Lyme Disease?

[xmasbaby75]

As some of you may know, we adopted (rescued) Gellica last summer when she was 2 years old. Well, we just had her annual checkup at the vets over the weekend, and he asked me "How has she been doing?" So I say she's been fine, and the Dr. says, "Well, she just tested positive for lyme disease". WHAT! OMG!

So I asked if he tested her for it last year, and he said "No, we just started testing for it since it is so common in this area". So we now think she had it before we got her. She used to be an outside kennel dog -- oh so sad. Anyway, I asked him how we were going to treat this, and he said "We're not - she's not showing any signs of it". He went on to say that he is turning up about 5-7 positives a week for lyme disease, but he is only treating about 4 a month. YIKES!

So I guess we just wait and see now. Seems strange that she could have had this all along, but with no symptoms? Has this happened to anyone else? What are some of the symptoms I should be watching out for (besides vomiting)? Thanks!

[ARCHIE]

Last year when I took Buddy for his yearly the vet took a special lymnes test.
He said lymnes was showing up in so many dog's that had no sympthoms.
Buddy does get the shot yearly because we have deer walking around like
they own the place. Sure enough he tested positive for it! With the shot!
I was amazed because he had no sympthoms. This year he tested negative for it. Go figure.
Hope you little one continues to be ok.

[Ellie May]

You should be watching for muscle weakness for sure.
The way I understand it, infection and disease are two different things. So, she could be infected or carry it and her body is fighting it but if she shows symptoms, then she would be treated. Some vets treat all positive cases though. But the question I would have to ask your vet is if he/she is testing all these dogs but only treats the ones with symptoms (which isn't necessarily bad), why did he/she waste your money on testing if she had no symptoms?