Identification

• Lyme disease is a condition caused by the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi. This bacterium is primarily carried by ticks, most commonly the deer tick.
  
  

Symptoms

• The most common symptoms of Lyme disease are fever, lethargy, painful joints, lameness, loss of appetite and swollen lymph nodes. Left untreated, advanced Lyme disease will progress, possibly affecting the kidneys, nervous system and heart.
  
  

Effects

• According to Veterinarypartner.com, damage to the kidneys takes place when the dog's immune system is stimulated for a long time to fight against an infectious organism, such as in advanced Lyme disease. This type of kidney damage is referred to as glomerular disease.
  
  

Features

• Glomerular disease takes place when the dog's glomeruli ( the microscopic filters of the kidneys) are no longer able to filter and become leaky. When this happens, items such as proteins (which in healthy kidneys should not pass) make their way into the dog's urine.
  
  

Signs

• Some dogs affected by glomerular disease may have no signs at all, while others may develop typical symptoms of chronic kidney failure such as lethargy, loss of appetite, weight loss, a dull coat and excessive drinking, which may lead to increased urination and incontinence.
  
  

Prevention/Solution

• A urine test may reveal proteinuriaImage by Flickr.com, courtesy of National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
  
  Dogs testing positive for Lyme disease should be screened for the presence of protein in their urine (proteinuria). A special urine test known as UPC (urine protein-creatinine ratio) is often recommended.