Lyme nephropathy is a severe, often fatal complication of Lyme disease in dogs that causes progressive kidney failure.
Lyme nephropathy causes rapid progression to kidney failure that is often fatal despite aggressive treatment. Dogs with this condition experience significant suffering from uremia (kidney failure toxins), fluid accumulation, and associated complications. The insidious onset means dogs may be severely ill before owners notice signs. Prevention through tick control and Lyme vaccination is highly effective and far preferable to managing this devastating complication. Dogs in tick-endemic areas should have annual Lyme antibody testing to detect infection before nephropathy develops.