I Found a Tick on My Dog, Should I Be Worried?

If you found a tick on your dog, there’s no need to panic, but it is worth paying attention. Most single tick bites don’t make dogs sick, especially when the tick is found and removed quickly, yet some ticks carry bacteria and parasites that cause serious illnesses such as Lyme disease and ehrlichiosis. The risk depends on the type of tick, how long it stayed attached, and whether your dog is protected by a tick preventive. Ticks thrive in the wooded areas, tall grass, and backyard edges common around the Wabash Valley, and here in Indiana they stay active well into the fall and on mild winter days. At Brown Veterinary Hospital in Terre Haute, we hear “I found a tick on my dog, should I be worried?” from pet owners almost every week. This guide explains what that tick could mean, which diseases to know about, what symptoms to watch for, and how to lower your dog’s risk going forward.

I Found a Tick on My Dog: How Worried Should I Be?

Your level of concern depends on a few key details that your veterinarian will want to know.

The most important factor is time. Many tick-borne infections aren’t transmitted the moment a tick bites. The bacteria that cause Lyme disease, for example, generally need the tick to stay attached for 24 to 48 hours before passing into your dog’s bloodstream. That’s why daily tick checks make such a difference. A tick that is crawling on the fur or has only just attached poses far less risk than one that is swollen and has clearly been feeding for days.

Ticks Commonly Found in Indiana

Knowing which tick you’re dealing with also helps your veterinarian assess the risk. Pet owners in west central Indiana most often encounter these species:

• American dog tick: A large brown tick with white or gray markings, often found in grassy fields and along trails, and a carrier of Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
• Blacklegged (deer) tick: A tiny dark tick, sometimes no bigger than a sesame seed, that transmits Lyme disease and anaplasmosis and stays active in cooler months.
• Lone star tick: Recognizable by the single white spot on the female’s back, this aggressive species is linked to ehrlichiosis.
• Brown dog tick: A reddish-brown tick that can survive and reproduce indoors, sometimes leading to household infestations.

What Information Helps Your Veterinarian

When you call to say, “I found a tick on my dog,” it helps to share where your dog has been recently, roughly how long the tick may have been attached, and whether your dog is current on tick prevention. If you’ve already removed the tick, place it in a sealed bag or container so your veterinary team can identify it. If you aren’t comfortable removing it, the team at Brown Veterinary Hospital can take care of it for you during a visit.

Tick Diseases in Dogs: What Pet Owners Should Know

Several serious infections can spread through tick bites, and each one affects the body a little differently.

Tick-borne diseases are sometimes called “silent” illnesses because symptoms may not appear for weeks or even months after a bite. Some dogs carry an infection without ever showing signs, while others become very sick. This unpredictability is why veterinarians take tick exposure seriously, even when a dog seems perfectly healthy. Many pet owners who say “I found a tick on my dog” are surprised to learn that a single bite can carry more than one type of infection.

Lyme Disease

Lyme disease is spread by the blacklegged tick and is becoming more common throughout Indiana. Only a small percentage of exposed dogs develop symptoms, but those that do may experience fever, swollen joints, and lameness that shifts from one leg to another. In rare cases, Lyme disease can lead to a serious form of kidney damage.

Ehrlichiosis and Anaplasmosis

These bacterial infections target blood cells. Ehrlichiosis, carried by lone star and brown dog ticks, can lower platelet counts and cause abnormal bleeding. Anaplasmosis, which shares a carrier with Lyme disease, often causes fever, lethargy, and joint pain. Dogs can also be infected with more than one tick-borne disease at the same time.

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Babesiosis

Rocky Mountain spotted fever tends to develop quickly and may cause fever, swelling, and neurological signs. Babesiosis is caused by a parasite that destroys red blood cells, leading to anemia. Both conditions require prompt veterinary diagnosis and treatment.

Can Ticks Make People Sick Too?

Many of the same ticks that bite dogs also bite people, and a dog can carry ticks indoors where they may latch onto family members. While dogs don’t pass Lyme disease directly to humans, a pet that brings home ticks signals a higher risk for everyone in the house. If you found a tick on your dog, it’s a good idea for family members to check themselves after spending time outdoors, too.

Signs of Illness to Watch for After a Tick Bite

Paying attention to your dog’s energy and behavior over the following weeks helps catch problems early.

Because incubation periods vary, symptoms of tick-borne illness can show up anywhere from one week to several months after exposure. If you found a tick on your dog recently, make a note of the date on your calendar or in your phone. That simple step gives your veterinarian helpful context if your dog later seems unwell.

Contact your veterinarian if your dog develops any of the following:

• Fever, shivering, or unusual tiredness
• Limping, stiffness, or reluctance to walk, jump, or climb stairs
• Swollen joints or enlarged lymph nodes
• Decreased appetite or weight loss
• Nosebleeds, pale gums, or unexplained bruising
• Increased thirst and urination, vomiting, or diarrhea
• Redness, swelling, or a lump at the bite site that doesn’t fade after a few days

How Veterinarians Test for Tick-Borne Disease

A quick in-clinic blood test can screen for exposure to Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, and anaplasmosis, along with heartworm disease, using just a few drops of blood. Because dogs need time to build antibodies, your veterinarian may recommend testing several weeks after a known bite rather than immediately. Additional bloodwork, urine tests, or specialized lab testing may follow if results are positive or your dog shows symptoms. Many veterinarians also recommend this screening once a year as part of routine wellness care. If you found a tick on your dog more than once this season, be sure to mention it at your next visit.

How to Protect Your Dog from Ticks All Year

Prevention is far easier, safer, and less expensive than treating a tick-borne illness after the fact.

Saying “I found a tick on my dog” doesn’t have to become a regular part of your routine. A veterinarian-recommended tick preventive is the most reliable line of defense. Today’s options include monthly chewables, topical treatments, and long-lasting collars, many of which kill ticks before they have time to transmit disease. Your veterinarian can help you choose a product based on your dog’s age, size, health, and lifestyle, and can explain why year-round protection matters in Indiana’s changing climate.

The Lyme Disease Vaccine

For dogs who hike, hunt, camp, or spend lots of time in wooded or grassy areas, your veterinarian may recommend the Lyme vaccine in addition to a preventive. The vaccine adds another layer of protection for dogs with higher exposure risk.

Daily Habits That Reduce Exposure

Checking your dog after every walk, especially around the ears, neck, armpits, belly, and between the toes, helps you catch ticks before they attach for long. Keeping grass mowed and leaf litter cleared also reduces tick habitat around your home. Even with good habits, a preventive remains essential, since no daily check catches every tiny blacklegged tick hiding in thick fur. Dogs on consistent protection are far less likely to leave you saying, “I found a tick on my dog again.”

Tick Testing and Prevention at Brown Veterinary Hospital

Finding a tick can feel unsettling, but you don’t have to figure out the next steps on your own. If you’re asking yourself, “I found a tick on my dog, should I be worried?” the best move is to reach out to your veterinarian, share what you know, and watch your dog closely over the coming weeks. The team at Brown Veterinary Hospital in Terre Haute offers tick identification, removal, screening for tick-borne diseases, Lyme vaccination, and personalized recommendations for year-round parasite prevention. We’ll help you understand your dog’s real level of risk and create a plan that fits your pet’s lifestyle, whether they’re a backyard lounger or a weekend trail companion. Call us at (812) 645-0715 to schedule a visit, ask about tick prevention, or talk with our team about a recent tick bite.