Effective ectoparasite control is essential for companion animal welfare, but the choice of products, frequency, and application method has both welfare and environmental implications.
Tick and flea infestations cause genuine welfare harm — itching, skin damage, anemia, and disease transmission. Effective control protects companion animal welfare directly. However, broad-spectrum parasiticides can cause environmental harm to aquatic invertebrates when washed into waterways. Welfare-conscious parasite control requires accurate risk assessment for the individual animal and environment, using the most targeted effective product rather than routine broad-spectrum application.