Parasites including fleas, ticks, and mites cause significant suffering to companion animals, and appropriate prevention and treatment is fundamental to companion animal welfare.
Flea infestation causes genuine suffering through intense pruritis, skin inflammation, and secondary infection. Flea allergy dermatitis - a hypersensitivity reaction to flea saliva - causes severe skin inflammation from even minimal flea exposure. Environmental infestation from carpet and bedding larvae can persist for months without treatment. Effective flea control requires both treating the animal and treating the environment. Tick burdens, while less immediately distressing than fleas, pose serious disease transmission risks. Parasite prevention is a fundamental component of companion animal welfare that should be tailored to the individual animal's lifestyle and risk factors with veterinary guidance.