Tick-Borne Diseases in Dogs: Signs to Act On

Many people think of ticks as just an itchy nuisance. But ticks can pass dangerous pathogens into a dog's blood, sometimes causing severe anemia or bleeding that is hard to stop. This article focuses on tick-borne diseases and their warning signs; for year-round tick prevention, see our separate article.

Common tick-borne diseases in dogs

In warm, humid climates, the brown dog tick can live inside homes, yards and kennels, so city dogs are at risk too. Some common disease groups:

Blood protozoa (Babesia)

These parasites destroy red blood cells, causing anemia. Dogs may have fever, lethargy, pale or yellow gums, and dark, tea-colored urine.

Bacteria living in blood cells (Ehrlichia, Anaplasma)

These cause fever, poor appetite, weight loss and swollen lymph nodes. Some dogs develop low platelet counts and bleed easily: nosebleeds and tiny bleeding spots on the skin, gums and belly. The disease can become chronic, smoldering for months.

Other pathogens

Ticks can carry other pathogens depending on the region. Dogs may be infected with several at once, making the signs more complicated.

Warning signs

Symptoms can appear days to weeks after a tick bite, often when you've already forgotten about the tick. Watch for:

• Fever, lethargy, lying around, no interest in play.
• Poor appetite or not eating, weight loss.
• Pale or yellow gums, tongue or inner eyelids.
• Dark, red or brown urine.
• Nosebleeds, tiny red spots or bruises on the belly skin or gums.
• Difficulty moving, joint pain, shifting-leg lameness.
• Swollen lymph nodes under the jaw, in front of the shoulders or behind the knees.
• Cloudy or inflamed eyes.

Some infected dogs show no clear signs and are found only by chance on a routine blood test or before surgery. So if your dog often gets ticks, mention it to your veterinarian at every visit, even when your dog looks healthy.

Finding and removing ticks properly

• Check daily, especially after walks: between the toes, inside the ears, around the neck, armpits, groin and under the tail.
• Use fine-tipped tweezers or a tick removal tool: grip close to the skin and pull straight out slowly and steadily. Don't twist hard or squeeze the tick's body.
• Don't burn it or apply oil or chemicals to an attached tick. An irritated tick may release more fluid into your dog's blood.
• Wear gloves and wash your hands afterward. Drop the tick into a sealed jar of alcohol. You can keep it for your vet to see if your dog later falls ill.
• Note the date you found the tick so you can monitor over the following weeks.
• Treat the environment: brown dog ticks lay eggs in wall cracks, under furniture and in kennels. Vacuum, wash bedding in hot water and clean the kennel often.
• Protect your family too: ticks can crawl onto people. Wear long trousers when cleaning the kennel or walking through grass, and check yourself afterward.

Protect your dog from ticks year-round with a suitable product as directed by your veterinarian, and read the product label carefully. Never use dog products on cats or vice versa.

When to see a vet

Tick-borne diseases need blood tests to diagnose and treatment as directed by your veterinarian. See a vet when:

• Your dog has a fever, lethargy or loss of appetite in the weeks after a tick bite, even if all ticks were removed.
• Pale or yellow gums, or dark urine: go right away.
• Nosebleeds, bleeding spots or unexplained bruises: go right away.
• Rapid breathing, weakness or inability to stand: this is an emergency.
• Your dog has a heavy tick load, or ticks keep coming back in the house or kennel.
• Your dog has had a tick-borne disease before: ask your vet about follow-up checks, as it can relapse or become chronic.