Your dog came in from the yard acting normal, but by evening, you notice lethargy, loss of appetite, or a strange bump on their skin. Ticks on dogs can cause serious health problems, from localized skin irritation to life-threatening diseases like Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
Ticks are tiny parasites that attach to your dog’s skin to feed on blood, and they’re found across the United States. The real danger isn’t just the tick bite itself, it’s the diseases these infected ticks transmit. Early detection can mean the difference between simple tick removal and weeks of intensive treatment for tick-borne diseases in dogs.
In this guide, you’ll learn exactly what symptoms to watch for, how to identify different types of ticks, step-by-step removal techniques that work, and critical warning signs that require immediate veterinary care. I’ve treated over 3,000 cases of tick-related illness in my emergency practice, and I’ll share the specific signs that separate minor bites from medical emergencies.
Key Takeaways:
- Ticks can transmit diseases within 6 hours of attaching to your dog, early removal is critical
- Common symptoms include fever, lethargy, loss of appetite, lameness, and visible tick attachment
- The deer tick, American dog tick, brown dog tick, and lone star tick each carry different diseases
- Proper removal requires tweezers to grasp the tick close to the skin and pull straight out
- Some tick-borne diseases don’t show symptoms for weeks, know the delayed warning signs
What Are the Main Symptoms of Ticks on Dogs?
Dogs with ticks show two types of symptoms: immediate signs at the bite site and systemic symptoms from tick-borne diseases. At the bite site, you’ll find the embedded tick itself (often felt as a small bump), redness, swelling, and sometimes scabbing after the tick detaches. Systemic symptoms develop hours to weeks later and include fever (103°F or higher), lethargy, loss of appetite, limping, swollen lymph nodes, and in severe cases, neurological signs like seizures or tick paralysis.
The challenge is that early symptoms are often subtle. Your dog may seem slightly “off” before obvious illness appears.
Immediate Physical Signs at the Tick Bite Site
When you check your dog for ticks, you’re looking for a small, firm bump on the skin that doesn’t move when touched. Ticks are typically found in warm, protected areas: between toes, inside ears, around the neck and head, in armpits, and in the groin region. The tick’s body swells as it feeds, growing from pinhead-size to grape-size depending on how long it’s been attached.
The skin around an attached tick often appears red or inflamed. Some dogs develop localized hair loss. After you remove the tick (or it drops off naturally), a small scab forms where the tick was previously attached. This scab may remain for 1-2 weeks as the skin heals.
Warning Sign: If the area where the tick was attached develops a bullseye rash (red ring surrounding a clear center), this suggests Lyme disease transmission and requires immediate veterinary attention.
Symptoms of Tick-Borne Diseases to Watch For
Different tick species carry different diseases, but many symptoms overlap. Here’s what I see most frequently in my practice:
Fever and lethargy are the most common early warning signs. Your dog may sleep more than usual, show little interest in play, and feel warm to the touch. A normal dog’s temperature ranges from 101-102.5°F; tick fever often spikes to 103-105°F.
Loss of appetite appears within 24-72 hours of disease transmission. Your dog may refuse food entirely or eat significantly less than normal.
Lameness or joint pain is particularly common with Lyme disease. Dogs may shift weight between legs, walk with a stiff gait, or cry when you touch affected joints. This lameness can migrate between different legs over several days.
Swollen lymph nodes develop as the immune system fights infection. You can feel these as firm bumps under the jaw, in front of the shoulders, or behind the knees.
Respiratory symptoms like coughing or difficulty breathing may indicate ehrlichiosis or anaplasmosis affecting the lungs.
Neurological signs represent medical emergencies. Tick paralysis causes progressive weakness starting in the hind legs and moving forward. Some dogs develop seizures, head tilts, or loss of coordination. If you notice any of these symptoms, consider bringing your dog to an emergency vet immediately.
| Disease | Tick Vector | Primary Symptoms | Onset Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lyme Disease | Deer tick | Lameness, fever, joint swelling | 2-5 months post-bite |
| Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever | American dog tick, Rocky Mountain wood tick | High fever, lethargy, bleeding disorders | 2-14 days post-bite |
| Ehrlichiosis | Brown dog tick, lone star tick | Fever, weight loss, bleeding | 1-3 weeks post-bite |
| Anaplasmosis | Deer tick | Fever, lameness, vomiting | 1-2 weeks post-bite |
| Tick Paralysis | Various species (especially paralysis tick) | Progressive hind leg weakness | 5-7 days while tick attached |
| Babesiosis | Brown dog tick | Pale gums, weakness, dark urine | 1-4 weeks post-bite |
How to Find a Tick on Your Dog
Check your dog for ticks daily during tick season (April through October in most of the United States, year-round in warmer climates). Ticks look like small, dark spiders when unfed, but swell into bean-shaped parasites once engorged with blood.
