Once a positive diagnosis for Lyme Disease is obtained by a veterinarian, Lyme Disease treatment may be commenced.
Depending on the stage of the disease, these treatment options may have varying effectiveness. Also, if Lyme
Disease has progressed to a stage that has resulted in significant neurological damage, this damage may not
be able to be repaired.
Different dogs will respond differently to Lyme Disease treatments and medication. It's always best to let
your veterinarian educate you in the best possible treatment option for your dog. In early stages of Lyme
Disease, antibiotics will be able to provide an effective treatment.
According to veterinary research specialists, it is possible to completely eradicate the bacteria that causes Lyme Disease by the use of antibiotics alone. However, some recent studies have suggested that even after a 30 day course of antibiotic treatment, it is still possible for a dog to experience a relapse of Lyme Disease due to remaining bacteria.
This antibiotic is usually used to treat early to mid-stage Lyme Disease. This medication is most commonly administered as an oral dosage, and should be given once every 12-24 hours (depending on your veterinarian's instructions). This medication is lipid soluble, and has the added bonus of being relatively inexpensive. Doxycycline is also frequently used to treat several other types of diseases thaty may occur from tick bites. However, this antibiotic can not be given to young or growing dogs.
This antibiotic is sometimes used to help treat Lyme Disease. It has a relatively high success rate, especially when combined with other treatment therapies. However, some dogs may develop an allergic reaction to Amoxicillin, which may worsen the symptoms of Lyme Disease.
Antimicrobial Therapy is usually combined with Antibiotic Therapy in order to most effectively treat Lyme Disease in dogs. In some cases, Antibiotic Therapy is used to suppress the bacteria, while Antimicrobial Therapy will eradicate the bacteria.
This drug is only used in advanced cases of Lyme Disease. If the bacteria associated with Lyme Disease has caused significant neurological or cardiac damage in a dog, then it may be necessary to administer ceftriaxone as an intravenous treatment option. Depending on the extent of the damage, this may or may not be completely effective. Some dogs will have lasting damage from Lyme Disease that will require lifetime therapy.
This drug is mostly used to treat the pain-related symptoms associated with Lyme Disease. Dogs with Lyme Disease will usually be in a significant amount of pain which is usually localized around the joints. Aspirin will help to lessen this pain, and may also be combined with other anti-inflammatory medications to further treat pain-related symptoms of Lyme Disease.
The use of Steroid-related treatment therapy for Lyme Disease is still very controversial. Most veterinarians
do not approve of steroid treatments for Lyme Disease. As of right now, there is no definitive evidence that
suggests that the risks of steroid treatment outweigh the possible treatment benefits in association with
Lyme Disease.
Next article: Lyme Disease In Dogs