Pet Blog > Dog Lyme Disease Costs

Dog Lyme Disease Costs

Many people are well aware that among the several unpleasant aspects of ticks is the ability to transfer Lyme disease in dogs and humans. An issue that all pet owners have to worry about is Lyme disease in dogs, particularly during the summer. Did you know that your pet can get Lyme disease, too?

When the weather is nice and warm, your dog is more likely to spend more time outside and the risk of being bitten by ticks and contracting Lyme disease increases. These nasty little parasites often look for warm bodies to attach to and feed on.

A severe infection with the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi is the cause of dog Lyme disease. 

The bacteria are usually transmitted to dogs and other animals through bites of infected black-legged ticks, like deer ticks. The nymph as well as adult stages of the black-legged tick, Ixodes scapularis transmits Lyme in dogs. Once these bacteria are in the bloodstream, they can easily travel to different body parts and cause problems (moderate to severe) in specific organs and locations, like joints.

And that is not all as more serious complications can include damage to the kidneys, and in some cases, nervous system or heart disease. It is worth mentioning that Lyme disease can also affect humans, but it can’t be transferred directly to a human from a dog.

Symptoms of Lyme Disease in Dogs

The most common (and at times only) sign of Lyme disease in dogs is sudden lameness which often appears in one leg and then shifts to another. Other symptoms of Lyme disease in dogs are: 

• Swollen joints 

• Loss of appetite

• Fever

• Difficulty breathing

• Nervous system complications in rare cases

Dog Lyme Disease Diagnosis

Your vet will diagnose the Lyme disease by reviewing your dog’s medical history and the results of blood tests. Blood tests detect antibodies produced by the dog’s system in response to the bacteria. Your veterinarian will run a combination of blood chemistry tests, a urinalysis, a complete blood cell count, fecal examinations, X-rays and other tests that are specific to diagnosing Lyme disease in dogs (e.g., serology). 

Your vet may also draw fluid from the affected joints for analysis. One of the most common blood tests used by veterinary hospitals is called the IDEXX “SNAP® 4Dx® Plus". This test can be run in-house and provides quick results (about ten minutes). Also, these tests screen for additional tick-related diseases and heartworm disease. Your veterinarian might recommend some further tests, mainly based on your dog's signs and symptoms.

Some of these tests include:

• Blood parasite screening to determine if your dog has tick-borne and other infections

• Chemistry tests to assess liver, kidney, and pancreatic functions, as well as sugar levels

• Quantitative Lyme antibody levels for monitoring treatment response

• A few fecal tests to rule out the presence of intestinal parasites

  
  
  

Treatment for Lyme Disease In Dogs

In most cases, the treatment protocol for dogs that have Lyme disease is quite straightforward and simple to administer (it is often different in the more severe Lyme nephritis version). Dog Lyme disease treatment protocol usually consists of a thirty-day course of oral antibiotics.

 The two most widely used antibiotics are Amoxicillin and Doxycycline. The good thing is that both these medications are quite inexpensive and have few side effects. While the recommended treatment duration is often at least four weeks, note that longer courses might be necessary in some cases. Your vet can also prescribe an anti-inflammatory drug (pain medication for dogs) in case your dog is very uncomfortable. Sometimes, treatment may also involve other therapies directed at relieving or resolving specific symptoms.

In some cases, even after treatment, Lyme bacteria remain in a dog’s system in a latent stage. It indicates that the organism is present in your dog’s body, but it isn’t causing any active infection. Lyme disease vaccine for dogs is available to prevent disease caused by Borrelia burgdorferi. Depending on your dog’s size and age and some other variables, your vet may recommend testing your dog for canine Lyme disease before starting the vaccine series.

Post Treatment Care

After treatment, the most effective way to protect your dog from Lyme disease is taking preventive measures to lower the risk of contracting the disease again. During the last few weeks of summer, it is vital to keep in mind that both dogs and people are at a higher risk of getting infected with Lyme disease as well as other tick-borne infections and diseases, like anaplasmosis, and ehrlichiosis.

You should check your dog’s skin and coat daily, and remove any ticks by hand. Your vet can prescribe several prescription ticks and flea collars, oral and topical products that kill or repel ticks. You should also:

• Talk to your vet about tick-borne diseases prevalent in your area

• Speak with your vet about vaccinating the dog against canine Lyme disease

• Use a vet-recommended tick preventive on the dog

• Request your vet to perform a comprehensive tick screening at each examination. 

• Monitor your dog for any changes in appetite or behavior 

• Keep your lawn well maintained

• Clear any shrubbery next to your home

  
  
  

Average Cost of Treatment

In recent years, the cost of antibiotics for dogs has increased. A 2-week dose of Doxycycline or Amoxicillin can cost about $400 in some areas. Blood tests typically cost around $80, depending mainly on the methods used.

As a dog owner, you also have to pay the vet exam fee, which ranges from $40 to $50 and isn’t covered by pet insurance. The cost of modern veterinary care has increased in the country. This is why you can expect high vet bills if your dog is diagnosed with Lyme Disease. Fortunately, you can use veterinary crowdfunding to help with high and/or unexpected veterinary bills.

In comparison to typical crowdfunding websites, veterinary crowdfunding provides assurances to your donors that the money raised will in fact go to the pet’s healthcare needs. When you decide to start a campaign for your dog, have a bit of fun with it. You get to tell your dog’s story, include and awesome picture, and share your needs with the community of pet lovers out there. Get social and post your campaign to Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Pet lovers frequently visit these sites and you can capitalize on their big hearts by pulling at those heart strings to help your fury friend. There are a few sites that are solely dedicated to pet crowdfunding.

Final Thoughts

With the growing tick population, it is a good idea to know and understand what to look for and how at risk your canine is for developing Lyme disease. Your vet will recommend an effective tick prevention treatment for your pup or dog. As ticks transfer many diseases, avoiding and preventing them are the best options.

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