What Pet Owners Need to Know About Tick-Borne Diseases & Tick Prevention

For pet owners with active dogs and cats who love to spend time outside, there are few things more annoying and worrisome than ticks. These tiny external parasites are notorious for spreading a variety of diseases that can severely impact dogs and cats, and finding one in your dog or cat’s fur can really put a damper on your day outdoors and potentially create health problems for your pet.

Understanding how these diseases affect your pets and knowing how to prevent them is key to keeping your furry friends safe and healthy. In this blog, I’ll share my experience with the most common tick-borne diseases I see in clinic, how they can impact your pets, and what steps you can take to protect them from these pesky parasites.

As climate change and shifting habitats make environments more favorable for ticks, we're seeing an alarming increase in tick populations across many areas.

Recent data has shown that the number of reported cases of tick-borne illnesses in humans has more than doubled in the United States over the past 20 years. With this enormous jump in human cases, it’s evident that pet owners need to be more vigilant than ever of these pesky parasites. As people and their pets continue to become more active together outdoors by taking up hobbies like hiking and camping, potential exposure to ticks in their natural habitats rises.

In Southeast Michigan, we have been noticing the level of tick exposure in our environment has been increasing every year. With this increase in the prevalence of ticks, even pets that don't travel or leave this immediate vicinity are still at risk for tick-borne diseases because ticks are pretty ubiquitous in the environment now, year-round.

Tick-borne diseases can have a wide range of impacts on pets, affecting various organs and systems in the body. Some of these diseases can cause acute symptoms shortly after a tick bite, while others may remain dormant, with symptoms appearing months or even years later. The effects can range from mild discomfort to severe, life-threatening conditions.

However, it’s important that pet owners know that a tick bite or the presence of a tick on your pet does not always mean they’ve contracted a disease. Some tick bites may result in a rash, an allergic reaction, or other complications, such as anemia. In fact, research from Oklahoma State University found that a large percentage of ticks observed in a study did not carry any transmissible diseases at all. 

But one thing is for certain: Your veterinarian will be your greatest ally in getting your pet the care it needs if there are any complications from a tick!

While ticks can cause a number of adverse effects for our pets, there are four main tick-borne diseases that I commonly see as a veterinarian in Southeast Michigan. These diseases can present in several different ways and have varying effects on pets, so it’s important for pet owners to familiarize themselves with the signs of these and how they are contracted via ticks.

Anaplasmosis is caused by the bacteria Anaplasma phagocytophilum or Anaplasma platys, which are transmitted through the bite of an infected tick, commonly the black-legged tick (also known as the deer tick). This specific tick-borne disease can affect both dogs and cats, leading to symptoms such as fever, lethargy, joint pain, and sometimes gastrointestinal issues like vomiting or diarrhea. In severe cases, it can cause low platelet counts, leading to bleeding disorders. Early detection and treatment with antibiotics are crucial to managing anaplasmosis effectively.

Ehrlichiosis is another bacterial disease caused by Ehrlichia canis and other related species, primarily transmitted by the brown dog tick. This disease is particularly insidious because it often progresses through three stages: acute, subclinical, and chronic. During the acute stage, pets may experience fever, swollen lymph nodes, lethargy, and loss of appetite. In the subclinical stage, pets might appear normal but still harbor the bacteria, which can cause more severe issues later on. The chronic stage can result in severe weight loss, neurological problems, and blood disorders. Treatment typically involves antibiotics, but early intervention is key to preventing long-term complications.

Babesia is a protozoal infection transmitted primarily by the brown dog tick. This disease infects red blood cells, leading to a condition known as hemolytic anemia. Symptoms of babesia can include pale gums, jaundice, dark-colored urine, fever, and lethargy. In severe cases, it can be life-threatening if not treated promptly. Treatment often involves a combination of anti-protozoal drugs and supportive care, such as blood transfusions in severe cases. Babesia can be particularly challenging to clear completely, making prevention a critical focus.

Lastly, we have Lyme disease, caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, and one of the most well-known tick-borne diseases. It is primarily transmitted by the black-legged tick. Common symptoms in pets include lameness, swollen joints, fever, loss of appetite, and lethargy. In some cases, Lyme disease can lead to kidney damage, which can be fatal if not managed properly. A diagnosis is often made through blood tests, and treatment typically involves a prolonged course of antibiotics. Vaccination and regular use of tick preventatives are the most common strategies recommended by veterinarians for reducing the risk of Lyme disease in pets.

The signs that your pet has been afflicted by these diseases can vary quite a bit from disease to disease and even from pet to pet. 

Common symptoms to watch for include:

• Fever
• Lethargy
• Joint pain
• Changes in appetite
• Abnormal urination
• Abnormal drinking habits

Some pets may experience neurological signs, such as seizures or difficulty walking, depending on which disease they contract. 

What makes tick-borne diseases particularly tricky is that these signs can also show up in a wide range of time frames after exposure to the disease, even including months to years later. 

The diagnosis for these tick-borne diseases generally starts with an annual heartworm and tick disease blood panel, which we recommend as part of the wellness veterinary care for every patient. There are also several different characteristic lab work findings that can be caused by these diseases as well, including changes in red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and other possibilities.

This in-depth lab work will allow us to check for exposure to these diseases, and in the event that we get positive results or have further concerns, there is additional diagnostic testing that can be done to ensure we fully understand what is going on with your pet and can choose the best course of treatment.

As far as treatment for these diseases, often what is required is a long course of an antibiotic in order to cure the disease or at least limit its potential effects and impacts on dogs and cats.

Much more preferable to this option, though, is the prevention of these tick-borne diseases. Thankfully, we have many good flea and tick preventative options available now. Most tick preventatives are taken monthly and are very effective at greatly minimizing the risk of any tick-borne diseases for your pets. Studies have confirmed that pets that are not taking any type of tick preventative are at a higher risk for picking up ticks. One study of treated vs. non-treated dogs found that "statistically significantly (p < 0.05) fewer ticks were recorded on the treated dogs compared to the control dogs on all assessment days."

In addition to these preventative options, we also, in the case of Lyme disease in particular, have a Lyme disease vaccine that we often recommend for our patients who are at particularly high risk of tick and Lyme disease exposure.

Whether you and your pet travel or are outdoors often, we would strongly recommend that all patients are on flea and tick preventatives all year round in order to limit any of these risks and fight against the development of tick-borne diseases.

If you have questions and you'd like to reach out to us, you can call us directly at (859) 625-5678 , or you can email us at aacrichmond@yahoo.com. Don't forget to follow us on social media Facebook , Instagram.