We got the call that no pet parent wants… “your dog is positive for Lyme”. This is our second experience with Lyme Disease.
The first time it was our foster dog, Taylor was diagnosed with Lyme disease and three types of worms. The poor pup was only 6 months old and was diagnosed when he went in for a routine checkup.
This time it’s our agility star, Thunder. He is in the midst of treatment and we hope he will make a full recovery, but only time will tell. I tell his full story below.
Lyme Disease is a bacterial infection that is primarily transmitted to humans and dogs through the bite of an infected tick.
The bacteria that causes Lyme Disease is called Borrelia burgdorferi. When a tick bites a person or a dog, the bacteria can enter the bloodstream and cause an infection.
I hope that sharing my experiences and research will help you avoid the dreaded diagnosis or if your dog already has Lyme disease, how to proceed.
May is National Lyme Disease Awareness Month for a reason…. it’s when Lyme Disease is on the rise.
This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Please read full disclosure for more information.

As you can see in this photo above of our foster dog, Taylor, he looks healthy and happy. You would never know he has Lyme disease just from looking at him.
4 Tips for Preventing Lyme Disease in Dogs
Lyme disease is a serious concern for dog owners, as it can cause a range of health issues for our pups.
Fortunately, there are steps you can take to prevent tick bites and reduce the risk of your dog contracting Lyme disease. Learn about the best ways to protect your pet and keep them healthy.
1. Use tick-prevention products
One of the most effective ways to prevent Lyme disease in dogs is to use tick prevention products. These can include topical treatments, collars, and oral medications.
Please check out this chart to help decide which flea and tick control is best for your dog and situation.
Even knowing Lyme disease is a big risk, I will never use chemical-based flea and tick control on my dogs and always opt for the natural route, such as Only Natural Pet EasyDefense Dog Flea & Tick Control Kits
Resource: Your Ultimate Guide to Dogs and Ticks.
Talk to your veterinarian about which product is best for your dog and make sure to follow the instructions carefully. Keep in mind that natural prevention products may need to be layered and reapplied regularly, especially during peak tick season.
2. Check your dog for ticks regularly
Even with tick prevention products, it’s important to check your dog for ticks regularly, especially after spending time outdoors in areas where ticks are common.
Use a fine-toothed comb to carefully search through your dog’s fur, paying close attention to areas like the ears, neck, and underbelly where ticks are most likely to attach.
Ticks can be smaller than a pin head. A lint roller is a great tool to find tiny ticks that aren’t always visible to the naked eye.
If you find a tick, use a tick remover device to carefully remove it, making sure to grasp it as close to the skin as possible and pulling straight out.
You can save the tick and have it tested if you want to be extra precautious.
Monitor your dog for any signs of Lyme disease, such as fever, lethargy, and joint pain, and contact your veterinarian if you notice any symptoms.
3. Avoid tick-infested areas
One of the best ways to prevent Lyme disease in dogs is to avoid areas where ticks are commonly found. This includes wooded areas, tall grasses, and areas with leaf litter.
If you do need to take your dog into these areas, try to stick to the center of trails and avoid letting them wander off into the brush.
This is easier said than done for us. Almost half our our property is wooded, so the dogs are in or near the woods every single day.
4. Keep your yard clean and tidy
Another important step in preventing Lyme disease in dogs is to keep your yard clean and tidy. Ticks thrive in areas with tall grass, leaf litter, and other debris, so it’s important to regularly mow your lawn, rake up leaves, and remove any other clutter from your yard.
You can also create a barrier around your yard using cedar wood chips or gravel to help keep ticks from entering. Additionally, consider treating your yard with natural tick control products, such as Wondercide, to further reduce the risk of tick bites.
Many people swear by Wondercide yard spray, but when you have a large yard like us, it would cost a fortune to spray 5 acres.
Lyme Disease Vaccination
In 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) vaccine for use in the United States, called TICOVAC.
As always talk with your vet and do as much research as possible before deciding if a vaccination is necessary for your dog.
My holistic vet does not recommend the Lyme Vaccination. And I am always hesitant on giving my dog any unnecessary vaccinations, so I will not be vaccinating any of my dogs.
How did my dog get Lyme disease?
One creepy, crawly … tick!
According to the CDC, “Lyme disease is transmitted by the black-legged tick (Ixodes scapularis) in the northeastern U.S. and upper midwestern U.S. and the western black-legged tick (Ixodes pacificus) along the Pacific coast.”
A black-legged tick must be infected with Lyme and attach to your dog for your dog to contract the disease.
Symptoms and signs of Lyme Disease in dogs
For the first week we had Taylor I noticed he was slow to get up from sleeping on his dog bed, his back legs would appear to have fallen asleep. He was not able to jump up onto our couch.
I continued to notice slight weakness in his legs and so I decided to mention it to the vet. Never did I imagine his diagnosis would come back with Lyme disease!