The Systematic Tick Check Method
Start at your dog’s head and work backward using your fingertips. You’re feeling for any unusual bumps that weren’t there before. Run your fingers through the coat in the opposite direction of hair growth to expose the skin.
Focus on these high-risk areas where ticks are typically found:
- Inside and around both ears (check every fold)
- Under the collar line around the entire neck
- Between all toes and paw pads
- Armpits and front leg joints
- Groin area and around genitals
- Under the tail and around the anus
- Eyelids and around the eyes
Different types of ticks vary in size. Adult female ticks are largest (3-5mm unfed, up to 1cm when engorged). Nymph ticks are tiny, as small as a poppy seed, making them easy to miss but still capable of transmitting disease.
Pro tip from my practice: Use a bright flashlight during tick checks. The light helps you spot ticks on dark-coated dogs and catches the tick’s body sheen. On light-colored dogs, look for any new dark spots on the skin.
What Ticks Look Like on Dogs
American dog tick (wood tick): Large, brown with white or gray markings. Most common east of the Rocky Mountains. Transmits Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tick paralysis.
Deer tick (blacklegged tick): Small, orange-brown body with dark legs. Common in the Northeast and upper Midwest. Primary carrier of Lyme disease in dogs and humans.
Brown dog tick: Reddish-brown, no distinctive markings. The only tick species that can complete its entire lifecycle indoors, leading to tick infestations in homes. Transmits ehrlichiosis and babesiosis.
Lone star tick: Brown with a single white dot on the female’s back. Found in the Southeast and Midwest. Known for aggressive biting behavior and can cause alpha-gal allergy in humans.
Rocky Mountain wood tick: Similar to American dog tick but found in western states. Transmits Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Colorado tick fever.
[Suggested Image: Side-by-side comparison chart showing actual size and identifying features of the 5 most common dog ticks in the United States]
How to Safely Remove a Tick from Your Dog
Remove ticks as soon as possible after discovery. The risk of disease transmission increases significantly after 24-48 hours of attachment, though some diseases like Rocky Mountain spotted fever can transmit within 6 hours of a tick attaching to your dog.
Step-by-Step Tick Removal Process
What you’ll need: Fine-tipped tweezers or a tick removal tool, rubbing alcohol, a small container with a lid, and gloves (optional but recommended).
The proper way to remove a tick:
- Prepare your materials: Put on gloves if you have them. Ticks can carry diseases to dogs and humans, so avoid direct contact with ticks.
- Part the fur: Expose the tick completely so you can see where it’s attached to the dog’s skin.
- Position your tweezers: Use tweezers to grasp the tick as close to your dog’s skin as possible. You want to grip the tick’s head or mouthparts, not its swollen body.
- Pull straight out: Apply steady, even pressure and pull straight upward. Don’t twist, jerk, or squeeze the tick’s body, this can cause the tick to regurgitate bacteria into your dog’s bloodstream or leave mouthparts embedded in the skin.
- Verify complete removal: Look at the removed tick. You should see legs and mouthparts intact. If the head remains embedded, remove it with tweezers like you would a splinter.
- Clean the bite site: Disinfect the area where the tick was previously attached using rubbing alcohol or antiseptic wipes.
- Dispose of the tick: Drop the tick in rubbing alcohol or flush it down the toilet. Save it in a sealed container if you want your vet to identify the species.
- Monitor the area: Keep an eye on your dog for signs of infection or illness over the next 30 days.
Common mistakes to avoid: Never use heat, petroleum jelly, nail polish, or other folk remedies to remove a tick. These methods don’t work and may cause the tick to release more disease-causing pathogens into your dog’s system.
