If your dog or cat spends any time outside this summer, this is worth a few minutes of your attention. Tick activity this year has reached levels not seen in nearly a decade, with emergency department visits tied to tick bites hitting a 10-year high.
The good news is that knowing what to look for goes a long way. Here is what the experts say about protecting your pet and what to do if you find a tick.
Where to Check After a Walk Outside
According to the CDC, you should check your pet for ticks after any time outdoors. The spots ticks like to hide are similar to what you’d check on yourself.
- In and around the ears
- Around the eyelids and tail
- Under the collar and front legs
- Between the back legs and toes
If you find a tick, remove it right away and dispose of it. The sooner it comes off, the better.
What to Watch for in the Days and Weeks After
Here is the part that surprises many pet owners: if a tick did pass along an illness, signs may not show up for several days or even months. The most noticeable early changes, according to the CDC, are often shifts in behavior or appetite.
A loss of appetite and fever are common across several tick-borne diseases. Beyond those two, the symptoms your dog might show can depend on which illness was involved.
Tick-borne diseases that can affect dogs include Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Babesiosis, and tularemia. Possible symptoms across these conditions include:
- Lethargy and loss of appetite
- Fever
- Joint pain, muscle pain, or neck pain
- Vomiting or diarrhea
- Nosebleeds or hemorrhages
- Abdominal pain
- Jaundice
- Enlarged spleen
- Dehydration
- Seizures
- Mouth breathing
- Hypersensitivity
Treatment plans vary depending on the disease. Some dogs may never show symptoms at all, even after a tick bite. If you have any concern that your dog may have been infected, your veterinarian is the right call.
What About Cats?
Cats can also bring ticks indoors, though they are considered highly resistant to the bacteria that causes Lyme disease, according to Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine.
That does not mean cats are completely off the hook. There are tick-borne diseases cats can become infected with. Babesiosis has been seen in cats in other parts of the world, though cases in the U.S. are rare.
The lone star tick, the same one that can cause a red meat allergy in people, has also been linked to a disease known as bobcat fever in cats.
The Bottom Line
Not every tick carries disease, and not every bite leads to illness. But this is a high-activity year, and your pet counts on you to notice when something is off.
A quick check after outdoor time and a call to the vet if anything seems unusual that is all it takes to keep your companion as safe as possible this season.