Tick-borne diseases including Lyme disease and babesiosis cause significant welfare harm in companion animals, with increasing prevalence linked to climate change.
Tick-borne diseases cause significant welfare harm through fever, pain, organ damage and in severe cases death. Babesiosis in particular causes acute haemolytic crisis requiring intensive treatment. The welfare impact of untreated Lyme disease includes chronic joint pain and neurological dysfunction. Preventive approaches including licensed tick prevention products and daily tick checks substantially reduce disease risk. The expanding range and season of ticks means vigilance is required in habitats previously considered low risk.