[Suggested Image: Illustrated diagram showing correct tweezers placement for tick removal, grasping close to skin, not on the tick’s body]
Symptoms of Tick-Borne Diseases in Dogs
Most tick-borne diseases don’t produce immediate symptoms. The infection develops over days to weeks as bacteria or parasites multiply in your dog’s system. Understanding the timeline and specific symptoms for each disease helps you identify problems early.
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever Symptoms
This is one of the most serious tick-borne diseases in dogs across the United States. Symptoms typically appear 2-14 days after being bitten by an infected tick (usually the American dog tick or Rocky Mountain wood tick).
Early symptoms such as fever (often 104-105°F), loss of appetite, and lethargy appear first. Within 2-4 days, you may notice:
- Lameness or joint pain
- Swelling in the limbs or face
- Coughing or difficulty breathing
- Vomiting and diarrhea
- Bleeding disorders (nosebleeds, blood in urine or stool, pinpoint bruising on gums or belly)
- Neurological signs (seizures, stumbling, behavioral changes)
This is a medical emergency. Rocky Mountain spotted fever can be fatal if untreated, but responds well to antibiotics when caught early. If your dog shows these symptoms after contact with ticks, seek veterinary care the same day.
Lyme Disease Warning Signs
Lyme disease, transmitted by the deer tick, is the most commonly reported tick disease in dogs in the United States, particularly in the Northeast, upper Midwest, and Pacific coast regions.
The classic symptom is shifting-leg lameness. Your dog may limp on the front right leg on Monday, seem fine Tuesday, then limp on the back left leg Wednesday. This occurs because Lyme disease causes joint inflammation that moves between different joints.
Other symptoms may include:
- Fever (often comes and goes)
- Swollen, warm, painful joints
- Decreased appetite and energy
- Swollen lymph nodes near the tick bite
- In rare cases, kidney disease (causing increased thirst, urination, vomiting)
Symptoms typically don’t appear until 2-5 months after the tick bite, making diagnosis challenging. Many infected dogs never show symptoms at all but test positive on blood work.
Ehrlichiosis and Anaplasmosis Symptoms
These related diseases cause similar symptoms. The brown dog tick and lone star tick transmit ehrlichiosis, while the deer tick transmits anaplasmosis.
Acute phase symptoms (1-3 weeks after bite):
- Fever, often high (103-105°F)
- Lethargy and depression
- Loss of appetite and weight loss
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Discharge from eyes or nose
- Bruising or bleeding (nosebleeds, blood in stool)
Some dogs clear the infection naturally. Others develop chronic ehrlichiosis, showing recurring symptoms including anemia, bleeding disorders, eye inflammation, and neurological problems.
Tick Paralysis: A Unique Emergency
Tick paralysis is different from other tick diseases, it’s caused by a toxin in the tick’s saliva, not an infectious disease. Symptoms appear while the tick is still attached and resolve within 24-72 hours after tick removal.
Watch for progressive weakness starting in the hind legs and moving forward toward the head. Your dog may:
- Drag their back legs or walk with a wobbly gait
- Struggle to stand or collapse when trying to walk
- Show facial paralysis (drooping eyelids, difficulty swallowing)
- Develop breathing difficulties if paralysis reaches the chest muscles
This requires immediate tick removal and veterinary care. In severe cases where the paralysis tick toxin affects breathing muscles, dogs need emergency respiratory support. The Australian paralysis tick (Ixodes holocyclus) causes the most severe cases, but American tick species can also cause tick paralysis in dogs, though less commonly.
When to Take Your Dog to the Vet for Tick-Related Issues
Not every tick bite requires a vet visit, but certain symptoms demand immediate professional attention. Here’s how to decide.
Emergency Symptoms Requiring Same-Day Vet Care
Seek veterinary care immediately if your dog shows:
- Fever above 103.5°F
- Difficulty breathing or rapid panting at rest
- Collapse, weakness, or inability to stand
- Seizures, loss of coordination, or altered consciousness
- Severe lameness (won’t put weight on a leg)
- Pale or yellow gums
- Blood in urine, stool, vomit, or spontaneous bleeding
- Progressive weakness or paralysis
- Severe swelling of the face, limbs, or joints
These symptoms suggest serious tick-borne disease requiring diagnostic testing and treatment. Many of these conditions worsen rapidly without intervention.
