Ticks are pesky little insects that can pass disease to your cat or dog without you even knowing it. This occurs when a tick is infected with a pathogen, bites your pet, and transmits the pathogen into your pet’s body.

The CDC’s surveillance of reported cases of selected human tick-borne diseases across the US shows that ticks are most commonly found in the eastern half of the country.

The Ultimate Guide to Tick-Borne Diseases in Pets

Animals, especially dogs, are at risk for tick-borne diseases almost anywhere. But there are certain factors that make animals more at risk in some areas than others. Risk often depends on weather, rainfall, and the general climate of the area.

That means that pet-owners in Lancaster County need to be very aware of tick-borne disease for which their pets may be at risk. In this article, we’ll go over common tick-borne diseases, how to treat them, and general prevention tips. While exposure to ticks may be unavoidable, we’ll make sure you understand what to do if your pet falls victim to one of these diseases.

Lyme Disease in Dogs

Lyme disease is one of the most common tick-borne diseases that can affect dogs. The condition, also known as Lyme borreliosis, is caused by a specific type of bacteria found in infected ticks. The ticks that carry Lyme disease are most commonly found in tall grasses, thick brush, marshes, and woods.

The American Kennel Club states that, “over 95% of cases are from the Northeast, the Upper Midwest, and the Pacific Coast, although with recent changes in deforestation, migrating deer, and bird populations, percentage rates in these areas are constantly changing.” A small number of cases pop up along the west coast as well — specifically northern California. Ticks carrying Lyme disease transmit the bacteria once they’ve been attached to an animal for 24-48 hours.

Lyme Disease Symptoms and Treatment

If your dog has developed Lyme disease, you can expect them to develop some of the symptoms below:

• Fever
• Loss of appetite
• Reduced energy
• Lameness (can be shifting, intermittent, and recurring)
• Generalized stiffness, discomfort, or pain
• Swelling of joints

It’s important to note that symptoms can progress to kidney failure in dogs, along with serious cardiac and neurological effects.

There are other diseases that may cause these symptoms, so you should take your dog to your veterinarian to confirm through blood tests. The first blood test they will likely perform is an antibody test to confirm the presence of antibodies created by exposure to the organism.

As this test can produce a false negative, your dog should be tested no earlier than four weeks after the bite. Keep in mind that while dogs are not often direct sources of infection for people, a carrier tick could come into your home with your dog and get on you. So if your dog is exposed to areas where ticks are prevalent, make sure you’re checking yourself for ticks, too. And, if your dog tests positive for Lyme, keep that in mind if you start to develop similar symptoms.

If a dog has been infected less than four weeks, they may not have enough antibodies to produce a positive test. In that situation, your vet will likely conduct a QC6 test as a follow-up. This test assesses the numerical antibody level as confirmation. C6 antibodies can be detected three to five weeks after an infected tick bites a dog and may be found in the bloodstream. This can happen before the dog shows signs of illness.

Your vet will likely also conduct blood and urine tests to assess their kidney function. Additionally, your vet may conduct other PCR (polymerase chain reaction) or ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) tests, a joint fluid analysis, and, in some cases culture can also be done with varying degrees of sensitivity.

The primary way to prevent Lyme disease is to vaccinate your dog against Lyme disease, to limit their exposure to ticks, and to regularly use flea and tick preventative medication. Make sure you also talk to your vet about the Lyme vaccine and flea and tick prevention medications so that your vet can advise you on the best preventative measures for your dog.

Other Tick-Borne Diseases in Dogs

Lyme disease may be the most common tick-borne disease your dog can catch, but it’s not the only one. Different ticks can be infected with a number of different parasites that can present as different diseases in your dog. Here are some other illnesses you should be aware of:

• Canine Ehrlichiosis — This disease, which can be found worldwide, is caused by Brown Dog Ticks, Lone Star Ticks, and American Dog Ticks. Clear signs of this disease include nose bleed, bruising, or anemia. You can expect signs to start 1-3 weeks after the bite. If your dog is treated promptly, they have a good chance at a speedy recovery.
• Anaplasma — This condition is caused by a bacterium carried by the Black-Legged Tick. Your dog will be at a greater risk for this disease if you live in the northeast, west coast, or upper midwest. Anaplasma may present similarly to Lyme disease, but dogs with this condition will have low blood platelets.
• Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever — This illness is among the more commonly known tick-borne diseases that can affect both humans and dogs. It’s carried by the American Dog Tick, Rocky Mountain Wood Tick, and Brown Deer Tick. Symptoms may include fever, poor appetite, low platelets, wobbliness, swollen lymph nodes, and joint pain. Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever has been found in much of the northern, southern, and central U.S.
• Hepatozoonosis — This disease affects a dog after it ingests an infected tick. Hepatozoonosis is most commonly found in the southern United States. Common symptoms include pain, reluctance to stand or move, muscle wasting, and mild to moderate anemia. Sadly, this disease is often fatal.
• Canine Babesiosis — While dogs can catch this disease from transplacental transmission and contamination of IV blood, it’s most commonly contracted from the Brown Dog Tick and/or American Dog Tick. Canine Babesiosis causes red blood cells to break down. That, in turn, leads to symptoms such as jaundice, dark-colored urine, pale gums, and lethargy. Keep an eye out for vomiting and weakness as well.

