Canine Borrelia or Lymes: Lymes disease is transmitted by a tick bite. Symptoms include lameness, fever, anorexia, lethargy, and joint pain. There are also renal, cardiac, and neurologic forms of the disease, which are diagnosed by clinical and laboratory abnormalities in the effected systems. The renal form of this disease is the second most common form and is generally fatal. Symptoms include blood in the urine and severe protein loss in the kidneys. Facial paralysis and seizure disorders have been reported in the neurologic form. Vaccine is available to prevent this serious disease starting with an initial dose given and with a follow up dose given three weeks later.  It is then repeated yearly.