Seven Types of Ticks Harmful to Pets, as Detailed by Veterinarian Catherine Barnette and Reviewed by Brittany Kleszynski
In the outdoors, a common encounter is discovering ticks on one's skin, negative consequences of which go beyond a mere disgust factor. These arachnids are carriers of numerous infectious diseases that can adversely impact pets and humans alike.
According to the Companion Animal Parasite Council, about 5% of U.S. dogs tested positive for Lyme disease in 2019, while 3% of dogs tested positive for anaplasmosis and an equal percentage for ehrlichiosis (1).
While these figures may not appear significant, each of these tick-borne diseases can have substantial effects on a pet's health. Thankfully, safeguarding your pet against these parasites is possible through tick-preventative medications. Examples include Simparica and Simparica TRIO for dogs and Revolution Plus for cats.
Are All Ticks Harmful to Pets?
Several tick species inhabit the United States, but only a limited number of these can transmit diseases to pets and humans. Regional variations determine the presence of potentially dangerous tick species.
In the Eastern United States, harmful tick species include the American Dog Tick, Deer Tick or Black Legged Tick, Brown Dog Tick, Gulf Coast Tick (in the southeast only), and Lone Star Tick. Meanwhile, the Western United States hosts the American Dog Tick (Pacific Coast only), Brown Dog Tick, Rocky Mountain Wood Tick (at high elevations only), and the Western Blacklegged Tick.
Understanding the potentially harmful tick species in your region can help you gauge potential dangers to your pet.
Dangerous Tick Species for Pets
Several tick species have shown the capacity to transmit diseases to pets. These species include:
American Dog Tick
Common throughout the eastern United States (east of the Rocky Mountains) and in limited numbers on the Pacific Coast, American dog ticks carry Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia, both of which can cause illness in dogs, cats, and humans. They can also cause tick paralysis. Adult American dog ticks are brown, with white to gray markings.
Brown Dog Tick
The brown dog tick is widespread throughout the United States. These ticks transmit a large number of diseases, including anaplasmosis, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and tick-borne lymphocyte choriomeningitis, all of which can affect dogs, cats, and humans. Heptatzoonosis, however, only impacts dogs. Adult brown dog ticks are reddish-brown in color, although they turn gray-blue when engorged.
Deer Tick or Eastern Black Legged Tick
Found throughout the Eastern United States, east of the Rocky Mountains, these ticks transmit anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis, and Lyme disease, posing risks to dogs, cats, and humans. Adult deer ticks are orange-brown in color, with black legs.
Gulf Coast Tick
Found primarily along the Gulf of Mexico coast and Atlantic Coast, all the way north to the Chesapeake Bay region, this tick transmits heptatzoonosis to dogs.
Lone Star Tick
Lone Star ticks are found east of the Rocky Mountains, excluding the northernmost states. They are capable of transmitting cytauxzoonosis, ehrlichiosis, rickettsiosis, and tularemia, posing a disease risk to dogs, cats, and humans. Adult Lone Star ticks are reddish-brown in color. Females have a large white spot on their back.
Rocky Mountain Wood Tick
The Rocky Mountain Wood Tick is found in the Rocky Mountain states at higher elevations. These ticks transmit Rocky Mountain Spotted fever and tularemia, threatening dogs, cats, and humans. These ticks are brown in color and turn gray when engorged.
Western Blacklegged Tick
Found along the Pacific Coast, primarily in California, these ticks transmit anaplasmosis and Lyme disease, endangering dogs, cats, and humans.
Tick Identification: What to Look For
Becoming familiar with common ticks in your area and learning how to identify tick species can be helpful.
The Companion Animal Parasite Council offers a series of photographs and videos that can help you study the tick species found in your area. Pay attention to the color and markings of all tick life stages, as size can also be a helpful feature in some cases, although it is often difficult to obtain precise measurements.
If you find a tick on your pet that you cannot readily identify, you can attempt to carefully remove the tick without destroying it. Use tweezers or a tick-removal tool to grasp the head and remove the tick from your pet's skin. Once the tick has been removed, store it in a sealed plastic bag or lidded jar for further examination if needed.
If you are unable to identify the tick, consult your veterinarian. They may offer tick identification services or refer you to another source.
Common Tick-Borne Diseases Transmitted to Pets
Ticks are capable of transmitting various infectious diseases to pets, with examples including:
- Lyme Disease
- Anaplasmosis
- Cytauxzoonosis
- Ehrlichiosis
- Hepatozoonosis
- Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
- Tularemia
Each of these diseases can have significant impacts on a pet's health.
Protecting Your Pet Against Ticks
All pets should be on parasite prevention to prevent tick bites and tick-borne diseases. Discuss your pet's needs with your veterinarian to find the best option.
Both topical and oral medications are effective against ticks. However, it's essential to choose the preventative that best fits your pet's species, age, preferences, and the parasite risks in your region.
For example, Simparica is a tick preventative formulated exclusively for dogs. It is given once a month as a tasty chewable tablet and protects against five tick species (including the black legged tick, which causes Lyme disease) as well as fleas and flea infestations.
If you prefer the convenience of a one-and-done monthly parasite protection, there's Simparica TRIO. It protects dogs against the same flea and tick species as Simparica and also prevents heartworm disease, roundworms, and hookworms.
Tick prevention for cats comes in oral and topical options, such as Revolution Plus, which offers protection against fleas, three tick species, ear mites, roundworms, hookworms, and prevents heartworm disease.
When choosing a tick preventative, remember that some medications may not be recommended for young puppies, kittens, or pets under a certain weight. And dosage amounts vary, based on the weight of your pet, so follow the manufacturer's dosing instructions.
In addition to administering parasite prevention, consider taking steps to reduce your pet's exposure to ticks. Ticks are most commonly found in wooded areas and tall grass. When walking your dog, try to keep it out of tall grass if possible. If you frequently take hikes with your dog in wooded areas, increase your vigilance in applying parasite prevention and regularly check your dog for ticks after returning home.
If you live in an area where Lyme disease is prevalent and your dog is exposed to ticks, discuss Lyme disease vaccination with your veterinarian. Lyme disease is the only tick-borne disease for which we have a pet vaccine, providing an extra layer of prevention when combined with tick prevention.
- For pets in the United States, it's crucial to be aware of several tick species that can cause harm, such as the American Dog Tick, Brown Dog Tick, Deer Tick or Eastern Black Legged Tick, Gulf Coast Tick, Lone Star Tick, Rocky Mountain Wood Tick, Western Blacklegged Tick, each of which can transmit diseases like Lyme Disease, Anaplasmosis, Cytauxzoonosis, Ehrlichiosis, Hepatozoonosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and Tularemia.
- To ensure the health and wellness of pets, it's essential to protect them against ticks by using tick-preventative medications such as Simparica for dogs, Simparica TRIO for comprehensive protection against tick-borne diseases, heartworm disease, and intestinal parasites in dogs, and Revolution Plus for cats, which offers protection against fleas, three tick species, ear mites, roundworms, hookworms, and prevents heartworm disease. Embrace a lifestyle that prioritizes your pet's health and wellness by keeping them safe from harmful medical-conditions like tick-borne diseases.
