Though the most common symptom of Lyme disease in dogs is lameness, Lyme disease can sometimes affect the kidneys, causing renal failure and eventually death.
Though the most common symptom of Lyme disease in dogs is lameness caused by joint pain and swelling, veterinarians are also recognizing a form of the disease referred to as Lyme nephritis. This is a form of Lyme disease which causes damage to the kidney of the dog and results in kidney failure and eventually death.
Symptoms of Canine Lyme Disease Nephritis
Lyme disease nephritis symptoms are those of renal failure and may consist of:
Vomiting
Not eating
Lethargy
Weight loss
Increased water consumption
Increased urine volume
Swelling of legs
Other milder symptoms of Lyme disease may have been noticed previously. The dog may have shown evidence of lameness, fever and/or general malaise. It is possible that the dog may been a chronic carrier of Lyme disease.
Diagnosis of Canine Lyme Disease Nephritis
Diagnosing nephritis caused by Lyme disease is based on identifying a positive Lyme disease antibody test using either a Idexx SNAP 3DX or 4DX or a quantitative C6 antibody level along with evidence of renal involvement.
Blood tests should reveal elevated BUN and creatinine values, indicating that kidneys are not functioning within their normal limits.
Blood tests will also likely reveal decreased protein levels due to protein loss through the kidneys.
Urine tests should reveal protein in the urine, resulting from abnormal amounts of protein passing through the kidneys and ending up in the urine.
Urine tests will also likely reveal a low specific gravity, indicating that urine is dilute because the kidneys are not able to work properly and create a concentrated urine.
Once it has been determined that both a positive Lyme disease antibody test and renal involvement is present, the next step is ruling out other causes of renal disease. A positive Lyme antibody titer or test does not automatically lead to a diagnosis of Lyme disease nephritis. Other tests which may need to be done include:
abdominal radiographs
abdominal ultrasonography
biopsies of the kidney
Treatment of Canine Lyme Disease Nephritis
Treatment for Lyme disease nephritis in dogs is aimed at improving the function of the kidneys. Potential treatments may include:
intravenous fluids
feeding a "kidney diet" with restricted phosphorus, salt and protein levels
phosphorus binders, such as aluminum hydroxide
calcitriol
antibiotics, including doxycycline
ACE inhibitors, such as enalapril or benazapril
gastrotomy or PEG tube to provide nutrition if not eating
kidney dialysis
Prognosis for Canine Lyme Disease Nephritis
The prognosis for dogs suffering from nephritis caused by Lyme disease is poor. Usually the disease is fatal at this stage.
The copyright of the article Canine Lyme Disease Nephritis in Dog Care is owned by Lorie Huston. Permission to republish Canine Lyme Disease Nephritis in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
Our one year old labrador retriever bitch - Googly - has stopped eating
after she had high temperature for two days (104.4). When taken to the vet
she was administered antibiotcs and anti inflammatories through I.V.fluids.
The vet advised us to keep an eye on her urine. Today I saw that she pissed
blood red. Does it indicate nephritis. Am I supposed to be cautioned about
something serious? - A life threat? Plz help. -Posted by
julienjoy2000@yahoo.co.in
Apr 4, 2009 2:11 PM
Lorie Huston :
I'm so sorry to hear about your lab and her illness. I know how difficult
it is to deal with a sick pet and how helpless it can leave you feeling.
As to what is causing the blood in her urine, I'm afraid that I
can't answer that question with any accuracy without examining your dog.
There are many different possibilities ranging from minor to serious. A
reaction to a medication cannot be ruled out but other possibilities
include bladder infections, bladder stones, kidney infections, bleeding
disorders plus a whole lot of others.
Yes, Lyme disease
nephritis is a possibility but I'm not sure how likely since I don't your
dog's medical history. Had she tested positive for Lyme disease in the
past? What testing has been done for her and what were the results? Is the
blood present the entire time she is urinating or is it just present at the
end? Has your lab been spayed? Has she been exposed to ticks?
I
wish I had the answers you're looking for and wish I could help you more.
The best advice I can give you is to contact your veterinarian and let
him/her know about the bloody urine. Your vet is in the best position to
advise you what to do from here.
Good luck and please keep in
touch and let me know how your baby makes out.
Sincerely, Lorie Huston
Apr 18, 2009 8:10 AM
Guest :
My 8+yr old cocker spaniel had his regular Vet exam. The result, he has
kidney failure. No reasons given, "try this canine kit". We
went to another Vet to get answers. Another $400. told us the same,
however ran a test to determin it was kidney failure due to Lyme disease!
He was vaccinated for the last 6 years. How did he get the Lyme disease
and why won't our Vet tell us what he did or didm't do. We couted on this
Vet to be our caregiver for our pet. This should not have happened and as
a result we cannot get any answers so I now have a very low opinion of the
Veterinary. If this had been a regular doctor... I have spent $800 so
far with no answers and information on what the time line is what to expect
or how to prepare; they all are willing to set up more appointments to run
more tests...that will do nothing for his well-being. I need to know how
to care for him at home until his time has come. I will not put him
through unnecessary drawn out painful things that will only require
more payments for incompetence. Shirley for Ajay in Minnesota
Apr 18, 2009 2:36 PM
Lorie Huston :
Shirley,
Learning of your Cocker Spaniel's illness must have
been devastating for you. You have my sympathies.
