What symptoms appear in a dog after a tick bite and how soon do they develop? - briefly
Dogs can show fever, lethargy, loss of appetite, joint swelling, or a localized rash within a few days of the bite, while Lyme‑related lameness may emerge weeks later.
What symptoms appear in a dog after a tick bite and how soon do they develop? - in detail
A tick attachment can introduce a range of pathogenic agents, most commonly the bacteria that cause Lyme disease, the protozoan responsible for babesiosis, and the virus that triggers tick‑borne encephalitis. The clinical picture varies with the pathogen, the tick species, and the individual dog’s health status.
Early local reaction (within 24 hours)
Systemic signs appearing in the first few days
- Fever (temperature rise of 1–2 °C)
- Lethargy and reduced appetite
- Muscle aches manifested by reluctance to move or jump
Onset of disease‑specific manifestations (3 days – 2 weeks)
Lyme disease
- Lameness shifting from one limb to another (intermittent, often appears 5–14 days after bite)
- Joint swelling and pain
- Enlarged lymph nodes
Babesiosis
- Pale mucous membranes indicating anemia (typically 7–14 days)
- Elevated heart rate, rapid breathing
- Dark urine (hemoglobinuria)
Ehrlichiosis (common in regions with Rhipicephalus sanguineus)
- Bleeding tendencies, petechiae, or bruising (5–10 days)
- Persistent fever and weight loss
- Chronic eye inflammation (keratoconjunctivitis) may develop weeks later
Late‑stage complications (weeks to months)
- Chronic arthritis with persistent lameness (Lyme)
- Renal failure secondary to immune complex deposition (severe babesiosis)
- Neurological deficits such as ataxia or seizures (rare, tick‑borne encephalitis)
Prompt removal of the tick, followed by veterinary evaluation, allows early diagnostic testing (e.g., PCR, serology) and timely initiation of antimicrobial or antiparasitic therapy, which reduces the risk of severe progression.