{"id":2015,"date":"2025-07-25T15:13:35","date_gmt":"2025-07-25T15:13:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/public.morainegrove.com\/content\/?p=2015"},"modified":"2025-07-25T15:15:22","modified_gmt":"2025-07-25T15:15:22","slug":"lyme-nephritis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/public.morainegrove.com\/content\/lyme-nephritis\/","title":{"rendered":"Lyme Nephritis"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ theme_builder_area=”post_content” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” type=”4_4″ theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_image src=”http:\/\/public.morainegrove.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/tick.jpg” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” theme_builder_area=”post_content” title_text=”tick” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_heading title=”All About Lyme Nephritis” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_font=”Acme|||||on|||” title_text_align=”center” title_text_color=”#0C71C3″ title_font_size=”50px” background_color=”#dddddd” custom_padding=”10px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” theme_builder_area=”post_content” text_font_size=”18px” ol_font_size=”18px” ol_item_indent=”50px” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″ ul_item_indent=”50px”]<\/p>\n

Ticks are a big problem in Western PA.\u00a0 Not only are there a lot of them, but a good percentage (more than 25%)<\/strong> carry B. burgdorferi, the bacteria that causes Lyme disease.\u00a0 And deer ticks are quite small (sometimes only the size of a pinhead), with coloring similar to many dogs, making them very easy to miss.<\/span><\/p>\n

Of all dogs in Butler County that get tested for Lyme, approximately 1 out of every 8 is positive.<\/strong>\u00a0 Not all dogs that test positive will show typical signs of fever and lameness.<\/span><\/p>\n

Lyme infection, regardless of whether or not there have been symptoms, and regardless of whether or not the pet has been treated with antibiotics, can turn into Lyme Nephritis in some dogs.\u00a0 When Lyme (or any) bacteria invade the body, the normal defense to combat infection is the production of antibodies.\u00a0 The antibodies adhere to the invaders, forming \u201cantibody-antigen complexes\u201d.\u00a0 \u00a0For as-of-yet unknown reasons, in some dogs, the complexes collect in the kidneys, blocking normal function and leading to kidney failure.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Unfortunately, this condition carries an extremely poor prognosis; it is nearly always fatal.<\/span><\/p>\n

Between mid-August and mid-October of 2021, this clinic saw 5 cases of Lyme nephritis; and all were relatively young dogs.\u00a0 It deeply saddens us every time we diagnose a case, so we want to educate folks on prevention.\u00a0 And the ONLY way to prevent this heartbreaking condition is to prevent exposure to Lyme in the first place.\u00a0 Treating Lyme infection with antibiotics does NOT prevent the possibility of developing Lyme nephritis.<\/span><\/p>\n

Three steps that you can take to prevent exposure\/infection are:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n