For our dog Thunder, he started limping and we first thought maybe he injured himself in agility. Even though I should have known better, Lyme Disease didn’t occur to me right away. Even our vet didn’t think it could be Lyme… more on that experience below.
Unfortunately, Lyme Disease symptoms are not always very obvious, and some dogs won’t show any signs. Some symptoms to watch for would be:
- Lameness in the legs (can be shifting from one leg to another, be intermittent, or recurring)
- Stiffness, discomfort, or pain in your dog’s legs
- Swelling of joints in your dog’s legs
- Reduced energy
- Loss of appetite
- Fever
- Liver failure (this is uncommon)
Depending on how long the dog has had the infection, some dogs may show more severe symptoms, such as kidney damage or heart issues.
However, not all dogs with Lyme Disease show obvious signs, and some dogs may not show any symptoms at all.
Pay close attention to your dog, they will give you clues about how they are feeling. Your dog can’t speak like you and me, so it’s our job to listen to their body language!
How veterinarians diagnose Lyme Disease
Veterinarians diagnose Lyme disease in dogs through a combination of clinical signs, medical history, physical examination, and laboratory tests. Here is an overview of the diagnostic process for Lyme disease in veterinary medicine:
- Medical History: The veterinarian will begin by gathering information about the dog’s medical history, including any recent tick exposure or presence in endemic areas.
- Physical Examination: The veterinarian will conduct a thorough physical examination, looking for signs and symptoms associated with Lyme disease. These may include lameness, swollen joints, fever, lethargy, and loss of appetite.
- Blood Tests: Blood tests are crucial for diagnosing Lyme disease in dogs. The two primary types of blood tests used are:
- Antibody Testing: The most common initial screening test is the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) or indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) test. These tests detect the presence of antibodies produced by the dog’s immune system in response to the Lyme disease-causing bacteria, Borrelia burgdorferi. If the initial screening test is positive or inconclusive, further testing is typically done.
- Western Blot Test: The Western blot test is a confirmatory test that verifies the presence of specific antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi. It helps differentiate active infections from past exposure or vaccination.
- Urine Tests: Some veterinarians may perform urine tests to assess kidney function, as Lyme disease can potentially affect the kidneys in severe cases.
It’s important to note that the interpretation of test results can be complex. False positives and false negatives can occur, so the veterinarian will consider the test results in conjunction with the dog’s clinical signs, medical history, and exposure to ticks.
If the dog tests positive for Lyme disease, treatment options such as antibiotics will be discussed, along with any necessary supportive care measures to manage symptoms and complications.

Treatment of Lyme Disease in Dogs
Lyme Disease can be successfully treated in dogs with antibiotics, but it is crucial to catch the infection early on. Additionally, preventing tick bites is an important step in keeping your dog safe from this disease.
Regular check-ups with your veterinarian and proper follow-up care are also crucial for dogs that have been treated for Lyme Disease to prevent any long-term effects.
Our vet confirmed that our dogs had Lyme disease by performing a blood test. Then prescribed an antibiotic called Doxycycline. Two pills a day for 28 days.
After completing the round of antibiotics, the vet will perform another blood test to confirm the antibiotics worked and no longer tested positive for Lyme or at least the levels have gone down.
Does Lyme disease in dogs have long-term effects?
In case of early detection, your dog’s symptoms should disappear within the first 3 days of treatment. However, although treatment is generally effective at eliminating signs of Lyme disease, your dog may test positive for the rest of their life.
If your dog is asymptomatic but has tested positive for Lyme disease, your veterinarian may suggest not treating them.
Unfortunately, most dogs infected with Lyme disease eventually develop arthritis. Since Thunder is a high-level competition agility dog, we already give him joint support supplements, but will most likely up our game with this to prevent any future problems.
If Lyme disease is left untreated, it can result in potentially serious kidney, heart, and neurological issues. If your veterinarian identifies any issues with your dog’s kidneys due to Lyme disease, they will monitor and treat the condition before it causes any more severe problems.
Is Lyme Disease Contagious?
My initial research found that Lyme disease was not contagious. And the only way to contract Lyme is to be bitten by an infected tick.
But more recently I read an article that it could be transmitted through bodily fluids from dog to dog. Here’s the thing… when I brought this up to my holistic vet, she made a good point… with four dogs in my house, it would be a nightmare or should I say impossible to keep all of the dogs separated, never share water bowls, etc.
And the fact that most healthy dogs will never show symptoms of Lyme Disease, it’s not something I have the bandwidth to worry about.
Lyme Disease Important Facts
An infected tick must be attached to your dog for 36 to 48 hours to transmit Lyme. That means you should be checking your dog frequently for ticks. If you find a tick on your dog, remove it immediately.
You can save the tick and send it in to be tested for Lyme disease. Here is a great place to learn about tick testing: https://web.uri.edu/tickencounter/testing/
Although unlikely, in severe cases Lyme disease can cause kidney failure and death. But don’t panic, this is rare. Talk to your vet if you are worried about it, they should be testing your dog.
