Companion Animals

Companion Dog Tick-borne Disease Welfare

Tick-borne diseases including Lyme disease and babesiosis cause significant welfare impacts in dogs requiring prevention and prompt treatment.

Key Facts

Lyme disease in dogs causes lameness, fever, and potentially fatal kidney disease
Babesiosis, spreading in UK, destroys red blood cells causing severe anaemia
Prompt tick removal within 24 hours reduces disease transmission risk substantially
Veterinary-prescribed tick prevention products provide superior protection to over-the-counter alternatives

Welfare Considerations

Tick-borne diseases cause significant acute and chronic suffering in affected dogs. Lyme nephropathy is potentially fatal. Prevention through regular tick checks and effective preventive products is far preferable to treating established tick-borne disease.

What You Can Do

Use veterinary-recommended tick prevention year-round for at-risk dogs
Check dogs for ticks after walks in tick habitat - especially head, neck, and groin areas
Remove attached ticks promptly using a tick hook to reduce disease transmission