Dog Is Vacc. for Lyme, but Has Bulls-Eye Mark... Do I Worry?

[caradino]

My puppy was vaccinated for Lyme in January, but yesterday I noticed a red ring on the inside of his one back leg, a pretty classic-looking tick bite mark. I never pulled a tick off that spot, so I can’t be 100% sure that’s exactly what it is, but it looks pretty suspicious to me!

Even though he’s vaccinated, do you all think this warrants a vet visit and some antibiotics? He is absolutely fine otherwise, totally his normal self, no unusual lethargy or stiffness, doesn’t bother the spot at all. But I know Lyme symptoms can also take a while to show up… Better safe than sorry I guess, but I’d rather not have to take him in if I don’t have to.

I also read somewhere that bites from little gnat-like bugs that live in the grass can leave a similar mark, does anyone have experience with that?

Thanks!

[BuddyRoo]

When in doubt, call the vet. Most of us here are not veterinarians and it would be a bad idea to wait it out because early treatment if it IS lymes is really helpful.

Did you bag the tick for testing?

Good luck.

[SonnysMom]

I am super paranoid about Lyme. I have had it multiple times, DH has had it. Both dogs we house sit have had it and my lab Watson had it. All three dogs had been vaccinated multiple times for Lyme before contracting it. One of the dogs had Erlichiosis also.

I believe that there is a study for humans that has shown that giving a couple of doses of doxy within about 48 hours of exposure may prevent Lyme. Therefore I would talk you your vet ASAP.

However I did have another dog that was vaccinated and clearly got a big bullseye. It was a big clear one with multiple rings. I never saw the tick and he never got Lyme.

[S1969]

Call your vet and ask.

But, he is probably past the “two days of doxycyclene dose” treatment unless you actually pulled the tick out of him. If the tick has just bitten him, it is normal to have a red ring around the tick bite, which does not mean he has been exposed to Lyme (but can be a normal reaction, just like a bee sting or spider bite, or maybe other insects like gnats.) If it is a Lyme reaction, then they would want to confirm the presence of Lyme disease before treatment, but it might be more of the 2-6 week treatment variety.

It’s a simple blood test - definitely worth doing it and finding out.

Good luck (I am bringing my dog back this week for bloodwork related to Lyme exposure. Hoping for only exposure, and not Lyme disease itself.)

[java]

This is most likely a staph dermatitis, most common cause of a bullseye type lesion in dogs. This is often seen in young dogs and does not always require treatment if it is just one spot, if it is widespread over the body it is cause for concern. Rarely do you see this symptom caused by lyme disease in dogs, it is seen mostly in people.

[Bacardi1]

Last year my Walker Coonhound was vaccinated for Lyme Disease (as she has been for several years). Six months later she went unexpectedly lame, & tests confirmed she had Lyme & had to go thru the antibiotic course. Sigh.