Insight into the potential candidate genes and signaling pathways involved in lymphoma disease in dogs using a comprehensive whole blood transcriptome analysis

•We analyzed gene expression in blood specimens of lymphoma diagnosed dogs for the first time by RNA-seq.•We identified 347 up-regulated and 278 down-regulated genes in blood of lymphoma diagnosed dog compared to that of non-lymphoma group.•Our results provide prospective molecular targets and diagnostic biomarkers for the treatment of canine lymphoma.•These findings offer a significant theoretical foundation for future research into the molecular genetic mechanisms of lymphoma progression in canine.