I have always been interested in infectious diseases, consuming books and articles with a voracious appetite. In the realm of dog breeding, discussions often center around “familiar” issues like canine brucellosis. Yet, there’s a rising concern regarding emerging infectious diseases, notably dog Lyme disease. While there are established guidelines for managing this condition in “normal” dogs, the situation becomes more… ambiguous when it comes to breeding dogs. So prompted by a recent query on this topic, I looked into the latest scientific studies to compile some essential information. This blog is the result of that exploration, crafted to equip dog breeders with the insights needed to effectively confront the complexities of dog Lyme disease.
- What Are the Signs of Lyme Disease in Dogs?
- Lyme Disease in Breeding Dogs: What Are the Implications?
- How Can Dog Breeders Prevent Lyme Disease?
What Are the Signs of Lyme Disease in Dogs?
Lyme disease in dogs is a condition as stealthy as it is serious.
It is commonly attributed to a bacteria named Borrelia burgdorferi.
However, it’s important to recognize that a variety of Borrelia species can instigate the disease. This diversity among causative agents is an essential consideration, as it may affect the efficacy of vaccines against the disease.
It is transmitted through the bite of infected black-legged ticks, commonly known as deer ticks – although I have read that different ticks can actually harbour the bacteria and potentially transmit it!
There’s an abundance of resources available that dive into the specifics of Lyme disease, and to get you started on understanding the generalities of this condition, I recommend exploring a couple of notable ones:
Companion Animal Parasite Council Guidelines on Lyme disease
ACVIM Consensus Update on Lyme borreliosis in dogs and cats
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Recognizing Early Symptoms
Lyme disease in dogs presents itself in a spectrum that ranges from mild to severe, manifesting primarily in two forms: articular and renal.
The articular variant is notable for its fever and a distinctive shifting lameness, where the discomfort and inability to move properly can migrate from one joint to another.
This condition often leads to progressive joint damage, evolving into chronic polyarthritis that may continue to affect the dog’s mobility even after treatment.
On the other hand, the renal form of Lyme disease stems from glomerulonephritis, an inflammation of the kidney’s small blood vessels.
This condition can lead to renal failure, marked by protein loss in the urine (proteinuria), an accumulation of waste products in the blood (uraemia), and swelling in various parts of the body due to fluid retention (peripheral oedema).
To sum it up, Lyme disease often leads to joint and kidney issues in dogs that can become chronic (= these conditions persist over time), significantly affecting their quality of life.
Sounds scary right? There is good news though.
Only approximately 4.8%, that test positive for the Borrelia bacteria actually exhibit clinical symptoms.
An essential take-away, as highlighted in veterinary literature, is that diagnosing Lyme disease involves more than just a positive test; it requires the presence of clinical symptoms, a positive test AND a positive response to treatment!
A positive test alone merely indicates exposure to the bacteria, not a definitive disease development.
But more about that in a moment.
What to expect in breeding dogs
When it comes to breeding dogs, understanding the consequences of the clinical symptoms of Lyme disease and their impact on fertility is essential, yet the scientific literature offers limited guidance.
There are only sporadic case reports on animals, with minimal discussion on how Lyme disease affects fertility directly.
In the table below, this is what I would expect here:
| Stud dogs | Fever—a common symptom in cases of Lyme disease—can significantly disrupt spermatogenesis due to increased body temperature. Since a full spermatogenic cycle spans approximately two months, it’s advisable to wait this period before reassessing semen quality if a breeding dog falls ill, to ensure fertility is not compromised. |
| Female dogs (before 35 days of gestation) | Elevated body temperature, often referred to as heat stress, can adversely affect reproductive functions. This includes implications for the ovary’s functioning, fertilization, and embryonic development. If symptoms emerge shortly after breeding, it’s possible the female may not conceive. Moreover, if symptoms appear before 35 days of gestation, pregnancy failure might occur without any overt signs—a topic we’ve explored in a previous blog. |
| Female dog (after 35 days of gestation) | Fever and heat stress are once again the things we need to pay attention to here. Symptoms of Lyme disease manifesting after 35 days of gestation could, in theory, lead to abortion due to illness and fever. However, the scientific literature doesn’t commonly report this outcome. Notably, one paper mentioned two case reports of pregnant females that successfully gave birth despite Lyme disease. Given these are isolated instances, caution is warranted, and abortion, although not frequently documented, represents a potential severe impact on fertility in the face of Lyme disease. |
