Kidney Failure from Lyme disease

[Ginny Nightingale]

I just got some devastating news--a perfectly healthy young labradoodle has had to be put down tonight--after complete kidney failure---it was determined that the damage was the result of Lyme disease and another related tick borne illness. The dog showed no symptoms until a few days ago and by then it was too late.

I did some research and found that the kidney damage from this type of infection is more common in Labs and Goldens as well as a few other breeds--this is so scary. Those of us who live in the Northeast where ticks are common and seem to be increasing in number as we speak have go to be so careful! And of course, Lyme is spreading across the US. 

I can't believe the poor dog is gone so soon--she did not deserve this ending and as you can imagine, her owners are just devastated. 

Please be careful when taking your dog into an area where there might be ticks--even with tick preventative it is a good idea to check the dog over after a walk!

This is a picture I took of the dog just a year ago--poor girl. So sad. 

UPDATE:

My daughter the vet tells me that there is a new vaccine coming out that is more effective against Lyme--I will see if I can get the name of it.

[Ginny Nightingale]

Daughter vet just told me that if you test for heartworm every two years there is a blood test that also tests for Lyme, etc at the same time for the same price--might be worth doing since a lot of dogs have no symptoms. 

[Marianne Kay]

Good to know this. I will call me vet and ask. Thank you!

[BG and Gavin]

So very sad. What a beautiful dog. I try to minimize tick exposure here at home and thankfully there are none at the cottage where Gavin likes to roam through the bush. I hope they can get this disease under control soon.

[Linda, Webber and Seda]

My dogs get annual blood tests to check for heart worms and all tick born diseases. On frontline plus he tested + for e. Canis.

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

This is so sad and very scary. As you might remember my post about my daughter's dogs getting just covered in ticks last summer. So far all blood tests are normal, although he has been having seizures since then. We will never know if its related to the ticks or not but to think there could possibly be no symptoms and he still become deathly ill is very scary. Thank you for sharing. So sorry for this poor pup and his family.

[Gail and Bailey]

So sorry to hear about the loss of this beautiful girl! My heart breaks for her family.

[Julie, Eloise & Beasley]

This is scary and heartbreaking, but thank you for posting.  I had no idea there is a Lyme vaccine - I'm assuming it's because of the part of the country we're in, but I'm going to ask my vet about it at my girls' upcoming appointments.  I'm sorry for this pretty girl's family...so very sad.

[DJ & Chance]

So sad, and also scary.  We have fewer ticks on the West coast, but they do carry Lyme and other diseases.  Some studies also suggest that Lyme disease is carried by mosquitos.

[Ginny Nightingale]

Not true as far as I know--I think that the theory has been debunked. 

[DJ & Chance]

I checked to latest CDC website and you are correct, thank goodness.

[Adina P]

I'm so afraid of ticks that I just don't go anywhere where there might be any--not with dogs anyway.  I don't like critters I can't see.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

OH, Ginny, I am so sorry for that poor dog and its family.  We aren't plagued with Lyme where I live, so my dogs are not protected by the vaccine.  Frontline only kills ticks after they  bite, so we will need to be extra careful when we travel.