Can a Lyme Vaccine Cause Kidney Damage in a Lyme-Positive Dog?

We're sorry to hear about your Bichon. Kidney disease linked to Lyme infection, called Lyme nephritis, is uncommon but serious: protein loss in the urine is seen in fewer than 2% of dogs that test positive for Lyme disease.

Whether vaccination can trigger it is not known. According to the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) consensus, the evidence that the vaccine harms dogs "remains anecdotal at best," and fewer than 10% of suspected Lyme nephritis cases had been vaccinated. The infection itself is considered the more likely cause. The same experts recommend checking every Lyme-positive dog's urine for protein, and not vaccinating dogs that are sick or already losing protein in their urine.

Ask your vet to report the possible reaction to the vaccine manufacturer, and consider a referral to a veterinary internal medicine specialist, who can guide kidney treatment and monitoring. Our guide to Lyme disease in dogs explains Lyme nephritis and testing.

This is general information, not a diagnosis. Please follow your own vet's advice.