My Dog Tested Positive For Lyme Disease. Now What?

The 3DX Snap test is a color change test performed at the Rutherford Animal Hospital for screening dogs for three diseases, Heartworm, Lyme, and Ehrlichiosis. If the Lyme portion of the test is positive, it means that it was exposed to Lyme disease at some time in the past but is not necessarily suffering from the disease. Lyme disease is caused by a bacterium and can only be transmitted to mammals via the bite of ticks. For this reason you cannot catch Lyme disease from your dog! A positive test indicates only exposure. In the most common form of the disease, pets can have swollen joints fever and general malaise. This form can usually be treated successfully with antibiotics. Animals can also carry the disease for a while before it results in clinical signs. Less common but more serious forms, involving the heart and kidney, often are life threatening.

A second test, the Lyme Quantitative C6 Antibody test is highly specific blood test which measures the amount of the infection in the dog’s body. It must be performed by a professional veterinary laboratory. This test helps the doctor to determine whether treatment is warranted for dogs that appear healthy. Typically, three weeks of antibiotics are needed for each dog. A second C6 Antibody Test is performed six months later to measure efficacy of the treatment. It is typical for the screening 3DX Snap test to remain positive for several years.

If you have questions or need more specific information, please feel welcome to contact our staff.