Ticks can transmit serious diseases to animals and people (ticks themselves do not cause the disease; it is the bacteria harbored and transmitted by ticks causing the disease) and it only takes one tick bite to be infected by dangerous, sometimes even fatal, tick-borne disease.

There are many different types of ticks throughout the United States, each with the disease-carrying potential. Example of ticks carrying diseases include:

• Deer ticks/black legged ticks (Ixodes scapularis – I. dammini) – may carry Lyme Disease
  
• American dog ticks (Dermacentor variabilis) – may carry Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) and tularemia
  
• Lone star ticks (Amblyomma americanum) – may carry tularemia, tick paralysis and RMSF
  
• Brown dog ticks (Rhipicephalus sanguineus) – may carry canine ehrlichiosis and babesiosis
  

Clinical signs of tick-borne disease include (but not limited to):

• Lethargy
  
• Lameness in one or more legs
  
• Anorexia
  
• Lack of appetite
  
• Weight loss
  
• Fever
  
• Depression
  
• Diarrhea
  
• Liver/kidney failure
  
• Seizures

Signs can be few and subtle until later stages of the disease. Signs of tick-borne disease can also be confused with other medical conditions. Other than clinical signs, laboratory testing can be done to diagnose the disease. If you suspect your dog is exposed to a tick-borne disease, contact your veterinarian immediately.

Since vaccination is not available for all tick-borne diseases (vaccination for Lyme Disease is available through your veterinarian), prevention is a key to avoid tick infestation. Avoid areas ticks love, such as grasses and low shrubs. Examine your dog’s body for ticks as soon as returning from an outing and promptly remove ticks with caution if you see them. It is a good idea to save them in a container with rubbing alcohol for future identification.

Never remove ticks with your bare hands. Use tweezers or wear gloves so that you will not expose yourself to a potentially infected tick.

Watch for sings of tick-borne diseases after removing ticks from your dogs. If you see any signs or notice any abnormality, contact your veterinarian immediately.