| Lactating Females | If a female dog falls ill with Lyme disease while lactating, it’s reasonable to anticipate a negative impact on milk production and the quality of care she can provide to her puppies. Illness during this critical period can significantly affect her ability to nurse and nurture her offspring effectively. Given these risks, I believe it’s prudent to remove the puppies and begin bottle-feeding them as a preventive measure against potential complications. This approach ensures the puppies receive the necessary nutrition and care, regardless of the mother’s health status, safeguarding their well-being during this vulnerable stage of development. |
| Puppies | Research has shown that Borrelia, the bacteria responsible for Lyme disease, can cross the placenta, making it possible for puppies to be infected during gestation—a topic we’ll dive deeper into later in this blog. Despite this, Lyme disease is not commonly associated with neonatal mortality. However, it’s worth noting that if newborn puppies are infected by ticks, the primary danger they face is not directly from the disease itself but from the loss of blood, which can lead to hypovolemic shock. Hypovolemic shock occurs when a significant amount of blood is lost, preventing the heart from pumping sufficient blood to the body, a condition that can rapidly become life-threatening in small bodies like those of puppies. Interestingly, while Lyme disease might not typically cause death in newborns, there has been at least one documented case where a fatal cardiac infection in puppies aged between 9 to 16 weeks was linked to Lyme disease. This indicates that while rare, the impact of Lyme disease on young dogs can be severe and varies in manifestation, highlighting the importance of vigilance and preventive measures against tick exposure in dogs of all ages. |
Lyme Disease in Breeding Dogs: What Are the Implications?
Long-Term Health Implications
Yes, dogs can indeed recover from Lyme disease with timely medical intervention.
Treatment typically involves a 4-week course of an antibiotic known as doxycycline. I think it’s crucial to understand though that should Lyme disease symptoms emerge during gestation, the treatment strategy must shift. Certain antibiotics, better suited for this life stage, become the safer, more effective choice.
However, it’s important to note that some dogs might suffer from chronic lifelong joint pain or renal damage as a result of the bacterial infection.
When it comes to breeding dogs, there’s a fundamental principle I always emphasize: only breed healthy individuals.
If your dog develops Lyme disease, it’s crucial to work closely with your veterinarian to ensure full clinical recovery before considering them for breeding.
Technically, if the dog fully recovers and passes all the usual breeding soundness evaluations, there should be no reason to exclude them from breeding programs.
However, if the disease leaves chronic conditions, such as joint or renal issues, breeding is generally discouraged.
It’s especially important to remember that in females, any existing medical condition can worsen during pregnancy due to the immunosuppressive effect of progesterone.
Simply put, the hormone progesterone, which is high during gestation, can make the body’s immune system less effective at fighting off diseases, potentially exacerbating any pre-existing conditions.
Therefore, breeding a dog that isn’t in peak health can further compromise its well-being, making it a choice I strongly advise against.
What Should We Know About Dogs That Test Positive for Lyme Disease Without Showing Symptoms?
Remember the statistic we mentioned earlier: only 4.8% of dogs that test positive for Lyme disease bacteria actually develop clinical symptoms.
So, what should you do if your dog tests positive but shows no signs of the disease?
This question holds particular significance for dog breeders, as the implications can affect entire breeding lines.
Take, for instance, Bernese Mountain dogs, a breed reported to have a notably high rate of seropositivity for Lyme disease.
Various theories attempt to explain this phenomenon, but many experts are inclined to believe in a hereditary predisposition as the underlying cause.
This suggests that genetics may play a crucial role in the susceptibility of certain breeds to Lyme disease, underscoring the importance for breeders to consider genetic factors in their breeding programs.
Well, currently, there’s no unanimous agreement on this matter unfortunately…
According to the ACVIM (American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine) consensus statement referenced earlier in the blog, a majority of the panelists (4 out of 6) advised against antimicrobial treatment for seropositive dogs without clinical signs.
But this still indicates a lack of consensus among experts.
It’s noteworthy that some studies have found joint abnormalities during necropsies in dogs exposed to Borrelia burgdorferi that did not show overt clinical signs, highlighting the complexity of the decision-making process.
This is a crucial conversation to have with your attending veterinarian to determine the best course of action for your dog.
An important consideration is the impact of antibiotics, particularly on the gut microbiome. In puppies, these effects can have long-term consequences, making it vital to carefully weigh the benefits and risks of treatment.
From my perspective, aligning with the majority of ACVIM panelists, I would not recommend treating seropositive dogs that show no clinical signs based on the current scientific evidence.
However, should you receive differing advice, you now understand the complexities and varying viewpoints that inform such recommendations.
The ACVIM consensus statement advises that dogs testing positive for Lyme disease should be closely monitored for proteinuria, which is the presence of excess proteins in the urine, indicating potential kidney issues.
