Ticks: How To Protect Your Dog

Diamond's Friends Pet Rescue
Jun 4
9 min read

Ticks may be small, but they can cause big problems for your dog. Speaking from experience, it’s not uncommon to see dogs come out of shelters with ticks. Plus, if you like to hike or live in an area known for having ticks, your dog could be at risk.

If you move quickly and get the tick off your dog before it’s been attached for too long, you should be in the clear! However, if it’s been feeding for a while, you’ll want to talk to your vet.

Understanding how ticks operate, what dangers they pose, and how to prevent them is key to keeping your pup healthy. Here’s what you need to know.

What Are Ticks?

According to VCA, ticks are tiny parasites that feed on animal or human blood. They carry diseases and latch onto their hosts with their mouths, potentially remaining attached for

days while feeding.

What Is the Prognosis for Dogs Who Are Bitten by Ticks?

If you remove the tick from your dog within a couple of hours or less of the bite occurring, their prognosis is good! Otherwise, it depends on whether the tick is carrying a disease and what disease it can pass on to your pup.

How Common Are Ticks Bites in Dogs?

Aspen Veterinary Clinic reports that tick bites are common in dogs. They share that studies indicate that up to 50% of dogs in certain regions might be exposed to ticks that carry diseases.

Basically, if you find a tick on your dog, don’t beat yourself up. It happens.

Learn More: Common Ailments Your Shelter Dog May Have

How Are Ticks Diagnosed in Dogs?

You’ll probably be the one to find a tick on your dog. This may happen as you are petting or grooming them. You may also notice a tick if you are a vigilant dog owner who checks their pup over after a long hike or playtime in areas known for having a lot of ticks.

Generally, you’ll feel or notice a bump on their skin that looks like a wart. After closer inspection, you may notice legs, indicating it’s a tick.

If you are ever unsure if something on your dog is a tick, see your veterinarian as soon as possible. Time is of the essence when it comes to getting these pests off your dog.

Additionally, if you are concerned a tick has been on your dog for a while, your vet may recommend tests to check for tick-borne illnesses if symptoms are present. These can include:

Blood smear
Blood work
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
Serology
Snap 4Dx

It can take 24 to 48 hours for a tick to transmit Lyme disease, but other illnesses may be transmitted in just a few hours. So, as soon as you see a tick on your dog, get it OFF!

Learn More: How To Choose a Veterinarian

Where Am I Most Likely To Find a Tick on My Dog’s Body?

You are most likely to find ticks on your dog:

Around their eyelids
Around their tail
Between their back legs
Between their toes
In and around their ears
Under their collar
Under their front legs

That said, it is possible for a tick to attach to your dog elsewhere, so don’t limit your search to just those areas.

How (And Where) Do Dogs Get Ticks?

Dogs usually get ticks by brushing against grass or other plants. Common places your dog might encounter ticks include:

Backyards and gardens
Fields or meadows
Forested or overgrown areas
Kennels or dog parks
Parks and hiking trails
Woods

The CDC reports that ticks are most active in warmer months, but some species may remain active even in mild winter temperatures.

Learn More: Dog Parks 101

Symptoms of Dogs With Ticks

If your dog has a tick on them, you may notice:

A hard bump on their skin
Anxiety
Higher levels of scratching and licking
Lack of appetite

More concerning signs of a tick bite or tick-borne illness can include:

Breathing difficulties
Blood in the urine
Enlarged lymph nodes
Diarrhea or vomiting
Fever
Lameness
Lethargy
Joint pain
Pale gums
Swollen legs or belly
Weight loss
Yellowing of the eyes or skin

If something seems wrong with your dog after recent outdoor activity, a tick check and a vet visit would be a wise idea.

Learn More: At-Home Dog Health Checks

What Health Issues Can Ticks Cause in Dogs?

The bad news is that ticks can transmit a range of serious diseases to dogs. According to PetMD, the most common tick-borne diseases transmitted to dogs are:

Disease	Health Concerns
Anaplasmosis	Fever Inappetence Impacts blood clotting Lameness and joint pain Lethargy
Babesiosis (Potentially fatal if untreated)	Dark urine Fever Jaundice Lethargy Pale gums Swollen abdomen Weight loss Wobbly gait or seizures
Ehrlichiosis (Potentially fatal if untreated)	Abnormal bruising and bleeding Anorexia or weight loss Diarrhea or vomiting Enlarged lymph nodes Eye inflammation or blindness Increased urination, Lameness Loss of balance or stumbling
Hepatozoonosis (Potentially fatal if untreated)	Eye discharge Fever Lethargy Muscle loss Muscle or bone pain Weight loss
Lyme disease (Potentially fatal if it reaches the kidneys)	Decreased appetite Diarrhea and vomiting Enlarged lymph nodes Fever Increased thirst and urination Joint pain or swelling Lameness Swollen legs or belly Weakness Weight loss
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (Potentially fatal if untreated)	Anorexia or weight loss Coughing Diarrhea or vomiting Enlarged lymph nodes Fever Lethargy Painful muscles or joints Red spots or bruising

Some dogs may also experience local skin infections at the bite site or allergic reactions to tick saliva.

How Are Ticks Treated in Dogs?

If you find a tick on your dog, it’s important to remove it as soon as possible. More on that in a moment.

