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Updated: Jun 1, 2026
Feeding of Ticks on Animals for Transmission and Xenodiagnosis in Lyme Disease Research
Published on: August 31, 2013
Content analysis of TikTok videos about tick prevention methods for dogs and cats
Heidi Jim1, Jongseo Kim1, Ivana Blagojevic1
1Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
Background:
Social media is a major source of pet health information. On platforms such as TikTok, algorithm-driven recommendations may expose users to health-related content even without active searching. This study described tick prevention videos on TikTok. Understanding how tick prevention is portrayed online can inform evidence-based communication.
Methods:
The 50 most-engaged English-language TikTok videos under the hashtag #tickprevention addressing tick prevention for dogs or cats were analysed. Video characteristics and content categories were coded using inductive content analysis.
Results:
Videos showed substantial engagement, with median values of 1652 likes (range 146-8583), 40 comments (range 9-207), 330 shares (range 15-2074) and 495 saves (20-2181). Most videos (92%) were created by influencers (i.e., non-veterinary creators), and over one-third contained paid promotions, primarily for non-prescription or natural products. Topical tick repellents (33%) and non-prescription products (30%) were commonly promoted, often framed as 'chemical-free' or 'safe'. The most common content categories were demonstrating usage (27%) and promoting natural or holistic methods (26%).
Limitations:
Only analysing the top 50 English-language videos under one hashtag may underrepresent lower-engagement and non-English content.
Conclusion:
TikTok tick prevention content is mostly influencer driven with limited expert participation, but high engagement suggests opportunities for veterinarians to share evidence-based messaging on short-form platforms.
