Why the UK tick-borne disease threat is changing for dogs

Ticks and tick-borne diseases are becoming a more complex veterinary and public health issue in the UK, with Lyme disease still the main endemic concern for dogs, but babesiosis no longer just a travel-associated risk. Older veterinary reviews highlighted Borrelia burgdorferi as the most important tick-borne pathogen affecting UK dogs and warned that Babesia canis was emerging in specific areas, especially after locally acquired cases in Essex linked to Dermacentor reticulatus ticks. More recent UK surveillance suggests the picture is still shifting: UKHSA says Ixodes ricinus remains the UK’s most common tick and the main vector for Lyme disease, while ongoing surveillance and government guidance continue to flag domestically acquired babesiosis and imported tick risks as veterinary concerns. Human exposure is rising, too, with 1,581 laboratory-confirmed Lyme disease cases reported in England in 2024. (vettimes.com)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, this is a reminder that tick prevention, client education, and local risk assessment can’t be treated as static. Dogs without travel history may still be exposed to serious tick-borne pathogens in some UK hotspots, and the overlap between animal and human risk strengthens the case for a One Health approach. ESCCAP’s latest UK guideline continues to list babesiosis and borreliosis among the key tick-borne threats clinicians should consider when advising pet parents on parasite control. (gov.uk)

What to watch: Expect closer attention on surveillance, geographic spread, and whether established UK tick populations, climate pressures, and pet movement continue to widen the map of canine tick-borne disease risk. (gov.uk)