The threat of tick-borne disease to human and canine health is growing. Ticks are parasites that attach to both people and animals, feed on blood, and carry diseases into their hosts’ bodies. When an infected tick bites a dog or a person, the disease is spread into the body of the victim.
Tick geographic distribution is shifting as a result of climate change, deforestation, and altered deer, bird, and rodent migration and living habits. This can vary yearly or even by season. Ticks are found almost everywhere in the United States, including some urban areas, and throughout much of the rest of the world. They present a danger to both people and pets.
Lyme disease, Ehrlichiosis, Anaplasmosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Babesiosis, Bartonellosis, and Hepatozoonosis are the most significant tick-borne illnesses that affect dogs. All may have detrimental health effects on dogs, and many may also have detrimental health effects on people.
An infectious condition called Lyme disease is brought on by the spirochete bacteria Borrelia, which is carried by the black-legged tick, also known as the deer tick. Historically, Lyme disease has been linked to the Northeast and upper Midwest regions of the United States, but it is now also being reported in Florida, Washington, Oregon, and California on the west coast. In fact, Lyme disease has been found in dogs across the nation and in some southern Canadian regions. To transmit bacteria into the host, the tick must be attached to its host for roughly 36–48 hours, and symptoms appear 2–5 months after the tick bite.
After a walk through the woods or other grassy or shaded areas where ticks may be present, it is crucial to thoroughly check for ticks and remove them as soon as possible. In urban areas, that may include your local dog park.
Fever, limping, lameness, joint pain or swelling, enlargement of the lymph nodes, lethargy, and joint pain are some symptoms of Lyme disease. Kidney disease brought on by Lyme disease can be fatal. (Unlike Lyme disease in people, dogs don’t produce the “bull’s eye” rash. ).
Lyme disease is usually diagnosed via blood tests. The initial examination identifies tick-agent exposure and aids the veterinarian in deciding whether further examinations are necessary.
Some veterinarians continue to disagree on how to treat a dog that tested positive in the initial test but is otherwise healthy. When the choice is made to treat a dog for Lyme, the animal is typically given antibiotics for 28–30 days.
There is a Lyme disease vaccine as well as numerous other tick preventatives. The vaccine may lessen the frequency and severity of the illness should it manifest, despite some doubting its effectiveness and duration. To find out whether the vaccination is suitable for their dog, dog owners should consult their veterinarian.
Canine Ehrlichiosis is found worldwide. The Brown Dog Tick, Lone Star Tick, and American Dog Tick are among the tick species that cause it. Fever, poor appetite, and low blood platelets (cells that aid in blood clotting) are symptoms, which are frequently identified by nose bleeding or other bruising or anemia-related symptoms. The first symptoms appear one to three weeks after the infected tick bit you. If a dog is diagnosed and treated right away, their prognosis can be good, but those who progress to the chronic stage have a harder time recovering.
A bacterium carried by the black-legged tick (Ixodes) causes the disease anaplasma. There are two Anaplasma species that can be found in North American dogs, despite the fact that they are present throughout the world:
Although dogs with Anaplasma frequently have low blood platelets, which cause bleeding disorders, the symptoms are similar to those of Lyme disease.
One of the more well-known tick-borne illnesses that affect both dogs and humans is rabid spotted fever. It is carried by the Rocky Mountain Wood Tick, American Dog Tick, and Brown Deer Tick. Much of North, South, and Central America have this disease. Fever, a lack of appetite, swollen lymph nodes, and joint pain are symptoms. Low platelets, which help in blood clotting, are often found. On occasion, neurological signs such as wobbliness can also occur.
Another illness called babesiosis is primarily transmitted by a tick bite, though it can also spread through dog bites, transplacental transmission, and possibly contaminated IV blood. Babesiosis is primarily characterized by “hemolysis,” or the decomposition of red blood cells. Lethargy, pale gums, dark urine, and jaundice (yellow or orange skin color or the “whites” of the eyes) are all signs of the condition.
A new infectious disease that affects humans, cats, and dogs is bartonella. It has also been known as cat scratch disease (CSD). The majority of infections typically start after being scratched by domestic or feral cats that have fleas. CSD can occur wherever cats and fleas are found.
