Dogs and Ticks: Protecting Your Pup

You're probably aware that tick bites can be dangerous to humans. Did you know that ticks are just as dangerous to dogs? It's not easy to prevent ticks on dogs, but for the sake of your pup's health it's important to try. Here's everything you need to know about dogs and ticks and how to avoid an encounter with these pests.

Tick-borne Diseases Affecting Dogs

The American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation (AKCCHF) lists no fewer than seven tick-borne or tick-related illnesses to which your pup may be susceptible to if he gets bitten. Here are the diseases, along with the signs to watch for:

• Lyme disease: Signs include stiff or swollen joints, lameness, fever, fatigue and loss of appetite. Several months may pass before an infected dog displays signs.
• Canine ehrlichiosis: The AKCCHF calls this one of the most dangerous tick-borne dog diseases. As with Lyme disease, signs might take months to appear. These include fever, runny eyes and nose, depression, appetite loss, weight loss, swelling in the limbs, bruising (petechiae) and nose bleeds.
• Canine anaplasmosis: Commonly referred to as either dog fever or dog tick fever, clinical signs to watch for include not only fever, appetite loss, joint stiffness and fatigue, but also vomiting and diarrhea and, in extreme cases, seizures.
• Rocky Mountain spotted fever: Typically, this illness runs its course in about two weeks, although in some cases it could be fatal. Signs include fever, neurological difficulties, such as stumbling or seizures, stiffness and skin lesions. PetMD adds to watch for heart abnormalities and signs of pneumonia, liver damage or kidney failure.
• Canine babesiosis: This infection causes anemia, which typically presents with pale gums and weakness. Vomiting might occur.
• Canine bartonellosis: This illness causes fever and intermittent lameness, and can also lead to heart or liver disease if left untreated.
• Canine hepatozoonosis: Unlike other tick-borne dog diseases, this one doesn't result from the tick biting the dog, but rather from the dog biting the tick. A dog that ingests a tick carrying this infection will develop fever, muscle pain, runny eyes and nose, bloody stool or diarrhea.

Tick Species that Threaten Dogs

These are the most common species of ticks in the U.S. that pose a health threat to dogs, according to PetMD:

• Deer tick: Sometimes referred to as the blacklegged tick, this species carries Lyme disease, canine ehrlichiosis and canine babesiosis. Deer ticks are typically found in wooded areas of the northeastern and upper Midwestern United States. The Centers for Disease Control warns that spring, summer and fall are the riskiest seasons for being bitten by a deer tick.
• American dog tick: Also known as wood ticks, American dog ticks carry Rocky Mountain spotted fever. They inhabit areas near water and humid locales throughout the U.S. east of the Rocky Mountains, and in some places along the Pacific coast. Spring and summer carry the greatest risk of getting bitten.
• Lone star tick: This species gets its name from the distinctive white dot on its back. A carrier of Rocky Mountain spotted fever and ehrlichiosis, these ticks are typically found in wooded areas along rivers and creeks. They're distributed throughout the eastern and southeastern U.S. including eastern parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. Because this species bites and feeds at every life stage, it poses a danger year-round whenever temperatures are above freezing.
• Brown dog tick: Sometimes referred to as a kennel tick or house tick, the brown dog tick tends to prefer dogs over other animals. This type is notable for its tendency to move indoors and infest homes and dog kennels, which makes it dangerous year-round. A transmitter of Rocky Mountain spotted fever, the brown dog tick is found all over the world. In the U.S., the pest tends to be most concentrated in the southwest and along the Mexican border. While concentrated mostly in the U.S., the brown dog tick can be found worldwide.

There are also numerous species that exist around the world if you find yourself in one of these areas of the globe:

• Ornate dog tick: This is the most common species of tick across Europe that spreads from western Europe to pockets across eastern Europe.
• Australia paralysis tick: This tick found in Australia, can cause paralysis by injecting neurotoxins into its hosts.
• Chicken tick: Found primarily in South America, posing a threat more to poultry, chicken ticks can be found on dogs that can make your pup sick.