It has happened – the thing every dog owner dreads: after a walk you comb through your dog's coat, and there it is, a tick. The first question is always the same: has my dog caught something?
The good news: you no longer have to live with weeks of uncertainty. You can test the tick removed from your dog at home in 5–10 minutes and find out whether it carried the Lyme disease pathogen. In this article we go through what you need to know about Lyme disease, how to remove a tick correctly, and how the tick test works.
Why is Lyme disease dangerous for dogs?
Lyme disease is caused by a bacterium called Borrelia burgdorferi, which is spread by the bites of infected ticks. Hungary is a heavily tick-infested area – tick season typically runs from March to November, but in mild winters ticks can be active practically all year round.
The disease is insidious: in a significant proportion of infected dogs, symptoms only appear weeks or months after the bite, and they are easily mistaken for other illnesses.
The most common symptoms of Lyme disease in dogs
The most common signs include lethargy and loss of appetite, fever, joint pain and the resulting lameness (often “shifting” lameness that moves from one leg to another), as well as swollen lymph nodes. In more severe, untreated cases, kidney, heart and nervous system complications can also develop.
By the time these symptoms appear, treatment may already be more drawn out. That is why it pays to find out about the risk as soon as the bite happens.
A tick on your dog: what to do, step by step
1. Don't panic – but don't wait either. The longer the tick stays in the skin, the greater the chance of pathogen transmission. Transmission of Borrelia bacteria typically requires several hours of feeding, so quick removal is the best defence.
2. Remove the tick correctly. Use a tick removal tool or pointed tweezers. Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible and pull it out with a firm, steady movement. Don't squeeze its body, and don't smother it in oil or cream – these increase the risk of infection.
3. Don't throw the tick away! This is the most important and most frequently made mistake. The removed tick carries valuable information: it can be tested to see whether it carried the Lyme disease pathogen.
4. Test the tick. This is where the tick rapid test comes in.
How does the Lyme Ag tick rapid test work?
The Lyme Ag – Lyme disease tick rapid test does not test your dog but the tick removed from it: it detects whether Borrelia burgdorferi antigens are present in the tick.
The test is easy to do at home, even without any veterinary knowledge:
- Remove the tick from your dog with the included tick remover.
- Place the tick in the sample processing device supplied with the test.
- Homogenise the sample with the pressing rod, then add the buffer solution.
- Drop the sample onto the test cassette.
- Read the result between 5 and 10 minutes (it is invalid after 15 minutes).
The test is manufactured in an ISO 9001 and GMP certified factory.
What does the result mean?
Positive result: the tick carried the Borrelia antigen. This does not automatically mean your dog has been infected – but it does mean there is a risk, so it is worth talking to your vet about next steps as soon as possible. Monitoring or treatment started in good time is a huge advantage.
Negative result: the pathogen could not be detected in the tick sample. This is a great relief, but it is still worth keeping an eye on your dog's condition – other ticks may have bitten unnoticed.
Invalid result: if no control line appears, the test must be repeated with a new cassette.
Important: as a screening test, this test is for quickly assessing the risk posed by the tick; it does not confirm whether the dog is infected. Making a diagnosis is always a job for a vet.
When is it worth doing a tick test?
The test is particularly useful if you have found a tick on your dog and want to know how high the risk is; after a hike, a walk in the woods or during tick season; if the tick may have been in your dog's skin for a longer time; if your dog shows lethargy, lameness or loss of appetite after the bite; and in multi-pet households, as a complement to regular tick checks.
Prevention: the test does not replace protection
The tick test is one link in the chain of protection, not the only one. Full protection includes regular tick repellents (spot-on, collar or tablet), checking your dog after walks – especially around the ears, neck, armpits and belly – and quick, correct removal. Testing adds value where prevention has already failed: when the tick has already bitten your dog and you want to know how serious things are.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take for a tick to infect a dog with Lyme disease?
Transmission of Borrelia bacteria typically requires several hours of blood feeding, and the risk increases over time. That is why removing the tick as soon as possible is crucial – and why it is important to know whether that particular tick carried the pathogen at all.
Does a positive tick test mean my dog is ill?
No. A positive result indicates that the tick carried the pathogen, so there is a risk of infection. Whether your dog is actually infected can be determined by a vet – the test helps you to contact them in good time.
Can the test be used on a tick removed from a cat?
The test is designed for examining ticks removed from animals, so it can also be used to assess the risk with a tick removed from a cat.
How accurate is the test?
The test works on the same immunochromatographic principle as the other MancsLab rapid tests. We are currently clarifying the details of the manufacturer's validation, so we do not publish a specific percentage – we would rather give no figure than an inaccurate one. If the result is positive, always consult your vet.
What should I do if the tick has died or dried out?
A fresh sample is the most reliable. If you can't test the tick straight away, store it in a sealable bag and test it as soon as possible.
Where can I buy the test?
It can be ordered from the MancsLab online shop in packs of 1 and 5. Orders placed by 2 pm (CET) are dispatched the next business day, Packeta delivers in 2–5 business days, and shipping is free on orders over €150.
Summary
The uncertainty after a tick bite is the worst part. With the Lyme Ag tick rapid test you can find out at home in 5–10 minutes whether the tick carried the Lyme disease pathogen – so instead of guessing, you can decide based on facts whether you need to see a vet.
Order the Lyme Ag tick rapid test →
See the product page for the current price • Result in 5–10 minutes • 30-day returns on unopened products