Hepatozoonosis is a little different because it develops after a dog consumes an infected tick. Since this illness is not zoonotic, humans cannot contract it from infected dogs. This disease is generally found in the southern United States. Pain and difficulty standing or moving, fever, muscle wasting, and mild to moderate anemia are symptoms of the illness. This disease is severely debilitating and often fatal.
These illnesses can pose a serious risk to both people and dogs’ health. Dog owners should consult their veterinarian to determine the most effective method of flea and tick control.
At the Center for Disease Control, a map displaying the prevalence of Lyme disease can be found. https://www. akc. org/wp-admin/admin-ajax. php Get Your Free AKC eBook.
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Canine Ehrlichiosis is found worldwide. The Brown Dog Tick, Lone Star Tick, and American Dog Tick are among the tick species that cause it. Fever, poor appetite, and low blood platelets (cells that aid in blood clotting) are symptoms, which are frequently identified by nose bleeding or other bruising or anemia-related symptoms. The first symptoms appear one to three weeks after the infected tick bit you. If a dog is diagnosed and treated right away, their prognosis can be good, but those who progress to the chronic stage have a harder time recovering.
Hepatozoonosis is a little different because it develops after a dog consumes an infected tick. Since this illness is not zoonotic, humans cannot contract it from infected dogs. This disease is generally found in the southern United States. Pain and difficulty standing or moving, fever, muscle wasting, and mild to moderate anemia are symptoms of the illness. This disease is severely debilitating and often fatal.
A new infectious disease that affects humans, cats, and dogs is bartonella. It has also been known as cat scratch disease (CSD). The majority of infections typically start after being scratched by domestic or feral cats that have fleas. CSD can occur wherever cats and fleas are found.
An infectious condition called Lyme disease is brought on by the spirochete bacteria Borrelia, which is carried by the black-legged tick, also known as the deer tick. Historically, Lyme disease has been linked to the Northeast and upper Midwest regions of the United States, but it is now also being reported in Florida, Washington, Oregon, and California on the west coast. In fact, Lyme disease has been found in dogs across the nation and in some southern Canadian regions. To transmit bacteria into the host, the tick must be attached to its host for roughly 36–48 hours, and symptoms appear 2–5 months after the tick bite.
If you see a tick, you should use a tick removal tool to get rid of it as soon as possible. This hook was created specifically for the job, and it removes the tick whole by twisting and pulling. By using tweezers, you run the risk of removing some of its mouthparts, which could result in a localized infection.
In the UK, ticks can spread disease, but if you’re taking your dog abroad, they might be exposed to illnesses that aren’t common there. Speak to your vet for advice before you travel.
2 Cairns V, Wallenhorst C, Rietbrock S, et al. BMJ open 2019;9:e025916 Incidence of Lyme disease in the UK: a population-based cohort study
Read our guides to identifying ticks on dogs and cats for additional assistance in finding ticks.
In short, yes. Although dogs and cats cannot directly infect humans, they can still expose you and your loved ones to disease-carrying ticks. Ticks will bite and feed on people, spreading illnesses like Lyme disease.
Ticks can be acquired from pets, and a study by Jones et al. Owning indoor-outdoor animals raises your risk of being bitten by a tick and possibly exposing yourself to several diseases carried by ticks. [1].
Out of the 1,546 homes with pets, 88.1% used some form of tick control on their pets. Yet, 20% still found ticks on their pets, 31.4% reported ticks crawling on household members, and 19.2% found ticks attached to household members during the study period, writes Jones from the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
FAQ
Can a tick transfer from dog to human?
A study by Jones et al. found that dog and cat owners are much more likely to get a tick bite than non-owners, and that pets can bring ticks into the house and onto humans. Out of the 1,546 homes with pets, 88. 1% used some form of tick control on their pets.
Should I be worried if I found a tick on my dog?
Don’t panic if you discover a tick on your dog; most of the time, tick bites won’t be harmful to your dog. A tick may still bite your dog while it is taking medication to prevent ticks, but it will die before it can have any negative effects.
Can ticks live in human hair?
Men should be aware that tiny ticks can easily hide in the hair on their legs, so it’s crucial to thoroughly check yourself by combing through your leg hair. Before you take off your clothes, make sure you have checked all of your skin’s visible areas.