Flea and tick infestations cause significant welfare harm to companion animals. Evidence-based preventive approaches protect animal welfare without overreliance on chemical treatments.
Flea infestations cause welfare harm through multiple pathways: direct irritation from feeding, anaemia from blood loss in severe infestations, and the chronic pruritus of flea allergy dermatitis that causes affected animals constant itching distress. Tick infestations carry disease risk alongside the irritation of attachment. The welfare-positive approach is proactive prevention — regular, appropriate preventive treatments maintained throughout the year, combined with environmental treatment to break the flea lifecycle. Treating established infestations after welfare harm has already occurred is less welfare-positive than preventing infestation from occurring.