I Found a Tick on My Dog: Lyme Disease, Removal, and What to Watch For

Ticks are common across many parts of the United States, and dogs can be exposed in backyards, parks, hiking trails, brush, and wooded areas. The diseases carried by ticks vary by geography and tick species.

Where is Lyme disease most common? In the United States, Lyme disease risk is highest in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and upper Midwest, with some risk on the Pacific Coast. Other tick-borne infections occur in different parts of the country, so local veterinary guidance matters.

What should you do when you find a tick? Remove an attached tick promptly using a method that allows steady traction close to the skin. Avoid crushing the tick with bare fingers. Check the rest of the dog’s body, especially around the ears, eyelids, collar, armpits, toes, groin, and tail.

What symptoms can follow a tick bite? Many dogs remain completely normal. Depending on the disease, possible signs include fever, lethargy, reduced appetite, joint pain, lameness, swollen lymph nodes, or other systemic symptoms. Signs may appear days to weeks after exposure.

Will every dog need a Lyme test? Testing decisions depend on region, symptoms, preventive history, and timing. A veterinarian can explain whether screening or follow-up testing is appropriate.

Prevention Consistent veterinarian-recommended tick prevention, daily tick checks after outdoor activity, and reducing tick habitat around the home all help lower risk. Cats are especially sensitive to certain chemicals, so dog tick products should never be applied to cats.