What is tick fever?
Updated By PetymFacts checked against official sources on
Quick answer
Tick fever is the everyday Indian name for blood infections that ticks pass to dogs, mainly ehrlichiosis, babesiosis and anaplasmosis, which often occur together. Signs include fever, tiredness, poor appetite, pale gums, bleeding such as nosebleeds, and dark urine. A blood test confirms which infection it is, and treatment varies. Prevent it by stopping ticks.
Also called tick-borne disease, canine tick fever, blood parasite infection, Ehrlichia, Babesia, Anaplasma.
Key facts
- In a survey of 525 dogs in four Indian cities, about half carried at least one tick-borne pathogen on PCR testing, and 39% of those infected had more than one. Parasites & Vectors (2011)study
- Ehrlichia canis was found in 20.6% of those dogs, Anaplasma platys in 6.5% and Babesia vogeli in 5.5%; ticks were found on 53% of the dogs examined. Parasites & Vectors (2011)study
- Ehrlichiosis is spread mainly by the brown dog tick and shows 1 to 3 weeks after infection with fever and bleeding tendencies such as nosebleeds; some dogs develop a chronic form. Merck Veterinary Manual
- Babesia vogeli is carried by the brown dog tick in tropical regions; babesiosis ranges from mild illness to rapidly fatal disease, with fever, weakness, anaemia and jaundice. Merck Veterinary Manual
- In Andhra Pradesh, young dogs, mixed breeds, rural and kennelled dogs and dogs carrying ticks were at higher risk of infection. Veterinary Research Forum (2023)study
Which diseases does tick fever cover?
Tick fever is not one disease. Owners and many vets in India use it for any of these, and a dog can have several at once.
- Ehrlichiosis
- Caused by Ehrlichia canis and spread mainly by the brown dog tick. Fever, low platelets and bleeding; most dogs clear it, but a few develop chronic bone-marrow disease. Merck Veterinary Manual
- Babesiosis
- A parasite of red blood cells. In India mainly Babesia vogeli and Babesia gibsoni, which causes chronic, severe anaemia that is harder to treat. Merck Veterinary Manual
- Anaplasmosis
- Anaplasma platys, found in Indian dogs, infects the platelets that help blood clot. Parasites & Vectors (2011)study
- Hepatozoonosis
- The most common tick-borne infection in the Indian survey; dogs catch it by eating an infected tick, not from a bite. Merck Veterinary Manual
What are the signs of tick fever?
Often vague at first: a dog that is quiet, off its food and warm to the touch a week or two after you found ticks on it.
Common signs are fever, lethargy, weakness and loss of appetite. Ehrlichiosis can cause bleeding tendencies: nosebleeds, tiny red spots on the gums or belly, bruising or black, tarry stools, with enlarged lymph nodes. Babesiosis destroys red blood cells, so look for pale or yellow gums and, in later stages, red or brown urine. Some dogs carry an infection quietly and fall ill later.
Because the signs overlap with each other and with other illnesses, and co-infection is common, vets confirm the diagnosis with blood tests: a blood count, a smear, antibody tests or PCR. Blood smears alone miss many cases. The treatment differs by infection, so testing before treating matters, and a dog may need follow-up tests months later to confirm it has cleared.
How do you protect a dog from tick fever?
Prevention means keeping ticks off and removing them fast. The babesiosis vaccine used in some countries does not protect against all types.
- Use a tick-control product your vet recommends, all year round; tick control lowers but cannot entirely remove the risk. Merck Veterinary Manual
- Check your dog all over after every walk, especially ears, between toes, under the collar and armpits. Merck Veterinary Manual
- Remove any ticks you find promptly, wearing gloves or using a tick tool. Merck Veterinary Manual
- Avoid walking in known tick-infested areas when you can. Merck Veterinary Manual
- Treat the home too: the brown dog tick lives indoors, in kennels and in cracks in walls.
- See a vet if your dog becomes dull, feverish or bleeds after a tick bite, and say that it had ticks. Merck Veterinary Manual
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Questions owners ask
What are the first symptoms of tick fever in dogs?
- Usually fever, tiredness and loss of appetite, appearing one to three weeks after a tick bite in ehrlichiosis. Later signs can include pale or yellow gums, nosebleeds, red spots on the skin or gums, and dark urine. If your dog had ticks and now seems unwell, see a vet for a blood test.
Is tick fever curable in dogs?
