Veterinarians say peak tick season is underway, and researchers have confirmed a newly identified tick-borne illness that can make dogs seriously sick.
Ticks are most active from May through July, when more pet owners are outside hiking, camping and spending time in tall grass. Experts warn dogs can pick up — and spread — several diseases, and they may not look ill at first. While Lyme disease is the best-known tick-borne illness, veterinarians say ticks can carry multiple pathogens.
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“We know that ticks transmit multiple organisms, so they can carry a lot of different pathogens,” said Barbara Qurollo, an associate research professor at North Carolina State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine.
Qurollo and her team confirmed the illness, Rickettsia finnyi, in dogs that were taken to veterinarians with fever and signs they were not feeling well.
“The dogs had a fever. They didn’t feel well, which is why they were taken to the veterinarian,” Qurollo said.
Researchers say the illness has not been found in people so far, but dogs can serve as early warning signs for diseases that could emerge in humans.
Veterinarians recommend pet owners use veterinarian-approved tick prevention medication, check dogs after outdoor activity, and remove ticks promptly with tweezers. They also advise keeping grass and brush trimmed to reduce tick habitat.
“If your dog doesn’t seem like they feel well, has a fever and you know they’ve been exposed to ticks, get them to see their veterinarian,” Qurollo said.
Rickettsia finnyi was named after the first dog in which it was identified. Researchers believe it may be linked to the lone star tick, which they say is expanding north. The highest-risk window is roughly May 15 through July 15.