Canine Tick Symptoms

Ticks can be found almost anywhere---from wooded areas to city parks to your own backyard. According to dogsandticks.com, dogs are almost 50 percent more likely than humans to come in contact with a disease carrying tick because they have furry coats, are lower to the ground and have curious personalities.

  1. Lyme Disease

    • Lyme Disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdoferi and is transmitted from the dear tick. In canines, Lyme Disease is sent through the blood stream and is carried to parts of the body, especially the joints. Common symptoms of Lyme Disease in dogs are swollen joints, fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, depression, and swollen lymph nodes.

    Canine Babesiosis

    • Canine Babesiosis is caused by a protozoa called Babesia and is spread by the brown dog tick. Once the dog is bitten, the protozoa are ingested into the bloodmeal. Common symptoms of Canine Babesiosis include, pale tongues and gums, reddish or orange urine, swollen lymph nodes and loss of appetite.

    Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

    • Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever caused by the bacteria Rickettsia rickettsii is transmitted by the wood tick and the American dog tick. Generally, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever only lasts about two weeks, but in rare cases it may result in death. The most common symptoms of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever are arthritic-like stiffness, loss of appetite, fever and lesions on the skin.

    Canine Ehrlichiosis

    • Canine Ehrlichiosis is caused by a bacterium called Ehrlichia canis and transmitted by the brown dog tick. Warning signs may not be present right away, but the disease can progress in a symptom-free phase, which can last from a few days to a few years. The most obvious symptom is weight loss, but other common symptoms include, loss of appetite, fever, retinal bleeding, depression, and nose bleeds. Canine Ehrlichiosis can be found throughout all of the United States, but is most common in the southwest and Gulf Coast areas.

    Canine Anaplasmosis

    • Canine Anaplasmosis, or dog fever, is caused by the bacterium Anaplasma phagocytophilum and is carried by the deer tick. It is found throughout the United States, but is most common in the northeastern and northern central states. The most common symptoms of Canine Anaplasmosis include loss of appetite, diarrhea, vomiting, stiffness, and seizures can occur in rare instances.