Tick-Borne Disease Welfare in Dogs

Tick-borne diseases including Lyme disease, Babesia and Anaplasmosis cause significant welfare problems in dogs and are increasing in prevalence with climate change.

Key Facts

Lyme disease (Borrelia burgdorferi) affects thousands of UK dogs annually — clinical signs include shifting lameness, fever, lethargy and, in severe cases, protein-losing nephropathy
Babesia canis was detected in UK dogs for the first time in 2016 and causes severe haemolytic anaemia requiring emergency treatment
Anaplasma phagocytophilum causes febrile illness and thrombocytopenia — commonly underdiagnosed due to nonspecific signs
Climate change is expanding tick habitats and extending the active season across the UK, increasing exposure risk

Welfare Considerations

Tick-borne disease welfare impacts range from mild febrile illness to life-threatening haemolysis and organ failure. Borrelia-associated nephropathy causes progressive, often irreversible kidney failure in a subset of infected dogs — a severe chronic welfare condition. Babesiosis is a rapidly fatal condition without prompt treatment. The welfare case for regular tick prevention is strong — licensed products including spot-on acaricides, collars and oral isoxazolines are highly effective at preventing attachment and thus disease transmission.

What You Can Do

Apply veterinary-prescribed tick prevention products regularly, particularly from March to October
Check dogs daily for attached ticks after walks in grassland, heathland or woodland habitats
Remove attached ticks with a tick hook rotating counter-clockwise — never squeeze the tick body
Seek veterinary assessment for any dog showing fever, lameness, lethargy or jaundice after potential tick exposure