Lyme Disease

[icarus_abides]

 My vet is coming out on Monday to draw blood for a Lyme Disease test on my mare.  She has been unsound for about a year now with no real issue that we can find (gave her time off, X-Rays) and isn't really lame, but is just overall stiff and unsound.  My farrier said that she reminded him of a client's horse who ended up having Lyme Disease so we'

Comments

[lurath]

If the cysts get into the brain or nervous system they can cause personality problems, though that's rare. However, if she does have it she may be in general pain which could also affect her personality.
I'm one of those "lucky" humans that has the disease (which is not curable, only treatable), so I hope she doesn't have it! Though if she does, at least you have something to go on...

[creseis_acicula]

My county is #1 in Lyme Disease in the country (probably the world), so our horses are tested annually (or biannually). Every year, 1/3-3/4 of the horses in each barn I work at has had the disease. By a positive diagnosis, I really mean that the odds are in favor of the animal having the disease. We don't take chances, we treat with heavy doses of Doxy + probios. The symptoms of Lymes can be variable. Odd behavior is one, but a clear-cut sign of Lyme is if you touch the skin gently (especially on the horse's back), you get a huge, wincing reaction. Sore back, soreness in joints, freaking out for no reason/flipping over backwards, unusually tense/spooky, changes in personality, etc., are all symptoms of the disease. The sooner you treat, the better the chances of recovery with few side effects, but in general, some side effects, especially soreness, are irreversible. Good luck!

[miladyelizabeth]

Yep, here in CT is Lyme central...the disease is named for the town of Lyme, CT. I've seen several horses get random body ouchiness and non-specific lameness due to Lyme, and it responds really well to doxycycline. The personality change thing seems to be a side effect of the lameness and pain. I know when I'm really hurting, I get cranky too.

[miladyelizabeth]

Also be aware that there are two different blood tests, so research the options. The result isn't a "positive/negative" thing, but a number on a continuum from "no exposure" to "holy heck that's bad". There's a benchmark - horses above a certain number of antibodies have been exposed to the disease, horses above a higher benchmark are considered to have an active infection.

[kudosirony]

workingtrot's horse, Willy, had Lyme disease last year. You can probably contact her through LJ, but she actually posts over on bloggr (http://nowthatsatrot.blogspot.com/). She had some entries about him having lyme.

Editted: 'cus I'm dumb :) And she just posted above me.