In December, Dr Theoret at Centrepointe Animal hospital saw Zeus, a young male Samoyed, after he had been bitten by two ticks. After a discussion about the possibility of Lyme disease transmitted by ticks, Dr Theoret recommended a blood test in order to assess if Zeus had contracted the disease.

Unfortunately, the test came back positive for Lyme disease. Additional blood tests were done to evaluate the potential impact on Zeus’s organs.  The test also establishes the degree of the infection: in Zeus’s case, it was severe.  A urinalysis was also performed to see if the kidneys had been affected; fortunately, the results indicated that the kidneys were not affected.

Zeus was prescribed a long course of antibiotics to help eliminate the disease from his system. A follow-up blood test done several months later, at the same time of his yearly heartworm and lyme testing, indicated that Zeus was clear of Lyme disease. He is now receiving a monthly tick protection and was administered the Lyme vaccine.

We are very happy for Zeus and his family! He ended up contracting a severe case of Lyme disease without showing any clinical signs.

Note that the clinical signs caused by Lyme disease tend to be very vague and may take months to appear; they include lethargy, anorexia and lameness which are easy to confuse with other diseases.

If you notice a tick on your dog or if you are concerned about Lyme disease, contact Centrepointe Animal Hospital for our expert advice!