it's unrelated. I'm not far from you in PA and Lyme is just a fact of life around here. I have tick eating chickens, Frontline, tick collars and nothing stops the dogs from getting ticks. I've have a dog who has tested positive for Lyme on and off for over 10 years and my vet has never mentioned the word "chronic". I'm sorry that your vet freaked you out. With the right medicine Maggie will be fine.
 
Bailey Boy

Bailey Boy

New member
I don't know why your vet would call it chronic and yes as soon as you can get her on doxy.

My Coleman went for 8 months before I switched vets to have him treated.
 
DAWNMERIE

DAWNMERIE

Active member
You can't get doxy right now, there's a shortage, and if you can get it the price is threw the roof, Charlie mentioned something not to long ago and I looked into it.

They are using a different drug according to his last thread. Last year Myra had her first UTI and we had a positive on anaplasmosis (another tick issues) that we were going to treat so we just put her on the doxy to treat both. Not sure why the word chronic was used? It's not a death sentence, many people and animals go threw it, so don't panic.

You can try everything to keep those buggers away but I've found nothing that works effectively. Don't freak out dogs can be successfully treated. I have been pulling live ticks off for the past month and they have been treated....I've tried everything topical and jersey ticks are freaking tough.

The mention of a low protien diet would make me think something else is going on other than tick issue, did they get this info from just a urine sample? Did they draw blood or do the 4D snap?

Here's Charlie's recent thread
http://www.newf.net/Forums/showthread.php?t=106785
 
Last edited:
Milliejb

Milliejb

New member
Oh No! I am sorry to hear this but even more sorry to hear how stressed you are. I am clueless when it comes to all of this so I am not offering advice, but lots of good mojo! I love that Maggie girl! :)
Why did he test her for Lymes if she had no symptoms?/ I feel like I need to check Millie... Do people normally check up on Lymes without ever having any symptoms? As for the UTI, Millie has had a few unfortunetly. I keep her on cranberry pills and fingers crossed, all has been well since then.
 
lacey9875

lacey9875

New member
Thanks guys, and yes Kristen, you know I can make mountains out of molehills in the blink of an eye!! :shuffle:

I'm just *super* stressed right now, every day for the past week and a half we've been running around until about 10pm, my Dad was just diagnosed with Colon Cancer, my Mom has Breast Cancer, my fence needs to be replaced, I have a teenager and ants in my kitchen. I want to randomly punch people sometimes.

I have done some research and I think she's not being treated because she's asymptomatic and I did read that those diagnosed as that don't need treatment, and that 95% that test positive never show symptoms. My lab had it about 11 years ago, but she showed symptoms.

The vet mentioned the low protein diet if the next urine test showed that it was affecting her kidneys in any way, but now I'm worried that the anti-biotic she's on may mask that.

And Jess, I had her tested because I was going to get her the vaccine, which from what I've read is a crap shoot. As Dawn said, ticks on the East Coast are horrible, and it's hard to avoid apparently.
 
lacey9875

lacey9875

New member
I left a call to have my regular vet call me, I want her take on this too. We didn't see her because I thought it was just a simple UTI. :darn:

The more I think about this, the more I worry. Sigh.
 
N

NewfieGirl01

New member
Best wishes to you. I'm sure everything will be okay.

I hear a lot of newfies getting Lyme... Do you guys get the vaccine? I have my dogs vaccinated for Lyme every year up here just in case.
 
ardeagold

ardeagold

New member
The antibiotic isn't going to mask kidney damage. She needs to be on it to contain that Lyme...can't do without.

If they're talking about Lyme Nephritis, you need to find out and research it to get as much info as you can.

Also, Lyme can stay "hidden" for a LONG time. And even when/if they show symptoms, the tick bite can be as much as 6 mos ago. Sometimes Lyme recurs as well and another round of antibiotics needs to be used.

I hope her kidneys aren't being affected by Lyme and it's just coincidence that you found out about both at the same time,

Sending lots of good thoughts to Maggie.
 
chumleysma

chumleysma

New member
Vets are supposed to follow the guideline to not treat for positive Lyme if asymptomatic. Apparently, the dog's healthy immune system is "taking care of it." I don''t care what the guidelines are. Symptoms or not, my dogs get doxycycline for positive snap 4DX tests. I once made a deal with my vet. She would treat for the weak positive, even though my dog was asymptomatic, but the next time it showed positive we would have to seek definitive answers using the lyme quantitative C6 test. The dog was negative on the next test. Problem solved.
I would demand doxycycline. I think Maggie is symptomatic since she has a UTI and lyme is very hard on the kidneys. If the lyme is not cleared, some dog's kidneys will begin to show damage by spilling protein into the urine. If your vet won't treat, go to another and tell them she's limping occasionally at home. That will get you the doxy.
Once treated, make sure you snap 4DX her every six months. Know that the test misses all positives 30 days post bite due to antibody lag response. Good luck!
 
lacey9875

lacey9875

New member
Thanks guys, I've been second guessing the no doxy since her diagnosis. They did say she's had it for a while, and most dogs don't show symptoms but I want it treated. As far as I'm concerned the doxy won't hurt. I need to take a urine sample in today, and I'm not leaving without some.

Now I'm off to google lyme nephritis.
 
DAWNMERIE

DAWNMERIE

Active member
ardeagold said:
Lyme Nephritis
Click to expand...
Thank you for mentioning this Donna, I've never heard of it...OMG how horrible. I'm praying that it's 2 different issues Dawn! Nothing with Lymes should surprise me, I know so many people and dogs affected in so many different ways. I HATE TICKS!
 
lacey9875

lacey9875

New member
DAWNMERIE said:
Thank you for mentioning this Donna, I've never heard of it...OMG how horrible. I'm praying that it's 2 different issues Dawn! Nothing with Lymes should surprise me, I know so many people and dogs affected in so many different ways. I HATE TICKS!
Click to expand...

You and me both!! :cussing2: I swear I am cutting every stupid tree in my back yard down.

I don't think it's that bad, but I want her on doxy. My poor boo boo bear, I feel so bad for her.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top