Once infected with Lyme Disease, a dog will always have the bacteria in his body. Therefore, relapses are possible, and owners should be on the lookout for lameness, unexplained fever, or swollen lymph nodes.
Most dogs will live a long happy life with no complications… I’m praying this is the case for our dog Thunder!

Thunder’s Lyme Disease Story
In the middle of April 2024, we noticed a very slight limp when Thunder was walking. We thought maybe he injured himself during an agility practice.
We put him on rest and watched it for a week before deciding to take him in to the vet.
The vet looked him over, didn’t find anything by observing him, but recommended making an appointment with an orthopedic specialist and prescribed Rimadyl. Never did she ask if he’s been bitten by a tick or suggest that we do a Lyme test.
A couple of days later, my daughter was talking about it with an agility friend… and the first thing she said… have him tested for Lyme!
Duh… why didn’t I think about that? I should have known better. I know he’s had ticks on him. I know the signs. Bad dog mom moment… sorry Thunder!
So I called the vet and requested he be tested. They were reluctant, said that his symptoms didn’t line up with Lyme… well I guess she was wrong!
So now he’s on strict rest, no agility for at least a month. And I have started a detox and immune system-boosting regimen for him.
I have already been giving him Animal Essentials Detox Blend and Super Shrooms. And just ordered Harmonize the Qi and Bor-L-Immune based on the recommendation of my holistic vet.

What’s the cost of Lyme Disease treatment?
Other than the cost of my dog’s health, which is priceless… This is the exact out-of-pocket costs for diagnosing and treating Thunder’s Lyme Disease:
- Physical exam $85
- Rimadyl $40
- Flex4 Test $86
- Medical Workup (chemistry profile, CBC, Urinalysis) $246
- Lyme C6 Antibody Test $156
- Doxycycline $37
- Extra Health Supplements $154
- TOTAL COST $804
Lyme Disease Resources
Lyme Disease Prevention in Dogs Month was created by the Lyme Disease Foundation. It runs through May and aims to spread awareness on how to prevent, identify and treat Lyme disease in dogs.
Conclusion
It’s very important to be aware and proactive in the treatment and prevention of Lyme Disease in dogs.
Prevention is the key to avoiding Lyme Disease. Using chemicals can be scary, but there are natural ways to keep ticks away.
Whatever you do decide, protect your dog against ticks in some way, whether it be avoiding areas with heavy tick infestations, using chemical flea and tick medications, or a layer of natural remedies.
Has your dog ever been diagnosed with Lyme Disease? How do you prevent ticks in your dog? Please comment below and help our Rescue Dogs 101 community decide how to best protect their dogs.
Am in process of adopting a hording dog and they just e mailed me she has Lyme’ disease. Don’t know if I should go ahead.
That’s totally up to you but most dogs can live a long happy life without further complications. They should however treat her before adoption, or at least pay for the treatment.
I live in the Northeast and Lyme is a huge problem here with our dogs. Please get the vaccines. We had a Lyme + rescue from the Tennessee area and we loved him immensely, he just recently passed away. His medical regimen included yearly extra lab work and he needed pain meds several different times for stiff joints. The vaccine prevents this. We just got a new rescue from Texas and the first thing I said at our vet was to start the Lyme series. It’s 3 shots, not expensive, and can save you and your pup so much $$ and time.
Thank you for sharing your story, I’m sure it will help others in the same situation. Lyme disease can be scary! So sorry for your loss.
I was diagnosed with Lyme disease 5 years ago and was taking Antibiotics and Nonsteroidal anti-Inflammatory drug which seemed to help. However, I still suffer from some of the symptoms. My symptoms have always been chronic fatigue, joint pain, and even neurological problems in controlling hand and leg movements. I am a 54 year old female. the Antibiotics wasn’t really working and I could not tolerate them for long due to severe side effects, so this year our family doctor started me on Natural Herbal Gardens Lyme disease Herbal mixture, We ordered their Lyme disease herbal treatment after reading alot of positive reviews, i am happy to report with the help of Natural Herbal Garden natural herbs I have been able to reverse my symptoms using herbs, my symptoms totally declined over a 8 weeks use of the Natural Herbal Gardens Lyme disease herbal mixture. My Lyme disease is totally reversed! Their official web page is naturalherbalgardens . co m this is a herbal store that will be leaving it’s footprint in this world. I’m 54 and have never been this healthier
So happy to hear you found something to help you with your symptoms!
I hope that the antibiotics do the trick for Taylor! One of my dogs tested positive for Lyme Disease about 3 years ago (maybe more) and she hasn’t had any issues. One of my kids also tested positive and so far, so good. He took the antibiotics right after we found the tick.
So glad your dog and child haven’t had any issues since testing positive… and how scary for your kid to have it too! I did learn that the quicker you catch and treat it, the better the outcome is. Thanks for sharing your story.