This monitoring is especially crucial for breeding dogs, ensuring their health and viability for breeding are maintained at optimal levels.
For breeders, it’s crucial to understand that if females test positive for Lyme disease during gestation, they possess antibodies against Borrelia which they will transmit to their puppies through colostrum.
A study highlighted that puppies could test positive for Borrelia up to 17 weeks after birth due to these maternal antibodies received from the colostrum.
This fact is vital for breeders to remember, as it suggests the importance of testing puppies for Lyme disease after 17 weeks of age.
If testing is conducted before this age, the results need to be carefully interpreted in the context of potential maternal antibody interference.
As is true with any diagnostic test, the significance lies not just in the result but in its interpretation, a principle especially pertinent in the context of dog breeding in my opinion.
How Can Dog Breeders Prevent Lyme Disease?
Evaluate the risk
After reading the first part of this blog, it should be clear to you by now that Lyme disease poses potential consequences for dog breeding programs.
Fortunately, there are several proactive steps breeders can take to mitigate these risks, starting with an assessment of the threat level specific to their breeding kennel.
This is where I recommend you guys to take a look at… prevalence maps!
For those located in North America, I highly recommend visiting the Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) website to explore their parasite prevalence maps.
Remarkably, for Lyme disease, they even offer a forecast to help you anticipate future risks.
European breeders should consult the European Scientific Counsel Companion Animal Parasites (ESCCAP) website, which also provides valuable maps indicating the disease prevalence in different regions.
Beginning with these resources will furnish you with a clearer understanding of the Lyme disease risk in your area, offering a solid foundation for implementing protective measures in your breeding program.
Tick Prevention Strategies
| Environmental Management | Keeping grass and vegetation trimmed and removing leaf litter, tall weeds, and brush from around kennel areas and fence lines reduces the habitat for ticks, thereby lowering the chances of tick exposure to dogs. Implementing physical barriers, such as gravel or wood-chip borders between wooded areas and the kennel, can deter tick migration into dog areas. Additionally, treating outdoor areas with acaricides can significantly reduce tick populations. |
| Personal protective measures for the dogs | The use of tick prevention products, such as tick collars, topical treatments, and oral medications, should be a routine part of kennel management. Today, it’s advised to administer preventative treatment to dogs throughout the entire year. These products need to be selected based on efficacy, safety, and suitability for the breeding population. |
| Regular veterinary check-ups | Those are crucial to ensure that the chosen tick prevention strategies are effective and do not adversely affect the dogs’ health or reproductive status. |
It’s also beneficial to perform daily tick checks on each dog, especially after they’ve been outside in areas known for tick activity.
Prompt removal of ticks can prevent the transmission of tick-borne diseases. Indeed, a tick must be attached for 12-24 hours before it can transmit the bacteria to the dog, so the quicker you remove it, the better.
Bonus Tip: Navigating the plethora of tick-prevention products available on the market can be overwhelming.
To simplify this process and ensure I have all the necessary information, I frequently consult the CAPC Quick Product Reference Guide. This invaluable resource provides a concise overview of various products, including their specific indications, helping me make informed decisions.
This approach is particularly important in the context of dog breeding kennels, where the care of pregnant females requires special consideration.
I’ve shared insights on selecting appropriate dewormers for pregnant females in a previous blog, utilizing the CAPC guide to inform those choices.
You can apply the same method to choose tick prevention products, ensuring both efficacy and safety for your breeding dogs and their future litters.
Navigating Lyme Disease Transmission in Breeding Dogs
I find that understanding the transmission of infectious diseases is paramount, especially in the realm of dog breeding where the stakes are high, and the well-being of future generations hangs in balance.
Knowledge of how a disease spreads is a crucial tool in our prevention arsenal, guiding us on what needs to be controlled to halt its spread. Lyme disease, a tick-borne menace, is a prime example where prevention takes center stage, highlighting the critical role of tick prevention measures as we’ve explored earlier in this blog.
However, Lyme disease presents a complex puzzle, particularly in the context of reproduction.
We’ve touched upon the unsettling fact that the Borrelia bacteria, responsible for Lyme, can cross the placental barrier.
This implies that puppies born from infected mothers might not just carry the bacteria but could also be at a heightened risk of developing the disease.
Let’s be clear: we are not sure here… Evidence is still forming around the exact susceptibilities, but the potential link to puppy mortality cannot be ignored. As I said, I found at least one report of a case of fatal myocarditis in puppies that was linked to Lyme disease…
Monitoring puppies born to mothers that developed Lyme disease during gestation or those seropositive therefore seems wise in my opinion.