When to Schedule a Regular Vet Appointment
Call for an appointment within 24-48 hours if:
- You removed a tick that was attached for more than 24 hours
- The tick bite area shows signs of infection (increasing redness, warmth, pus, or pain)
- Your dog develops mild fever (102.6-103.5°F), decreased appetite, or lethargy after tick exposure
- You notice mild lameness or joint stiffness
- Multiple ticks were found on your dog
- You’re in a region where Lyme disease or other tick diseases are common and want preventive testing
Your vet may recommend blood tests to check for tick-borne diseases, even before symptoms appear. Early detection allows for treatment before serious complications develop.
What Your Vet Will Do
Diagnosis of tick-borne diseases involves physical examination, symptom history, and blood tests. Your vet may run:
- Complete blood count (CBC) to check for anemia, low platelets, or immune changes
- Blood chemistry panel to assess organ function
- Tick-borne disease screening tests (4Dx SNAP test checks for Lyme, anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis, and heartworm)
- Urinalysis to evaluate kidney function
- Joint fluid analysis if Lyme disease is suspected
Treatment typically involves antibiotics (doxycycline is most common), pain management, and supportive care. Most dogs improve within 24-48 hours of starting treatment if diagnosed early.
How to Prevent Ticks on Dogs
Prevention is always better than treatment. A multi-layered approach provides the best protection for your dog.
Tick Control Products That Work
Monthly tick preventatives are the foundation of tick protection. Options include:
Oral medications: Chewable tablets that kill ticks when they bite. Popular brands include NexGard, Bravecto (lasts 12 weeks), and Simparica. These work systemically—the medication enters the bloodstream, and ticks die when they feed.
Topical treatments: Liquid applied to the skin (usually between shoulder blades). Examples: Frontline Plus, Advantix. These spread through skin oils to kill ticks on contact.
Tick collars: Seresto collars release active ingredients that repel and kill ticks for up to 8 months. They’re particularly effective for dogs with frequent outdoor exposure.
What works best? In my practice, I’ve seen excellent results with monthly oral preventatives. They’re easy to administer, don’t wash off with swimming or bathing, and provide reliable protection. However, the best tick control product is the one you’ll use consistently every single month.
Environmental Tick Management
Help prevent ticks in your own yard:
- Keep grass mowed short (ticks prefer tall grass and brush)
- Remove leaf litter, brush, and wood piles where ticks hide
- Create a 3-foot gravel or mulch barrier between lawn and wooded areas
- Consider professional yard spraying during peak tick season
- Discourage wildlife (deer, rodents) that carry ticks into your property
Daily Tick Checks Are Essential
Even with preventatives, check your dog daily for ticks. No prevention method is 100% effective. The sooner you find and remove a tick, the lower the risk of disease transmission.
Make tick checks part of your routine:
- After every walk in wooded or grassy areas
- Before your dog comes inside from the yard
- During grooming sessions
- At bedtime
Focus on the high-risk areas I mentioned earlier—ears, neck, between toes, armpits, and groin. Run your hands thoroughly over your dog’s entire body. It takes less than 2 minutes and could save your dog from serious illness.
[Suggested Image: Infographic showing “The 30-Day Tick Prevention Protocol” with daily checks, monthly preventative schedule, and quarterly vet visits marked on a calendar]
Different Types of Ticks and the Diseases They Carry
Understanding which tick species are found in your region helps you assess risk and recognize symptoms faster.
Regional Tick Distribution in the United States
Deer ticks (blacklegged ticks) dominate the Northeast (Maine to Virginia), upper Midwest (Wisconsin, Minnesota), and Northern California. They’re the primary vectors for Lyme disease, accounting for most cases in these regions.
American dog ticks are widespread east of the Rocky Mountains and along the Pacific Coast. They’re the most common tick encountered by dogs in suburban and rural areas during spring and summer.
Brown dog ticks are found nationwide but prefer warm, dry climates. They’re unique because they can complete their lifecycle indoors, making them a concern for kennels and homes with infestations.
Lone star ticks range throughout the Southeast and are expanding into the Midwest and Northeast. Female ticks are easily identified by the single white spot on their backs.
Rocky Mountain wood ticks are found in the Rocky Mountain states and southwestern Canada. Despite the name, they don’t transmit Rocky Mountain spotted fever as frequently as American dog ticks do.
Disease Risk by Tick Species
Which ticks carry Lyme disease? Only deer ticks (and Western blacklegged ticks on the Pacific Coast) transmit Lyme disease in the United States. If you don’t have deer ticks in your area, your dog’s Lyme risk is extremely low.
