I am Lyme positive, now what?

This is me and my buddy Zoey at Pack Way Canine in Central Square

Prior to my new handler picking me up and taking on the responsibility of showing me the human world from a healthy perspective he was informed I was Lyme positive. Now, I was tested positive November of 2016, but nothing was done. The clinician told my old handler that there wasn't anything to do for Lyme Disease in dogs until symptoms presented themselves.

My new handler has human friends that are Lyme positive, friends with pets that are Lyme positive, and he also lost a friend to Lyme Disease some thirty years after the unfortunate tick borne infection spread from the initial bite. That was the early 80s, and little was known about the long term effects of Lyme Disease in humans and his friend passed away due to the secondary and tertiary infections that manifested and took his life in the 2010s.

So, why was my former handler informed incorrectly by a highly regarded veterinary program doing work in a small inner city? Got me! But that is completely unacceptable.

Regardless, my new handler was well informed, not to mention, he immediately called his Vet. inquiring the proper course of action. He was told that I would be retested just to be sure. After testing positive a second time, I have been placed on a month's worth of Doxycycline, an antibiotic to kill off a majority of the Lyme organism that is harmful to me. Once your pet has been tested positive or even a human tests positive, after treatment, you will always carry that organism with them/you, kind of like how the Chicken Pox (varicella-zoster) virus stays dormant within humans and may manifest as Shingles later on. The possibility of side effects flaring up in the future does exist. You cannot catch Lyme disease from me, unless a tick bites me, then you — then you could become infected. 

So, my plight is living a life as Lyme positive, but this is manageable and my handler will go to any lengths to assure my health is the best it can be.

2nd Chance -- All about Lyme Disease in Your Dog. What to Do When Your Dog Tests Positive.

2016 Effective Dog Treatments For Lyme

Pack Way Canine: for your free range boarding needs.