Lyme Disease - Why is my dog being tested for C6 antibody?

Lyme Disease, caused by the spirochete Borrelia burgdorfei, is a serious condition affecting dogs. The disease causes joint erosion/pain and sometimes more serious symptoms such as neurological, cardiac or kidney manifestations.

Until recently only symptomatic dogs were tested for Lyme disease. It has now been understood that there is a 1-3 year subclinical phase in the dog. During this time your dog appears normal but the spirochete is actually targeting the joints. The C6 antibody test is specific for a certain portion of the spirochete which is only present when the dog is actively infected. Treatment with doxycycline during this phase of the disease is more likely to be successful.

Our protocol at DVH is first to screen all dogs for Lyme Disease (which also tests for heartworm disease and another tick bone disease, Ehrlichia). If the dog is positive for Lyme disease on the screening test, blood is drawn for the C6 antibody test. This result actually gives us a quantitative indication of antibody response to the spirochete. If the value is greater than 30 U/ml, the dog is considered to be actively infected and antibiotic therapy is initiated for one month. Six months later another C6 antibody test is taken to evaluate the efficacy of treatment.

We are trying to keep this test as cost effective as possible as we want you to consider screening for Lyme Disease as important as all the other health maintenance steps you are already taking for your pet. If you have any questions, please e-mail us at devon@devonvet.com and we will be happy to respond.

KNOW THE SIGNS OF LYME DISEASE

• Lameness or Stiffness
• Swelling of limbs or joints
• Fever
• Lethargy / Reluctance to move
• Loss of appetite
• Vomiting
• Depression