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.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I am so sorry to hear about this beautiful dog. How sad for the owners! I hate ticks and because they are common here, I have my dogs vaccinated. It is so hard to see ticks on the dark colored dogs. 

[Amy and Annabelle]

This is so sad. It is scary that there were no symptoms until it was too late. She is a beautiful girl and I can't imagine what her owners are going through. Annabelle will be getting her vax at the end of the month. She got one last year too.

[F, Calla & Luca]

This is so very sad and scary. I vaccinate my dogs too but the vaccine does not give complete protection. It also would not prevent other tick borne diseases. What was the othe disease the poor doodle contracted?

[Ginny Nightingale]

I am not sure, F. I think that it could have been babesiosis or ehrlichiosis, which are also carried by the same tick--people have gotten one of these instead of Lyme or in addition to Lyme with a tick bite. 

[Lori, Daphne, Lucy & Pippa]

My new foster, Annie, has Ehrlichia as well as heart worms. The vet told me that the meds she is already taking to prepare for heart worm treatment are the same ones she would take for the ehyrlichia.

[Marianne Kay]

People get the babesiosis on Long Island, NY, in concert with the Lyme, sometimes. I know someone who has been out of work battling it for more than 4 years. Scary!

[Linda, Charlie Brown and Beau]

I am so sorry to hear about the loss of the sweet beautiful girl. Her owners must be so devastated. My vet has not suggested we vaccinate for this.  I am going to ask - maybe I am missing something. I am glad you posted Ginny so others will also become informed of lyme possibilities.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Oh this is such sad news.  I remember when Murphy had what they believed was Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever which is tick borne.  He was as sick as I've ever seen a dog and we worried about whether he would live through it.  Thankfully he did, but ever since I'm terrified of ticks.  We used to take the boys to a beautiful off leash park on many acres of state forest land, but we stopped because of the ticks. 

[charlotte bednarsh]

OMG.....this is so tragic.  The poor owners.   Paz gets a lyme disease vaccination and I'm wondering if it would be effective against the tick borne illness that took the life of this beautiful baby.  Does anybody know?

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Charlotte, Murphy has always received the Lyme vaccine which protects against many forms of Lyme....it did not protect him from the tick bourne illness that made his so critically ill.  I'm guessing that would also be true in this case.

[charlotte bednarsh]

Thanks Jane.   This is so very frightening, because we are all so very diligent about protecting our precious babies and I hadn't thought about the other tick borne illnesses against which the lyme vaccination would be ineffective;  I had lymes disease several years ago, and ended up in the hospital on IV's;  it's horrific since there are residual effects of lymes, particularly in the joints.  I actually ended up with an irregular heartbeat which after extensive cardiac testing at a major NYC cardiac unit, was determined to be caused by lymes bacteria.  These tick borne illnesses are so very dangerous.

[Kathy Janes]

So sad.  A really beautiful dog and probably a huge part of their lives and hearts.  My Ozzie got Lyme disease even though we never found a tick on him and all our dogs are always on Revolution.  He has premature cataracts as a result of the disease.  Nasty old ticks!  Hate them!