How is Lyme disease diagnosed in dogs?
Lyme disease is diagnosed by testing for B. burgdorferi antibodies, noting the presence of clinical signs, ruling out other causes of these signs and observing a response to antibiotic therapy. Veterinarians can perform a simple blood test that screens dogs simultaneously for heartworm disease, Lyme disease and ehrlichiosis, another tick-transmitted disease. Experts agree that annual testing in endemic regions provides the best first line of defense against Lyme disease.
