Companion Animal Welfare

Dog Tick-Borne Disease Prevention

Tick-borne diseases including Lyme disease, babesiosis, and ehrlichiosis cause significant illness in dogs and require prevention-focused management.

Key Facts

Tick populations are expanding northward as climate change extends their range
Lyme disease causes shifting leg lameness, fever, and kidney disease in dogs
Spot-on, collar, and oral tick prevention products offer different protection profiles
Tick checking after outdoor walks removes ticks before disease transmission occurs
Vaccines against Lyme disease are available in endemic areas but do not protect against all tick diseases

Welfare Considerations

Tick-borne diseases cause acute and chronic suffering in affected dogs. Prevention is highly effective with available products, and prompt removal of attached ticks prevents disease transmission. Climate change is making prevention increasingly important across wider geographic areas.

What You Can Do

Use veterinary-recommended tick prevention year-round in endemic areas
Check your dog thoroughly after outdoor activities, especially in woodland and grassland
Vaccinate against Lyme disease if you live in or visit endemic regions