Which ticks cause Rocky Mountain spotted fever? American dog ticks and Rocky Mountain wood ticks are the primary carriers. Brown dog ticks can also transmit this disease, particularly in the southwestern United States and along the Mexico border.
Which ticks transmit ehrlichiosis? Brown dog ticks are the main vector, though lone star ticks can also carry the disease.
Can any tick cause tick paralysis? Yes, though it’s relatively rare in the United States. The paralysis tick (Ixodes holocyclus) in Australia causes the most severe cases, but various American tick species can produce paralysis, particularly in younger dogs or small breeds.
What to Do If You Can’t Remove the Entire Tick
Sometimes the tick’s mouthparts break off and remain embedded in your dog’s skin even when you’ve removed the body correctly. Don’t panic, this happens even to veterinarians.
The embedded mouthparts typically work their way out naturally over 1-2 weeks as the skin heals and sheds. Your dog’s immune system treats them like a splinter.
Here’s what to do:
- Clean the area thoroughly with rubbing alcohol
- Apply antibiotic ointment to prevent infection
- Monitor for signs of infection (increasing redness, swelling, warmth, or pus)
- Leave it alone—don’t dig at the skin trying to remove the mouthparts
When to worry: If the area becomes increasingly red, swollen, painful, or develops pus, your dog may have developed a skin infection. This requires veterinary attention for antibiotic treatment.
The retained mouthparts don’t significantly increase disease transmission risk. By the time you’ve removed the tick’s body, any disease organisms have already been transmitted (or not). The main concern is localized skin infection, which is easily treatable.
Living in High-Risk Tick Areas: Extra Precautions
If you live in regions with heavy tick populations or high rates of tick-borne diseases (like the Northeast for Lyme disease or Mid-Atlantic for Rocky Mountain spotted fever), additional strategies protect your dog.
Year-Round Prevention
In warm climates or during mild winters, ticks remain active year-round. Don’t stop tick preventatives during winter months unless temperatures consistently stay below freezing for extended periods.
I’ve removed ticks from dogs in January in the Mid-Atlantic region during warm spells. Continuous, year-round tick prevention eliminates the risk of missing early season tick activity.
Consider Vaccination
The Lyme disease vaccine is available for dogs and recommended in endemic areas. It doesn’t prevent all tick-borne diseases, only Lyme disease, but it provides additional protection for high-risk dogs.
Good candidates for vaccination include:
- Dogs living in or traveling to Lyme-endemic areas (Northeast, upper Midwest, Northern California)
- Hunting dogs or those with frequent outdoor exposure
- Dogs in wooded or rural areas with high deer populations
The vaccine requires an initial series (2 doses, 3-4 weeks apart) followed by annual boosters. It’s not 100% effective, so continue monthly preventatives even with vaccination.
Tick Testing and Monitoring
Some veterinary clinics offer tick identification and disease testing. If you find a tick on your dog:
- Save it in a sealed container with rubbing alcohol
- Note the date, location on dog’s body, and where the dog was when exposed
- Consider having it tested to identify the species and check for disease organisms
This information helps your vet assess risk and decide whether preventive antibiotics or monitoring are needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a tick need to be attached to transmit disease to my dog?
Disease transmission time varies by pathogen. Lyme disease typically requires 24-48 hours of tick attachment, while Rocky Mountain spotted fever can transmit within 6 hours of a tick attaching to your dog. Ehrlichiosis and anaplasmosis usually need 24+ hours. This is why removing ticks as soon as possible is critical, the sooner you remove the tick, the lower the transmission risk.
Can I use human tick repellent on my dog?
No. Many human tick repellents contain DEET or permethrin at concentrations toxic to dogs, especially cats. Always use veterinary-approved tick control products specifically formulated for dogs. Products designed for dogs have been tested for safety at the concentrations used.
My dog has a tick collar, but I still found a tick. Why?
No tick prevention is 100% effective. Tick collars, oral medications, and topical treatments significantly reduce tick attachment but can’t prevent every single tick. Continue daily tick checks even with preventatives. The combination of prevention products plus early detection provides the best protection.
How can I tell if a bump is a tick or just a skin tag?
