Ticks & Diseases

Tick-born Diseases In Our Region

The Animal Welfare Committee considers it important to highlight a few of the tick-borne diseases that are prevalent in our region. It is important to check for ticks after being outside working, hiking or playing and being familiar with the signs of tick borne diseases. Early treatment is important for a full recovery.

Lyme disease is one of the biggest tick transmitted threats in our area. It causes swollen joints, lameness, poor appetite and fever. Lyme disease is treated with antibiotics. Reinfection can occur. There is a good canine vaccine available and is administered annually. There is no approved vaccine for humans at this time.

Rocky Mountain spotted fever is considered the most serious tick-borne disease in the United States. Symptoms include vomiting, sudden high fever, headache, abdominal pain, rash and muscle aches. It can be treated successfully with antibiotics. A delay in treatment can cause serious damage to internal organs or even death. Rocky Mountain spotted fever can infect dogs. Symptoms include fever, depression, lethargy, irregular heart beat, sudden bleeding from the nose. If not treated promptly the pet may suffer long term effects or death.

Ehrlichiosis causes flu like symptoms which include fever and body aches. It can be treated successfully with antibiotics. If left untreated the organism will destroy white blood cells. Canine Ehrlichiosis is a tick-borne disease of dogs. Symptoms include fever, lethargy, poor appetite, anemia which results in bleeding problems. Ehrlichiosis is treated with antibiotics. There is no vaccine available. Reinfection can occur if bitten again by an infected tick.

Alpha-gal syndrome is type of food allergy to red meat. When a Lone Star tick bites someone, the tick transmits a sugar molecule called alpha-gal into the individual. Sometimes this triggers an immune response that produces a mild to severe allergic reaction to red meat. Symptoms may include hives, swelling of lips, face, tongue and throat, wheezing or shortness of breath. Severe symptoms require emergency medical treatment.

From the City's Animal Welfare Committee