Lyme disease transmitted by blacklegged ticks causes arthritis, kidney disease, and systemic illness in dogs; prevention through vaccination and tick control protects welfare.
Lyme disease causes acute painful arthritis and potentially fatal kidney complications. Dogs in Lyme-endemic areas face repeated tick exposures that make disease prevention essential. Lyme nephritis - the renal complication - causes severe illness and is often fatal despite treatment. The combination of tick prevention and vaccination offers highly effective protection against unnecessary suffering in endemic areas.