Tick-Borne Diseases: What Dog Owners Should Know

A small tick bite can pose a health risk to both your dog and your family.

Walks through the woods, afternoons in the yard and adventures on grassy trails give dogs plenty of opportunities to explore. They can also bring dogs into contact with ticks.

These tiny parasites can transmit infections while feeding. Dogs and people sharing the same outdoor spaces may both be exposed, and pets can carry ticks indoors. Understanding the risks, recognizing possible symptoms and building a consistent prevention routine can help reduce exposure.

Can You Catch a Tick-Borne Disease from Your Dog?

The infections discussed here are generally acquired through infected ticks rather than everyday contact with a dog. For example, dogs do not directly pass Lyme disease or Rocky Mountain spotted fever to people.

However, a dog can bring ticks into your home, where unattached ticks may later bite another animal or person. A tick-borne infection in your dog can also signal that infected ticks are present in places you both visit.

Lyme Disease

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection transmitted by infected blacklegged ticks. Many infected dogs show no obvious illness, but dogs that become sick may develop:

  • Reduced appetite

  • Low energy

  • Fever

  • Swollen or painful joints

  • Limping that shifts between legs

Veterinary evaluation is important when these signs appear, particularly after possible tick exposure.

In people, Lyme disease may cause fever, fatigue, headaches and an expanding skin rash. The rash can vary in appearance and should not be expected to look identical in every case. Untreated infection can affect the joints, heart and nervous system.

Contact a healthcare professional if you develop a rash, fever or other symptoms after a tick bite or possible exposure.

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

Rocky Mountain spotted fever, or RMSF, is a bacterial disease that can affect dogs and people. Despite its name, it occurs beyond the Rocky Mountain region.

Possible signs in dogs include:

  • Fever

  • Poor appetite

  • Swollen joints or lymph nodes

  • Swelling of the face or legs

  • Vomiting or diarrhea

  • Difficulty breathing

Early treatment matters because the infection can become severe. A veterinarian may begin treatment when RMSF is suspected rather than waiting for confirmation from laboratory tests.

People with RMSF may develop fever, severe headache, muscle aches, nausea or abdominal pain. A rash may appear several days after the fever begins, but it can be absent early in the illness.

Do not wait for a rash before seeking medical care. RMSF can progress quickly, and delayed treatment increases the risk of serious complications.

Ehrlichiosis

Ehrlichiosis refers to infections caused by Ehrlichia bacteria transmitted by ticks. In dogs, the illness can affect blood cells and may become long-lasting.

Signs may include:

  • Fever

  • Tiredness

  • Reduced appetite

  • Swollen lymph nodes

  • Stiffness or reluctance to walk

  • Unusual bruising or nosebleeds

Some dogs develop persistent disease even after an early phase with few noticeable signs. Blood testing helps veterinarians investigate suspected infection.

People can also develop ehrlichiosis after an infected tick bite. Symptoms may include fever, chills, headache, muscle aches and digestive upset. Some people develop a rash, particularly children.

Seek medical advice promptly if you become ill after spending time in grassy, brushy or wooded areas—even if you do not remember a tick bite.

Make Tick Checks Part of Your Routine

Check your dog daily for ticks, especially after outdoor activities. Work through the coat carefully, examining the whole body rather than only areas where ticks seem most obvious.

Pay particular attention to:

  • Around the ears and head

  • Under the collar

  • Under the front legs

  • Between the toes

  • Around the tail and hind legs

Ticks can be difficult to spot in thick or dark fur. Daily checks remain useful even when your dog uses a tick preventive.

Remove Attached Ticks Promptly

Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick close to your dog’s skin, then pull straight outward with steady pressure. Avoid squeezing the tick’s body or handling it with bare fingers.

Do not use a hot match to encourage a tick to detach. If removal is difficult or your dog has many attached ticks, contact your veterinarian for help.

Know When to Call Your Veterinarian

Contact your veterinarian if your dog develops changes in appetite, energy or behavior after a known or suspected tick bite. Also report fever, limping, swelling or unusual bleeding.

Symptoms may take days or weeks to appear. Tell your veterinarian when you found the tick and whether your dog has recently traveled, as local exposure patterns can help guide assessment.

Build Consistent Protection

Ask your veterinarian which tick preventive suits your dog’s age, health, lifestyle and local risks. Options include products applied to the skin, oral medications and certain collars; follow the selected product’s label carefully.

Combine prevention with daily tick checks, prompt removal and reduced exposure to tall grass and brush. Keep grass and weeds trimmed around your yard, and discuss whether Lyme vaccination is appropriate for your dog.

A consistent routine helps reduce tick exposure while supporting the outdoor activities you and your dog enjoy.