Companion Animal Welfare

Dog Tick-Borne Disease Prevention

Tick-borne diseases including Lyme disease, Babesiosis, and Anaplasma cause significant suffering in dogs and are increasing with climate change.

Key Facts

Ticks are expanding their geographic range as milder winters allow year-round activity
Lyme disease causes lameness, fever, and in severe cases kidney disease in dogs
Babesiosis destroys red blood cells and can be rapidly fatal without treatment
Monthly spot-on, collar, or oral treatments provide highly effective tick prevention
Tick checks after walks allow prompt removal before disease transmission occurs

Welfare Considerations

Tick-borne diseases cause preventable suffering and death in dogs. The expanding tick population linked to climate change makes prevention increasingly important, even in regions where ticks were historically less common.

What You Can Do

Use veterinary-recommended tick prevention products year-round
Check your dog for ticks after every walk in tick-prone environments
Know the signs of tick-borne disease and seek veterinary advice promptly