I found a tick that had fallen off my dog right after he showed some lameness. I was wondering if it could be Lymes? What do you think?

Mr Frawley,

It's been a while since I asked you for advice. Your e-mails, web site, and your DVD's helped me immensely in the past. I have a GSD from a working line about 1.5 years old now, doing great on a raw food diet. I live in NJ and hence I live in a lyme disease area. My dog is not vaccinated against lyme -- I use Frontline in the spring. I did not use it in the past few months, thinking season is probably over.

Facts:
-I noticed he may have a slight limp couple days ago. I had contractors working in the yard building a new wall etc so thought maybe he hit himself on something... It seems to have gone away in about two days. He walks and runs fine now.
-I have been watching his appetite and playfulness since I was worried about lyme disease, and he has been just fine there as well.
-I found a gorged tick on the floor yesterday though. I suppose it fell from the dog.

Question: So maybe he did have a "light" version of lyme disease? What do you think?

Again, he seems completely fine right now. His stool is normal, eats normal, wants to play etc. I wanted to get your opinion before I go to the vet and have them make me believe I need to give him whole bunch of toxic stuff.

As always, thanks very much for any advice.

Regards,
Kerem