Unfortunately,
it's very difficult for me to comment directly on your dog's illness
because I don't really have a great deal of history or information about
his condition. I can understand why you feel frustrated and upset. I can
even understand your anger with the veterinarians involved. But the truth
is, they may not be giving you the answers to the questions you're asking
because they may not know the answers themselves.
Diagnosing any
disease in a dog or cat can be difficult at best and there are many
different things which can cause kidney disease or kidney failure. Lyme
disease is one of those diseases but is only one of many possibilities. A
positive Lyme disease test by itself does not always indicate with
certainty that Lyme disease is the cause of the symptoms that your dog is
suffering.
My suggestion to you would be to talk with the
veterinarian(s) you have been dealing with and pose your questions
directly. Try not be antagonistic. Let the doctor know you are simply
trying to understand what is happening to your dog so that you can take
care of him properly. Try not to make any accusations about any wrong
doing. This will not accomplish what you need to do. Ask the veterinarian
what you can do for your dog and let him/her know up front what your
feelings about invasive or painful testing or treatments are.
It
is likely that you will find the veterinarian is willing to work with you
to try to keep your dog comfortable. It is also possible that the
veterinarian may be able to suggest some simple options which could slow
down the progression of the disease. Sometimes something as simple as a
change in diet can make it easier for your dog's kidneys to do their work
and can make a difference in your dog's health condition.
Good
luck with your pet. I hope all turns out well for both of you.
Sincerely, Lorie Huston
Apr 20, 2009 3:16 PM
Guest :
Our dog was diagnosed with lyme disease 4-6 weeks ago! Last week his belly
started getting real big, I thought it was something he ate (he's a lab,
and often times gets loose). Anyway, today, we brought him in and they did
tests and his liver and kidneys are failing, we are going to have to put
him down. I just found this site today, and it breaks my heart that they
didn't do the blood tests when they did the lyme test. This is the only
place that we found the Swollen feet as a symptom, which is what originally
prompted us to bring him in. I wish the vets would have been privvy to
this type of lyme. Regardless, we're going to have to spend some loving,
quality time with him before we bring him in for his final visit! :(
Aug 21, 2009 11:36 AM
Guest :
Our 4 year old lab was diagnosed with Lymse Nephris in June. His symptoms
included lameness and not eating. Since being on NF kidney diet, no treats
or bones, and treatment of Enalipro, aspirin, prednisone, fish oil capsules
and 45 days of antibiotics (along with some other treatments for diarrhea
and bladder issues) his protein-creatinine ratio dropped in 3 weeks from 15
to 1.8, huge improvement. His symptoms, however, have cropped back up
again despite getting better for a couple of weeks. The doctor thinks the
wasting away-weight loss and difficulty urinating are related to prolonged
steroid use, but they do not want to completely take him off steroids (he
is on 10mg and now weighs 61 lbs...originally 78 lbs). He has now been
extremely restless and not sleeping at night, constantly starving despite
continuing to feed him more (4 cans of NF per day) and is having diarrhea
2x per day, sometimes in the house. Do you have any suggestions on how to
keep him comfortable and what to do next? Have you seen symptoms present
themselves in this manner before and have any suggestions? thank you
for your assistance.
Aug 21, 2009 9:01 PM
Lorie Huston :
I'm sorry about your lab's illness. And I truly wish I could help you.
Unfortunately, there are just too many variables at play here and without
the opportunity to examine your dog and peruse previous history and test
results, there is just no way for me to be able to tell you what is
happening with your dog. I can tell you that Lyme nephritis can be very
difficult to treat and how it occurs is not well understood at this point.
The best suggestion I can make to you right now is to sit down
and have a discussion with your veterinarian about what he/she thinks is
going on and how you can make your dog more comfortable. Your veterinarian
is in the best position to be able to answer these questions for you as
he/she is most familiar with your dog's illness and physical condition.
Good luck to you. I hope all works out well for you and your lab.
Oct 1, 2009 1:35 PM
Guest :
My siberian husky was diagnosed with Lyme Nephritis (& PLN) about 2
weeks ago. My vet suggested that we look at using immunosuppressive therapy
to try to shock her system into freezing the kidney damage where it is. He
said if her #s don't improve next week, we should really consider it then.
Have you heard anything about using immunosuppressive therapy in pulse
doses as a last ditch effort to help stop kidney failure?
Oct 3, 2009 8:31 PM
Lorie Huston :
I'm not exactly sure what you're referencing here. Calcitriol does have
some immunomodulating effects and is frequently used in cases of
glomerulonephritis (kidney disease, PLN) regardless of cause. Doxycycline
also has some anti-inflammatory effects.
The fact is, each
patient is different and must be evaluated based on their individual
status. For this reason, it is very difficult to diagnose a condition
without having examined a pet and nearly impossible to give accurate
information regarding treatment of that pet over the internet without
physically examining him/her. I would advise posing any questions you may
have to the veterinarian treating your pet. If you feel more comfortable
seeking a second opinion, consider asking your veterinarian if there is a
specialist nearby who could consult on your pet's case.
Good
luck. Having a pet with kidney disease is difficult. You have my sympathies
and my best wishes for both of you.
