Ticks transmit serious diseases including Lyme disease to dogs. Effective prevention and prompt removal protect dogs from welfare harms of tick-borne illness and the discomfort of heavy infestations.
Tick-borne disease causes significant welfare harms in companion dogs. Lyme disease causes painful joint inflammation, lethargy, fever, and in chronic cases can progress to protein-losing nephropathy — a serious and potentially fatal kidney condition. The welfare impact of chronic, untreated Lyme disease is substantial. Ehrlichiosis and anaplasmosis cause similar systemic illness. Heavy tick burdens in untreated dogs cause blood loss, skin irritation, and the welfare impact of constant parasitism. Preventive medications are highly effective at preventing both tick attachment and disease transmission. Early detection and treatment of tick-borne disease significantly reduces welfare harms from progression to chronic disease. Climate change expanding tick ranges means prevention is relevant in more regions and for longer seasons than previously.