Glossary

Ticks

Blood-feeding arachnids that attach to dogs outdoors and can carry diseases such as Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

Also called: tick bite, tick control, tick-borne disease, tick prevention, deer tick

Ticks are small arachnids, relatives of spiders, that climb onto passing animals from grass, brush and leaf litter and feed on blood. They swell as they feed and can stay attached for days. Several species carry infections that affect dogs, including Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

Ticks are active in different seasons in different regions, and in mild climates they may be a threat all year. Running a hand over the dog after walks, especially around the head, ears, armpits, groin and between the toes, finds many before they transmit anything.

Ask a vet or clinic to show you how to remove one safely, and which prevention product suits your dog and area. Watch for fever, lameness or tiredness in the weeks afterward and tell the vet about the bite.

Last reviewed November 8, 2026

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Related terms

Lyme disease A bacterial infection spread by blacklegged ticks that causes fever and joint pain in some dogs, and rarely damages the kidneys. Fleas Tiny blood-feeding insects that cause itching, can trigger allergic skin disease and carry tapeworm, and infest the home as well as the dog. Heartworm disease A serious parasitic disease spread by mosquitoes in which worms grow in a dog's heart and lungs, and which monthly prevention can stop.