If a tick is not removed from a dog, what will happen? - briefly
Leaving a tick attached can allow transmission of pathogens—commonly Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, or babesiosis—and may lead to anemia, fever, joint pain, or systemic illness. Prompt removal reduces these health risks and prevents complications.
If a tick is not removed from a dog, what will happen? - in detail
A tick that remains attached to a dog for an extended period can cause several health problems. The most immediate effect is local irritation: the bite site becomes red, swollen, and may develop a small ulcer or scab. Prolonged feeding can lead to secondary bacterial infection at the wound, especially if the dog scratches the area.
Pathogen transmission is the primary concern. Most tick‑borne organisms require at least 24–48 hours of attachment before they are transferred to the host. After this window, the risk of infection rises sharply. Common diseases transmitted by ixodid ticks in dogs include:
- Lyme disease (Borrelia burgdorferi) – joint pain, fever, kidney dysfunction.
- Ehrlichiosis (Ehrlichia canis) – fever, lethargy, thrombocytopenia, bleeding tendencies.
- Anaplasmosis (Anaplasma phagocytophilum) – fever, lameness, anemia.
- Babesiosis (Babesia spp.) – hemolytic anemia, jaundice, severe weakness.
- Rocky Mountain spotted fever (Rickettsia rickettsii) – fever, rash, vascular damage.
- Tick‑borne encephalitis (if the region is endemic) – neurological signs ranging from ataxia to seizures.
Some adult female ticks become engorged after several days of feeding, expanding to several times their original size. An engorged tick can cause considerable blood loss, leading to anemia, especially in small or debilitated dogs. In rare cases, certain tick species inject neurotoxins that produce progressive paralysis. Tick‑induced paralysis typically begins in the hind limbs and can advance to respiratory failure if the tick is not removed promptly.
Systemic effects may appear weeks after the initial bite. Persistent fever, weight loss, or intermittent lameness often signal an underlying tick‑borne infection. Laboratory testing (PCR, serology, blood smear) confirms the diagnosis, but early removal of the arthropod dramatically reduces the probability of disease development.
Veterinary guidelines recommend immediate extraction with fine‑pointed tweezers, grasping the tick as close to the skin as possible, and pulling steadily without twisting. After removal, the site should be disinfected, and the dog monitored for signs of infection, fever, or neurological changes for at least two weeks. If any abnormal symptoms arise, a veterinarian should be consulted without delay.