If infection is detected, treatment will depend on your dog's diagnosis. Here's a breakdown of treatment based on the potential disease:

Disease	Treatment
Anaplasmosis	Doxycycline
Babesiosis	Imidocarb dipropionate Potential hospitalization with transfusions, oxygen therapy, steroids, IV fluids, and other supportive care
Ehrlichiosis	Doxycycline Potential hospitalization for supportive care requiring transfusions, fluids, nutritional support, and steroids
Hepatozoonosis	Anti-inflammatories Anti-protozoa medication High-calorie diet Hydration Pain medication
Lyme disease	Doxycycline Pain medication Potential hospitalization for severe cases requiring IV fluids and medication to support the kidneys
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever	Antibiotics (normally doxycycline) Hospitalization if needed for IV fluids, appetite stimulants, or pain meds

How Do I Remove a Tick From My Dog?

Did you find a tick on your dog’s body? Petsmart has some tips on how to remove it:

Swab it with some rubbing alcohol to encourage it to loosen its bite.
Use tweezers to grab the tick as close to your dog’s body as possible, then steadily pull without twisting.
Kill it by soaking it in rubbing alcohol. Don’t try to kill it with your hands because you may inadvertently infect yourself with any diseases it’s carrying.
Clean your dog’s wound and apply some antibiotic ointment.

Keep an eye on where the tick was to make sure a rash or redness doesn’t develop. If that happens (or you have any concerns that part of the tick didn’t come out when you removed it), make an appointment ASAP to see your vet.

Also, if ticks are common in your area, a tick remover might be a wise investment to help you remove ticks from your dog more effectively.

Learn More: Dog First Aid Kits

How Long Will a Tick Feed on My Dog?

If you don’t remove a tick from your dog, it may feed for up to two weeks (but the average is three to six days). They will fall off on their own after they have fed.

However, some veterinary clinics report that it may only take a few hours of attachment for some diseases to be transmitted. This makes early detection and removal critically important.

Do I Have To Worry About Ticks Laying Eggs While Feeding?

Nope! Ticks don’t lay eggs while they are feeding, so you don’t have to worry about an infestation if you remove a tick from your dog and kill it before it falls off on its own.

Are Ticks Deadly?

A tick itself won’t kill your dog, but if it transmits a deadly disease to your dog, that could be a problem.

Certain tick-borne diseases, like Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis, Hepatozoonosis, Lyme disease, and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, can be fatal if they are not treated.

Are Ticks Contagious To Other Dogs?

Indirectly, yes. Ticks themselves don’t move directly from dog to dog, but an infested dog can bring ticks into shared spaces, like kennels or beds, where they might latch onto another dog.

That’s why treating all pets in a household is essential if one pet has ticks.

It’s also worth noting that dogs cannot transmit the diseases that ticks carry to each other (for example, Lyme disease). A dog has to actually be bitten by a tick to get those diseases.

Are Ticks on Dogs Contagious To People?

As with other pets, it’s indirect.

A study published in Zoonoses Public Health found that homes with pets were 1.83 times more likely to find ticks crawling on members of the home. The study also found that homes with pets were 1.49 times more likely to find a tick attached to other members of the home.

However (and once again), the diseases that ticks carry (like Lyme disease) cannot be transmitted directly from your dog to you.

Is There a Vaccine for Ticks?

There isn’t a vaccine specifically for ticks. However, there is a non-core vaccine for Lyme disease. Dog owners living in or traveling to areas where Lyme disease is common would be wise to ensure their dog receives the vaccine.

The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) says that the vaccine for Lyme disease should be given in two doses, two weeks apart, then annual boosters after.

Talk to your vet to determine if your dog should receive the Lyme vaccine.

Learn More: Adult Dog Vaccines

How Can I Protect My Dog From Ticks?

Prevention is your best weapon against ticks. Here’s how to keep your pup protected:

Avoid high-risk areas during peak tick season
Check your dog daily for ticks, especially after walks or play in grassy areas
Keep your yard trimmed and tidy
Remove any ticks you find on your dog immediately
Use a monthly preventative
Wash and inspect bedding regularly

What Are the Options for Tick Preventatives?

You have options when it comes to tick preventatives, and most prevent fleas as well. Depending on what you are comfortable giving your dog and what your veterinarian recommends, you can use any of the following:

Preventative Type	Overview	Usage	Effectiveness	Popular Brands
Collars	Tick collars slowly release anti-parasitic medication onto your dog’s skin over time to repel and kill ticks.	Up to eight months	PetMD claims that collars can be as effective as topical or oral medications.	Seresto
Oral	These are pills or chewable tablets. They work systematically to kill ticks after they bite your dog.	Monthly	Hill’s claims that oral preventatives have an efficacy rate of up to 99%.	Bravecto, NexGard, Simparica
Topical	These are liquids that you apply to your dog’s skin, normally between the shoulder blades.	Monthly	Hill’s claims that topical preventatives have an efficacy rate of up to 88.4%.	Advantage, Advantix, Frontline Plus, Revolution

You can also utilize environmental protections in conjunction with pet-specific preventatives. These can include:

Check your dog after outdoor adventures, especially on legs, ears, under the collar, and between the toes
Keeping grass trimmed and brush cleared on your property
Using pet-safe yard sprays or insect growth regulators

Learn More: What Dog Owners Need To Know About Fleas

Final Thoughts

Ticks may be tiny, but they’re no joke. The good news is that with a little vigilance and the right preventative care, you can protect your dog from potential risks.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended as professional medical advice. It is based on personal experience and online research. Please consult with your veterinarian if you are concerned about your dog's health.

Sources

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