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Ticks can transmit Lyme disease as well as many
other diseases to infested dogs.
It’s that time of the year again and, in my veterinary practice, one of the things I’ve been seeing frequently recently is ticks. Ticks can infect both dogs and cats. Today we’re going to talk about tick infestations on dogs.
Ticks on Dogs
There are many different species of ticks that inhabit the world and the types most common in your area will vary depending on your geographic area. Whatever species of ticks you see in your area, they all share one thing in common – all ticks feed off of the blood of other animals. Some types of ticks prefer to feed off of a particular type of animal but there are many types of ticks that feed off of dogs. Many of these ticks will not only feed off of the blood of a dog but will also happily feed off of the blood of a person instead. In fact, dogs frequently carry ticks into the home or yard on their haircoat. Those ticks may then drop off of the dog and choose to feed off of a human family member instead.
Why Ticks are Dangerous for Dogs
Ticks are dangerous for dogs because they feed off of the blood of the infested dog. In extreme circumstances, dogs may have numerous ticks and may lose enough blood to also suffer from anemia as a result. Besides the risk of anemia, ticks attach to the skin of the infested dog with specialized mouthparts that anchor the tick to the skin. This attachment site can be uncomfortable for the infested dog.
Despite the danger of anemia and the discomfort that ticks cause for dogs, the main danger that ticks pose to dogs is the fact that many ticks function as disease vectors and many of the diseases transmitted by ticks to dogs can become life-threatening for the infected dog.
Lyme Disease and Other Diseases Transmissible to Dogs from Ticks
There are a number of diseases that can be passed from ticks to dogs. Lyme disease is the most well-known of these diseases but is only one of the diseases that can be caused by tick infestations. In fact, Lyme disease is one of the most treatable of the tick-borne diseases and there are a number of diseases that dogs can contract from infected ticks that can cause more serious disease and be much more difficult to treat. These diseases include ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis, babesiosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and others.
Controlling Ticks on Dogs and Removing Ticks from Infested Dogs
The Dawg Business blog recently published a guest post entitled The Ticking Bomb which I wrote that details how to control and prevent ticks and tick-borne diseases in dogs. The article also explains how to safely remove a tick that is attached to your dog.
Symptoms of Dogs Infected with Lyme Disease and Other Diseases Transmitted by Ticks
Risks of Ticks on Dogs: Lyme Disease and Other Tick-Borne Diseases provides a brief description of the diseases that can be transmitted to dogs by ticks, including the most common signs and symptoms associated with these diseases.
About Lorie Huston, DVM
Lorie Huston is a veterinarian, pet health and pet care expert, professional writer, blogger, social media and blogging consultant, and SEO strategist.
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
I need help with my dog….i pulled a deer tick off him two weeks ago and 3 days later I put him on antibiotics (the common one that begins with a d); then a week later, he got symptoms of lyme disease. He couldn’t jump and he had lameness in one of his back legs. It was so terrible, my young dog, got old overnight! Then the next day he was fine. Everything I have read says that usually the dog gets better if they are already showing symptoms after a few days of being on the antibiotics. Do you think I should keep my dog on antibiotcs for 4 weeks instead of two? Will he be OK?
I’m sorry to hear about your dog’s lameness but I’m glad he seems improved now. Unfortunately, I really don’t know enough about your situation to be able to answer all of your questions. I’m not certain that we can be sure that the symptoms you saw were truly due to Lyme disease, although it sounds possible. Was your dog seen by a veterinarian? Was he tested for Lyme disease? Is it possible that he has another type of lameness issue, such as an ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injury, a patellar injury or a muscle injury? An examination by your veterinarian would likely be necessary to diagnose those types of issues.
Many veterinarians do recommend continuing antibiotics for Lyme disease for 28 days. However, you should consult with your own veterinarian regarding how long the antibiotics should be continued for your individual situation. Remember also that if the antibiotic that your dog is receiving is doxycycline, it has anti-inflammatory properties also. So, non-Lyme disease symptoms do sometimes improve with this medication as well.
ticks are bad! =(
Couldn’t agree more!