As noted, some of the hallmark signs of tick-borne diseases in dogs include vomiting, fever, swelling around joints, lameness and lethargy. If you believe your dog may have been exposed to ticks and they are exhibiting any of these symptoms, seek veterinary care right away. The sooner your dog begins treatment, the better chance they will have at a full recovery.

Can Cats Catch Tick-Borne Diseases Too?

While it doesn’t happen quite as commonly as it does with dogs, cats can catch tick-borne illnesses, like Lyme disease. Cats contract these diseases in the same way as dogs and humans do — through tick exposure. Your feline friends will likely exhibit the same symptoms as dogs. These include fever, lethargy, diminished appetite, and stiffness in the first four weeks of infection.

Although it’s even more unlikely, cats can also catch the following tick-borne diseases:

• Hemobartonellosis, which is caused by a bacterial parasite that invades a cat’s red blood cells and causes severe anemia.
• Cytauxzoonosis, which is an often fatal disease that results from infection by a parasite that causes severe anemia, fever, lethargy, and breathing difficulties.
• Tularemia, which is a deadly bacterial infection that results in fever, lymph node enlargement and abscess formation.

If you believe your cat may have been exposed to ticks and they’re showing any of the symptoms above, seek emergency care right away. If a cat is promptly treated for a tick-borne disease, they’ll have a better chance at a full recovery. But when it comes to Lyme disease, there isn’t a vaccine yet available to cats. The longer you wait to get your cat treatment, the more at risk they will be for serious tissue damage and aggressive symptoms of the disease at hand.

Tick-Borne Disease Treatment and Prevention

No matter which tick-borne disease your pet may be suffering from, the first step in helping them heal is to work with your veterinarian. Your cat or dog will likely be prescribed a round of antibiotics, usually for at least 30 days. This should typically resolve symptoms.

But if it doesn’t, your vet will continue additional rounds of medication. In addition to these antibiotics, your vet may prescribe therapies aimed at relieving specific symptoms. Whether your pet has Lyme disease or or a less-common condition, you should talk to your vet about tick prevention tips. Here are some from the American Kennel Club:

• Always inspect yourself and your pets for ticks. After potential tick exposure, check yourself and your pet for ticks. When inspecting your dog for ticks, look around their paws, on lips, around eyes, around and inside the ears, and under and around the base of their tail.
• Remove ticks immediately. Talk to your vet about the proper tick removal processes for cats and dogs. If you find a tick, you’ll need to spread their fur and grasp the bug with fine-point tweezers. Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible and pull straight up in a slow, steady, and gentle motion. Twisting it could cause parts of its mouth to remain attached to your pet. Clean the site where the tick was attached. Then, drop the tick into alcohol to kill it. Be careful not to get any blood or fluid from the tick on your own skin. That could put you at risk of catching a tick–borne disease yourself.
• Keep your lawn mowed as short as possible. Ticks like patches of long grass. Mitigate that issue on your property by keeping your lawn mowed on a regular basis.
• Use the right tick prevention medication. Talk to your vet before buying any over-the-counter medication. If you’re looking to protect your cat, make sure you get a cat-specific option. Dog medication will not be suitable preventative medication for cats.

Most importantly — get your dogs vaccinated against Lyme disease. The vaccine is initially given twice, at two to four-week intervals. Keep your dog protected by revaccinating each year.

Indoor cats are not as exposed to ticks as dogs are. And, for outdoor cats, resources and treatment options for your feline friends may be a little more scarce. If that feels like the case to you, talk to your veterinarian about the most effective way to protect your outdoor cat against tick-borne diseases.

TL;DR – Furdunkin Can Assist With Your Tick Prevention Needs

No one wants to think about their furry friends suffering from tick-borne diseases. But, it’s better to prepare for a worst-case scenario so you can get your cat or dog the care they need. Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne illness your pet may suffer from.

If your pet is suffering from symptoms like fever, loss of appetite, or reduced energy after potential tick exposure, get them tested for Lyme disease. Depending on the parasite that the infected tick is carrying, your pet may contract a number of different tick-borne diseases. After a thorough exam and the necessary tests, your vet will be able to identify the specific condition and create a specific treatment plan based on that diagnosis.

Work with your vet to come up with a solid tick prevention plan to ensure your pet is healthy and happy for years to come. If you’re in the Lancaster County area and haven’t found the right vet for your pet, contact Furdunkin today to learn how we can help you. We’re prepared to offer treatment and prevention for tick-borne diseases, along with whatever else comes up. Your furry loved one will be in good hands. Take a look at our website to learn more about the services we provide.