Ticks have legs and a distinct head. If you look closely at the bump with good lighting, you’ll see the tick’s legs (8 legs on adults). Ticks are symmetrical and relatively round. Skin tags are irregularly shaped, soft, and definitely don’t have legs. When in doubt, part the fur and examine closely with a flashlight.
Should I save the tick after removal?
Yes, if possible. Place it in rubbing alcohol in a sealed container and note the removal date. If your dog develops symptoms in the following weeks, the tick can be identified (species determines disease risk) and potentially tested for pathogens. This helps your vet make faster treatment decisions.
Can ticks transmit diseases between dogs, or from dogs to humans?
Ticks don’t move from one host to another once attached, they must feed, drop off, molt, then find a new host. However, ticks in your environment can attach to any family member. If your dog has ticks, your yard or environment likely has more ticks that could attach to humans or other pets. Your dog can’t directly give you Lyme disease, but you share the same tick-infested environment.
My vet found a positive Lyme test, but my dog has no symptoms. Does he need treatment?
This is controversial in veterinary medicine. Many vets don’t treat asymptomatic positive Lyme tests, as only 5-10% of infected dogs develop clinical illness. However, some recommend treatment to prevent kidney disease (Lyme nephritis), which can develop even without joint symptoms. Discuss your dog’s specific risk factors with your vet, breed (Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers are higher risk for Lyme nephritis), age, and whether the test shows active infection or just antibody exposure.
How do I know if my dog has tick paralysis versus another neurological problem?
Tick paralysis improves rapidly after tick removal, you should see noticeable improvement within 12-24 hours. Other neurological conditions (intervertebral disc disease, strokes, toxins) don’t improve just from removing a tick. If your dog shows progressive weakness, do a thorough tick check immediately, remove any ticks found, then get to a vet for emergency evaluation.
Can indoor-only dogs get ticks?
Yes, though it’s less common. Ticks can enter homes on clothing, other pets, or wildlife. Brown dog ticks can infest homes and reproduce indoors. If you have an outdoor dog who comes inside, they can bring ticks into the home where indoor dogs might encounter them. Indoor dogs still benefit from tick prevention if you live in high-risk areas.
Are some dog breeds more susceptible to tick-borne diseases?
Certain breeds show higher rates of Lyme-related kidney disease (Lyme nephritis), including Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, Shetland Sheepdogs, and Bernese Mountain Dogs. However, all breeds can contract tick-borne diseases. There’s no breed immunity. Small dogs may show symptoms faster simply due to lower blood volume, but disease severity depends more on the specific pathogen and treatment timing than breed.
What’s the best way to remove a tick if I don’t have tweezers?
If you absolutely don’t have tweezers, use your fingers with a tissue or paper towel barrier. Grasp as close to the skin as possible and pull straight out with steady pressure. Avoid squeezing the tick’s body. However, invest in fine-tipped tweezers or a dedicated tick removal tool for your pet first aid kit, they’re inexpensive and dramatically more effective than fingers.
Can I kill ticks on my dog by bathing them?
Regular bathing doesn’t kill attached ticks effectively. Ticks cement themselves to the skin and can survive underwater for extended periods. Bathing may help you find ticks more easily by wetting down the coat, but you must manually remove each tick. Special tick-killing shampoos exist but aren’t a substitute for proper tick removal and prevention products.
Conclusion
Recognizing symptoms of ticks on dogs early makes the difference between simple tick removal and treating serious, potentially life-threatening tick-borne diseases. Check your dog daily during tick season, focusing on high-risk areas like ears, neck, and between toes. Remove any ticks you find immediately using fine-tipped tweezers, grasping close to the skin and pulling straight out.
Watch for warning signs over the following 30 days: fever, lethargy, loss of appetite, lameness, or any unusual symptoms. These may indicate diseases like Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, ehrlichiosis, or tick paralysis. Early veterinary intervention with appropriate antibiotics resolves most tick-borne diseases successfully.
Prevention remains your best defense. Use veterinary-approved tick control products year-round in endemic areas, maintain your yard to reduce tick habitats, and perform daily tick checks after outdoor activities. The two minutes you spend checking your dog today could prevent weeks of illness and hundreds of dollars in veterinary treatment tomorrow.
Start your tick prevention routine today: Apply a monthly tick preventative, schedule a thorough check of your dog for ticks right now, and set a daily reminder on your phone for tick checks. Your dog’s health depends on your vigilance during tick season.