Tick-borne Diseases: The Risk to Dogs and People

Tick bites can be irritating for dogs, but the bigger concern is the diseases ticks can transmit to dogs and humans alike. While your dog can’t transmit a tick disease directly to you, you both could be at risk for tick bites when you spend time outdoors. Read on to learn how tick-borne diseases can affect both dogs and people.

The Risks of Ticks to Dogs — and Humans

Tick disease symptoms in dogs and people vary depending on the specific disease. Some common tick-borne diseases include:

Lyme Disease

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection spread through the bite of an infected tick. Dogs with Lyme disease may show the following signs:

Humans are also at risk of Lyme disease, and symptoms include:

Left untreated, the disease can lead to serious problems, including paralysis and meningitis, a potentially fatal swelling of the membranes around the brain and spinal cord.

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) is a bacterial infection that affects both dogs and humans and can become serious, or even fatal, if not properly identified and treated. Dogs with RMSF may display symptoms like:

Signs of RMSF in humans include:

If you suspect an infection, see a medical professional or veterinarian as soon as possible to receive antibiotic treatment for you or your pet.

Ehrlichiosis

Ehrlichiosis, a tick-borne infection in dogs that affects the white blood cells, is most commonly found in the southeastern and southern United States. Symptoms vary and can include:

Humans can also contract ehrlichiosis, with signs and symptoms like:

Babesiosis

Ticks can also transmit babesiosis, a disease that can be fatal in dogs. This parasite invades the dog’s red blood cells, causing severe anemia. Symptoms of babesiosis in dogs include:

Humans with babesiosis may feel fine and show no symptoms at all; however, the disease can be life-threatening for people with certain risk factors like advanced age and impaired immune function.

Checking for Ticks on Your Dog

The longer a tick remains on your dog after biting them, the more likely your dog is to contract a disease. Therefore, you should regularly check your dog for ticks, especially during your region’s peak tick season, and quickly remove any ticks you find. Focus on the areas where ticks tend to bite dogs, such as on the head and neck, around the ears and in between your dog’s paws. However, ticks can be found anywhere on a dog’s body — even inside the ears.

When to Contact the Vet about Tick-borne Diseases in Your Dog

If you think your pet is suffering from a tick-borne disease, it’s important to see your veterinarian. They can run blood work and determine if you pet is in need of treatment. Treatment may vary based on clinical signs and your dog’s recent history.

Ticks are dangerous because they carry diseases and are often not as visible on dogs as they are on humans. Because of this, the best way to help protect them from biting ticks in the first place is to use a tick prevention product that repels and/or kills disease-carrying ticks. There are a number of tick products on the market, including spot-on treatments, tablets and medicated collars. Consider a tick product that repels, as a tick that is repelled cannot bite and transmit disease.