Tick-borne diseases including Lyme disease and babesiosis cause significant welfare problems in companion animals, with preventive treatment being highly effective.
Tick-borne disease in companion animals causes significant welfare harms. Lyme disease causes polyarthritis, lethargy, and renal disease that reduces quality of life. Babesiosis causes haemolytic anaemia that can be life-threatening. Clinical disease following tick attachment is preventable through regular preventive treatment and prompt tick removal. The welfare cost of inadequately protected animals that develop tick-borne disease is entirely avoidable.