Tick-Borne Illnesses in Dogs

Ticks can carry several serious diseases. It is very important, therefore, that owners learn how to recognize symptoms of potential tick-borne illnesses, and that they arm their dogs with effective, veterinarian-approved tick-repellent products.

  1. Lyme Disease

    • Lyme disease is the most common tick disease in the United States. Symptoms usually occur a few weeks following exposure to an infected tick, and generally consist of sudden lameness, fever, loss of appetite and weight loss.

    Erlichiosis

    • This tick-borne disease is divided into three different phases.The acute phase consists of anemia, lethargy, fever, joint pain and enlarged lymph nodes, liver and spleen. The subclinical phase, which can last from months to years, causes dogs to appear normal or exhibit a few symptoms suggesting light anemia. The chronic phase causes weight loss, anemia, neurological disorders, bleeding, inflammation of the eye, edema and fever.

    Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

    • This disease is transmitted by the American dog tick and the Rocky Mountain spotted fever tick. The disease has two stages: the subclinical stage where the dog appears normal, and the acute stage, characterized by loss of appetite, fever, lethargy, painful joints, swollen lymph nodes, edema, seizures and even death.

    Babesiosis

    • Once the Babesia parasite is released into a dog's bloodstream by an infected tick, weakness, lethargy, jaundice, fever and red- or orange-colored urine will soon follow.

    Prevention/Solution

    • There is a vaccination for Lyme disease. The application of topical tick-repellent products may be helpful to prevent tick-borne diseases. Owners may help as well by inspecting their dogs routinely and carefully after walks in the woods or near parks.