Hey Kevin,

I'd say nothing is "abnormal for Lyme". The bullseye rash is not seen in the majority of Lyme cases. The European strain of Borellia produces a much different sort of rash.

Scientists are coming to understand that there are many different strains of the bacteria and that a persons physical and genetic make-up determines how they react to the disease.

There is no test to determine if you are free of Lyme disease. The indication that the treatment is working is that you feel a bit worse and then you start to feel better. Then you change or up the meds and it the process repeats. When you get to 100% better and stay there, then you have beaten Lyme disease.

So ledum palustre is a homeopathic remedy. Interesting -- glad it worked on your dog. Jeez, sometimes it seems like the vets have a better handle on this disease!!!

It's true there's really nothing to guarantee that you're Lyme free, but some doctors use the CD57 as an indicator of how much Lyme you have...I'm still not 100% sure how it works but I started out at 11 (the lowest my doctor had ever seen) and now I'm up to 32...I think somewhere above 200 is closer to "lyme free" on the spectrum.

And I never had a bull's eye rash either, although the tick bite was on the back of my head and if it were there it would've been covered by hair. My father and brother in law both had obvious rashes, and luckily because of it were treated immediately...my father's had no problems since (although I do wonder about his complaints of old age really being indicative of Lyme) and my brother in law has had a "flare," supposedly, but after a second course of abx is fine now (again, I'm tempted to wonder if his complaints of knee pain have to do with the Lyme or if they really are just a result of his job as he says).

I have no scientific reason to believe this, but I just have this suspicion that the strains that cause the obvious rashes seem to be the more treatable ones. Although maybe that's just because the ones without rashes are the ones that go undiagnosed for so long and lead to complications...

Although there are plenty of similarities between animals and people, please don't make the mistake of believing that the medicines are equally safe. There are not nearly the same standards in which the animal meds must hold up to as in medicines for humans.

There are still a ton of chemicals in our pets' foods, grooming products, and even medicines that have been ruled to be unsafe for humans. I know exactly how tempting it can be to just use meds meant for our animals but please, please don't use them! Stick to the ones that have been rigorously tested and had many clinical trials to prove that they are consistently safe for humans.

I'm sorry Inhimwelive, That wasn't directed at you personally. It was just a general caution as we have had this come up before.

No problem traveler, just a update.. The dog was on ledum for 3 days and showed definite improvement, however her symptoms seem to be coming back now. I'm going to have to try a higher dose for a longer period..


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Traveler what did they use to treat your dog? Are dog was treated but I don't believe it was at all successful.. Thanks, Kevin

As Achieveinggrace has said - my little guy was treated with Doxy. Funny thing was that was how my vet found out I had Lyme and she was appalled by what I had to go through to get treatment!

On the bright side, my vet now knows that I know what I'm talking about when I call in and say my dog is showing signs of Lyme Disease!!!