Tick-borne diseases including Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, and anaplasmosis cause significant suffering in dogs. Rising tick populations due to climate change are increasing exposure risk globally.
Tick-borne diseases cause significant welfare harm through fever, pain, lethargy, and progressive organ damage that can be fatal if untreated. The welfare challenge is early detection — dogs mask illness effectively and signs of tick-borne disease are often vague until the condition is advanced. Annual vector-borne disease screening through the 4Dx test (testing for Lyme, ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis, and heartworm) enables detection before clinical disease develops. Prevention is far superior to treatment: effective tick prevention products, daily tick checks, and vaccination where appropriate are the welfare foundation for dogs in tick-endemic areas. Owner education about the changing tick landscape — new species expanding into previously safe areas — is an important component of preventive welfare.