Tick-borne diseases including Lyme disease, babesiosis and ehrlichiosis cause significant welfare harm in dogs, and regular tick checks and appropriate preventive products reduce disease risk.
Tick-borne diseases cause significant acute and chronic welfare harm in dogs. Lyme disease causes joint pain, lethargy and long-term health problems. Babesiosis causes life-threatening haemolytic anaemia. Prevention through regular tick checks, appropriate preventive products and prompt correct removal significantly reduces disease risk. The welfare benefit of prevention far exceeds the welfare cost of regular preventive treatment.