What most people don't know about Lyme
Learning about Lyme and how it acts in the body, working diligently to follow preventative steps, keeping up with treatment if/when needed, and always consulting your vet and testing when necessary will keep you stress-free and your puppy happy and healthy.
Lyme is the leading tick-born encephalitis found in dogs within the United States. With this being said, Lyme is not caused by the tick but by a sneaky little passenger. Knowing this is the first step to prevention and/or treatment.
Prevention and EARLY “treatment” has shown outstanding success and it is as simple as removing ticks when found, and adding some simple recommendations to food each day. Veterinarians such as Steven Tobin, Charles Loops, DVM, and Charvel Tiekert, DVM tested and support these holistic remedies and even presented better results than pharmaceuticals.
In this post, you will learn how you can begin to prevent and/or treat Lyme in your pup. All recommendations offered are also safe to be taken alongside Pharmaceuticals for Lyme and can have a synergistic effect on the body. Always check with your veterinarian before making any extreme changes to your furry friend's diet, they will thank you.
Why does it matter?
Storytime:
On August 7th of 2023 I lost my first ever heart dog, my service dog that attended my senior year of high school with me and even walked at graduation. Autumn was put down after a two-week-long downward spiral that started as what I hoped to just be arthritis. This turned into noticeable weight loss in my already petite little girl. A trip to the vet revealed Lyme disease and we were recommended to a specialist to see the true extent of the damage. After days of stressing, cooking, research, medications, and much crying, a 6-hour wait for the specialist led to the recommendation to put her down before the rest of her body began to stop functioning, and that our only other option would be a $5,000+ treatment which in "normal" less severe cases would result in 50% chance the kidneys recover and the patient survives, her case held much less favorable chances. Although she still put on a brave face she was no longer the happy go lucky puppy I once held.
Heads up!
While there are many types of ticks, Lyme disease is usually carried by Deer ticks Western black-legged ticks, and Lone star ticks. In most cases of Lyme, the bacteria is passed by nymphs/larvae rather than adults because of their small size. Their small size makes them more likely to go unnoticed and 25% of nymphs/larvae carry the Lyme bacteria. Although adults are more likely to carry Lyme at a crazy 50%, they are less likely they transmit Lyme as they are much easier to spot and remove quickly. In order for a tick to pass on Lyme to a new host the tick must feed for 24-48 hours. Quick removal is key to preventing Lyme.
Most adult ticks use deer as hosts BUT they are also happy with humans, dogs, and horses. This tends to be more so during tick “season”, in highly tick-populated areas, and in densely wooded areas. They also prefer taller vegetation (3ft off the ground) in tall grass and trees. Peak season here in New England is usually between October and November but ticks are not limited to this time.
Always check your pup thoroughly for ticks after playing outside and remove them immediately. I like to fold them in a piece of tape and write a date on it, you can then pick a wall, the fridge, or in a book this way if you need to refer back for any reason you can. You can also send it out for testing if you want to be extra safe. Some people like to test any tick that has bitten or been implanted and some wait for some “concern” before testing as it can be pricy. Unlike humans, a dog’s fur makes it difficult to identify a bullseye if one appears, so MONITOR CLOSELY!
Prevention
The most important thing to remember with prevention is inspecting for ticks DAILY, more so after woodsy hikes or walks in grassy settings. Make sure to check between toes, on lips, around eyes, inside/around/behind ears, armpits, and under the tail as ticks can lodge themselves deep into some of these areas. Remove any tick as soon as possible. If a tick is found Ledum can be used to prevent transmission of Lyme. Veterinarian Steven Tobin talks about his use of Ledum homeopathic in the prevention and treatment of Lyme with outstanding results. Treatment information can be found in the treatment section. For PREVENTION after a tick bite give 30c of ledum up to 3 times daily for up to 3 days. My pup doesn't mind them so if I know we are going to be in a high-traffic tick area I will occasionally give her some ahead of time, such as before a hike in the woods, just to be safe.
Prevention ready kit:
Tick key, tweezers, or other device to assist in properly removing the tick
A small comb or brush to help check for ticks and get close to the skin when removing
Alcohol prep pads to clean the bite wound
Ledum 30 c homeopathic
Clear tape to keep tick in case testing is needed
Tick Removal
Grasp the tick as close to the head as possible
Pull firmly STRAIT out to remove the whole tick, DO NOT TWIST
Swab the spot with alcohol or wash well with warm soapy water
Make sure to save the tick in case testing is needed
Signs and Symptoms
Lyme is commonly misdiagnosed or goes undiagnosed for a very long time and is likely diagnosed after it is too late. A dog may never show any signs and Lyme can remain dormant for a decent amount of time before presenting itself, if at all. This is why it is so important ticks be removed immediately and you keep a close eye on your pups when bringing them in from the outdoors. The first tell-tale sign of Lyme is the very distinguishable bulls-eye but this can be much harder to see under all that fur. Other signs may be recurrent arthritis/lameness that lasts 3-4 days at a time, loss of appetite, depression, reluctance to move or a stiff, painful gait, swollen joints that are warm to the touch, pain in the legs or throughout the body, fever, fatigue, and swollen lymph nodes. In other more advanced cases, it can appear as arthritis, heart disease, kidney failure, severe neurological problems, partial facial paralysis, and even limb atrophy. REMEMBER these more severe symptoms are usually a sign it has begun to progress and attack the body.