Here, the adage that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure could not be more apt.
Adding another layer to this complex issue is the discovery regarding the transmission of Borrelia through sperm.
Yes, you read that right.
In cases where a male dog suffering from Lyme disease manages to breed—perhaps due to the subtlety of symptoms—the implications can be significant.
Not only is the direct contamination of the female dog a risk, but she can also become seropositive after being inseminated with infected semen.
While the path forward in such scenarios remains unclear, one innovative approach might be the dilution of semen with a semen extender containing antibiotics.
To be clear, there is no definitive data on its efficacy in reducing transmission risk… but it’s an avenue worth exploring.
This approach is my go-to strategy for minimizing the risk of infectious disease transmission during artificial insemination in dogs, particularly when I perceive a heightened risk.
This highlights the critical need for thorough testing of male dogs before breeding, particularly in Lyme-endemic areas.
On top of that, the resilience of Borrelia in canine frozen semen further complicates the issue, underscoring the importance of caution and vigilance.
As we navigate these complexities, the overriding message is clear: in the battle against Lyme disease in breeding programs, knowledge, prevention, and cautious innovation are our best allies.
Vaccination and Its Role
Lyme disease vaccines are available on the market, with several backed by scientific studies demonstrating their efficacy.
According to the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) vaccination guidelines, the recommendation for these vaccines includes an initial dose at 12 weeks of age or older, followed by a second dose 2–4 weeks later. In cases of high risk of exposure, the Borrelia vaccines may be administered as early as 9 weeks of age.
It’s advised to revaccinate annually, timing the booster just before the start of the tick season as determined by regional conditions.
These vaccines are considered non-core, meaning they are generally recommended only for dogs with a known high risk of exposure, residing in, or visiting areas where ticks are prevalent or Lyme disease is endemic.
However, the ACVIM consensus statement we already mentioned several times adds another layer to the conversation.
While emphasizing the importance of year-round adequate tick control in Borrelia burgdorferi endemic areas for all dogs, whether vaccinated or not, the panel did not reach a consensus on vaccination.
Out of six panelists, three recommend vaccination under specific conditions: healthy seronegative dogs in North American endemic regions may receive any of the current vaccines, and healthy seropositive dogs in those regions could be vaccinated if the risk of reinfection is high.
This discrepancy underscores the complexity surrounding the decision to vaccinate against Lyme disease, highlighting that it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution.
Given the nuances and varied expert opinions, this decision becomes an important topic to discuss with your attending veterinarian, who can provide guidance tailored to your dog’s specific health status and risk of exposure.
When it comes to vaccination in breeding dogs, there’s a crucial consideration to bear in mind: all vaccines are designed to stimulate the immune system, which is why it’s not uncommon for some dogs to feel slightly under the weather post-vaccination.
Symptoms can range from mild nausea to intermittent fever—responses that, while typically mild and temporary, can nevertheless impact a dog’s reproductive functions.
As we discussed earlier in this blog, conditions like fever can adversely affect fertility, a point that cannot be overstated for breeding dogs.
For this reason, I always advocate for vaccinating breeding females before they are bred, rather than during gestation, to avoid any potential reactions that might interfere with fertility outcomes.
While such reactions are not the norm, adopting a preventive approach—an ounce of prevention is indeed worth a pound of cure—ensures that the breeding process is as smooth as possible.
Similarly, for males, my preference should be to vaccinate at least 1-2 weeks before they are used for breeding when feasible.
This timing allows any potential post-vaccination reactions to subside fully, ensuring that the dog’s fertility is not compromised, thus safeguarding the overall success of the breeding program.
After poring over numerous studies on Lyme disease in dogs, I’ve been starkly reminded of the disease’s severity, particularly its clinical manifestations. The high exposure rate to Lyme disease, despite the relatively low occurrence of its clinical form, underscores the complexity and the critical need for ongoing research to determine the most effective management strategies. This journey through the scientific literature has illuminated key considerations for dog breeders, especially regarding the disease’s impact on fertility—an aspect often overlooked. My hope is that this blog sheds light on these crucial issues, offering clarity and guidance to breeders navigating the challenges posed by Lyme disease. As our understanding of this pathogen evolves, rest assured, I will remain vigilant, ready to update you on the latest findings and best practices in managing Lyme disease within breeding programs.
One of the most common challenge we encounter in breeding kennels is NEONATAL MORTALITY.
It can be very frustrating… even heart-breaking.
Good news though : you can do something about it !
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In recent years, new research brought us a much better understanding of what can be done to optimize the health of newborn puppies.
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