Lyme disease caused by tick-transmitted Borrelia bacteria affects thousands of dogs annually, causing joint pain, kidney disease, and other serious health impacts.
Dogs with clinical Lyme disease experience joint pain and swelling that causes lameness, reluctance to move, and reduced quality of life. Lyme nephritis is a particularly serious welfare concern causing kidney failure that progresses rapidly and is often fatal. Dogs in tick-endemic areas face ongoing exposure risk that requires consistent preventive measures. The development of Lyme nephritis disproportionately affects certain breeds, suggesting a genetic susceptibility component that may be addressable through breeding selection.