Borrelia
Borrelia burgdorferi is the bacteria responsible for infection. This bacteria is a spirochete (spiral-shaped bacterium) that bores through and “eats” collagen. This bacteria makes its way around the body searching for sites rich in collagen. Due to the nature of the bacteria, it can not produce its own nutrients and can not live without a host. Once in a host, it initiates the inflammatory processes that breaks down the collagen. This breakdown decreases the efficiency of the immune system making it impossible for the body to fight alone. The breakdown of different collagen stores in the body creates different symptoms and each has a name.
Joints = lyme arthritis
Heart = lyme carditis
Central nervous system = neurological lyme with brain fog, difficulty thinking and remembering, tremors, facial paralysis,loss of limb function and so on…
Kidney = lyme nephritis
Stages & Treatment
Lyme has 3 stages as the infection progresses and vets use this as a form of evaluation and can help show how much the Lyme has affected the body so far. The first stage, if seen at all, tends to present flu-like symptoms. Research shows only 10% to 20% of tick bites will lead to stage 1 Lyme. If untreated 30% of stage 1 cases will lead to stage 2. This is when we see Lyme infect the skin, joints, kidneys, and sometimes the heart. That means a total of 1% to 2% chance of a tick bite causing stage 2 Lyme, and this can make them very sick. Stage 3 Lyme is chronic and most often the unfortunate point of no return and it's likely they won't recover. This is why daily checks and time are so important and the key to prevention and treatment.
Although this is information about “treatment” there is NO cure for Lyme and relapse as well as reinfection can happen at any time. Using this general protocol (made for humans) has shown improvements within two to four weeks, is completely safe for dogs, and has even been used for horses (not so much for cats as cats are much more sensitive). Many people have grown frustrated at the lack of progress or hope by their veterinarian for a healthy happy outcome while this protocol continues to show great success.
In order to successfully treat Lyme and the overall goal of this protocol is to:
Reduce inflammation in the body caused by the Lyme bacteria
Support collagen in the body
Support and increase immune function
Work on any OTHER specific symptoms that may arise
Note: extreme fatigue and exhaustion are very important to address for healing to occur.
COMING SOON!
Tick Removal & Lyme Prevention Kit
TrulyMindful Brand Tick key
Tweezers
Mini comb
Boiron Ledum 30c
Alcohol prep pads
Clear tape
Enjoy the freedom of hiking, camping, hunting, or just a normal walk in the neighborhood knowing you have all the tools you need to help keep yourself and your furry friend tick/Lyme-free!
Herbs & Remedies
Note: all herbs and remedies can be taken simultaneously and can be used alongside antibiotics! Dosages are based on medium-sized dogs and can be adjusted based on size, less for smaller dogs and more for larger dogs. Can also be used in powdered or liquid form.
In order of effectiveness
1. Japanese knotweed root (polygonum cuspidatum)
The most important herb for use in treatment is Japanese Knotweed, this herb specifically targets the pathways within the body used by Lyme. The use of this herb has been shown to help in the reduction of inflammation throughout the body and may also aid in reducing other symptoms. This herb is also food-grade, meaning it is safe to be taken regularly in large quantities and used in combination with antibiotics creates a synergistic relationship and works to make each other more effective.
Directions: 3 tablespoons twice daily.
2. Cat’s Claw (uncaria tomentosa)
Cat’s Claw raises the parts of the immune system attacked by Lyme and is also helpful in reducing inflammation.
Directions: 1/4 teaspoon (smaller dogs) to 1/2 teaspoon(larger dog) twice daily.
3. Glucosamine Sulfate
Glucosamine is already used in many dog treats as well as supplements and is very well known for its ability to restore and protect cartilage. This can help with overall pain and inflammation.
Directions: Begin with two tablespoons twice daily.
4. Ledum Palustre
Ledum is a homeopathic preparation made from the wild rosemary plant. Recommended uses in dogs for bite wounds, insect stings or bites, puncture wounds, tetanus, and Lyme after a tick bite.
Veterinarian Steven Tobin has reported that he uses Lendum in treating hundreds of dogs with Lyme with very good results. Tobin recommends using 1M potency, 3 times daily for three days - YES, that is all, just three days.
5. Astragalus (astragalus membranaceus)
The more depressed the immune system the worse the infection and the worse the outcome, the better the immune system the milder the symptoms and infection, and the better the outcome. Astragalus is an immune-supportive herb used in China for millennia. This Herb raises immune markers needed to keep infection low or even potentially nonexistent. People, canines, and even horses in Lyme-endemic areas should take it year-round. Given that it is food grade it can be taken safely in large quantities regularly.
Due to the complexity of the bacteria astragalus is safe for use as a preventative and up to two years into treatment but should not be taken if the infection is older than two years.
Directions: 3 tablespoons twice daily.
6. Teasel (dipsacus spp.)
Teasel is a very safe and effective herb aiding in joint inflammation and is great at reducing Lyme-induced arthritis.
Directions: One tablespoon twice daily.
Once inflammation is stopped, the collagen protected, and the immune system function supported and raised, remission will begin. Once in this state of remission antibacterials and antibiotics can be used as a final kick if it seems necessary.
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