- Many dogs recover well when the infection is found early and treated with the right medicine, which is why vets test to see which organism is involved. Some infections, such as Babesia gibsoni and chronic ehrlichiosis, are harder to clear, and blood changes can last months. Follow-up tests confirm recovery.
Can humans get tick fever from dogs?
- Dogs do not usually pass these infections directly to people. Some Ehrlichia species can infect humans through tick bites, and a dog's infection can signal that ticks carrying disease are around, so protect yourself from ticks too. Wear gloves or use a tool when removing ticks.
Do Indie dogs get tick fever?
- Yes. In a study in Andhra Pradesh, mixed-breed dogs were among those at higher risk, along with young, rural and kennelled dogs and dogs carrying ticks. Every dog in India that goes outdoors, or lives with dogs that do, needs regular tick checks and vet-recommended prevention, whatever its breed.
Keep reading
Related terms
More in health conditions
- ArthritisArthritis, or osteoarthritis, is a long-term joint disease in which worn cartilage lets the joint surfaces rub, causing stiffness, swelling and pain. It is very common in older dogs and cats. It cannot be cured, but pain relief from a vet, a healthy weight, gentle regular exercise and a few home changes keep most pets comfortable for years.
- Bloat (GDV)Bloat, or gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV), is when a dog's stomach fills with gas and twists on itself, cutting off its blood supply. It mainly affects large and giant deep-chested breeds. Unproductive retching, a swelling belly, drooling and restlessness are the signs. It is a surgical emergency that can kill within hours.
- BOASBOAS, brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome, is a breathing disorder of flat-faced dogs. Narrow nostrils, an overlong soft palate and a small windpipe block airflow, so affected dogs snore, snort, tire quickly and overheat easily. It is worse in heat, humidity and obesity. Surgery can widen the airway, and a lean weight helps.
- Canine distemperCanine distemper is a serious viral disease of dogs that can attack the skin, airways, gut and nervous system. It spreads in droplets from coughing, sneezing and barking, and through body fluids. There is no specific cure, and some dogs do not survive even with treatment. The D in the DHPPi vaccine prevents it.
- Canine parvovirusCanine parvovirus, or parvo, is a highly contagious virus that attacks a dog's gut and immune system. It spreads through infected faeces, survives a long time in the environment and hits unvaccinated puppies between 6 weeks and 6 months hardest. Vomiting and bloody diarrhoea can kill within days, and it is prevented by the core vaccine.
- Cat fluCat flu is the everyday name for an upper respiratory infection in cats. More than 90% of cases are caused by feline herpesvirus, feline calicivirus or both. Cats sneeze, have runny eyes and nose and may stop eating. Most recovered cats remain carriers, and stress can bring the virus back. Vaccination usually prevents severe disease.
- Cherry eyeCherry eye is when the tear gland inside a dog's third eyelid slips out of place and shows as a smooth, red, cherry-like lump in the inner corner of the eye. It is common in young Bulldogs, Beagles, Shih Tzus and Pugs, and needs a vet, usually for surgery to put the gland back.
- Chronic kidney diseaseChronic kidney disease (CKD) is a slow, lasting loss of kidney function, common in older cats and also seen in older dogs. Early on there are often no signs; later a pet drinks and urinates more, eats less and loses weight. It cannot be cured, but a kidney diet, water and regular checks can slow it.
- DehydrationDehydration means a pet's body has lost more water than it has taken in, through heat, panting, vomiting, diarrhoea or illness. Early on the gums turn sticky; then the skin loses its spring and the eyes sink. A mildly dehydrated pet needs water and a watchful eye; a weak, vomiting or collapsing one needs a vet now.
- Dental diseaseDental disease in pets is mostly periodontal disease: plaque bacteria inflame the gums (gingivitis) and then destroy the tissue and bone holding the teeth (periodontitis). It is the most common disorder vets diagnose in dogs, and very common in cats. Bad breath, tartar and red gums are the early signs. Daily brushing prevents most of it.
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Sources
Each source was opened and read on the date shown. How Petym checks its sources
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Ehrlichiosis in dogs (opens in a new tab)
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Babesiosis in animals (opens in a new tab)
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Blood parasites of dogs (opens in a new tab)
- Parasites & Vectors (2011): A survey of canine tick-borne diseases in India (opens in a new tab)
- Veterinary Research Forum (2023): Co-infections of major tick-borne pathogens of dogs in Andhra Pradesh, South India (opens in a new tab)