When dogs eat a tick, in rare cases it can transmit Lyme disease, hepatozoonosis and anaplasmosis. Infection with babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis and tick-borne encephalitis are also possible.
The good news? Eating a tick is much less dangerous than a tick bite. The pathogens can only cause harm if they enter the bloodstream.
When bitten, the viruses and bacteria immediately come into contact with the blood. When they eat, however, they first have to survive the stomach acid.
In practice, problems rarely occur with healthy dogs. In addition, not every tick carries serious pathogens. [1]
Below you will learn about the 6 most common diseases that can be transmitted in exceptional cases.
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#1 Hepatozoonosis
If ticks contain various parasites of the Hepatozoon species, these can be transmitted to dogs. The infection caused by this is called “hepatozoonosis”.
In almost all cases, nothing happens for the first 2-4 weeks after the transfer. It is usually transmitted through the following circumstances:
- Intensive contact with foxes
- Vacation in Southern Europe
- Dog eats mouse with tick
- Grooming other dogs
- Eating a bird with ticks [2]
The parasites are transmitted here by the brown dog tick. This type of tick is relatively rare in Germany. It is more common in warmer countries.
What makes this disease special is that it is only transmitted through tick eating. One stitch is not enough. Typical symptoms of this are:
- Sporadic fever
- Lack of motivation
- Discharge from the nose
- Dog tires quickly
- Loss of appetite
- weight loss
- Chronic diarrhea [3]
In most cases, the infectious disease can be diagnosed through a blood test. Unfortunately, depending on the type, it can rarely be cured.
The process varies from dog to dog. In most cases, the disease only comes back during times when the immune system is weakened.
If dogs eat and swallow a tick, hepatozoonosis can be transmitted. This infectious disease is caused by parasites and is only partially curable. The symptoms often only appear after several weeks.
#2 Lyme disease
If ticks contain the bacteria called “Borrelia”, they can be transmitted to dogs. However, a simple bite is usually not enough.
As a rule, ticks have to suck on the dog for at least 16 hours. Oral transmission through eating a tick is rare, but is said to occur.
What is also special is that not every infection with the bacteria automatically leads to Lyme disease. The symptoms can also appear very delayed.
It is not uncommon for the first signs to appear weeks or even months after the tick has been swallowed. Typical examples of these are:
- Mild fever
- Dog refuses food
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Dog is breathing heavily
- Stiff running style
- fatigue
- Inflamed joints [4]
Lyme disease cases are particularly common in eastern Germany. In principle, this can happen anywhere. You can most often find it in:
- Brandenburg
- Bavaria
- Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
- Saxony
- Rhineland-Palatinate [5]
Lyme disease can often be cured with antibiotics. However, under certain circumstances it can persist and requires long-term treatment.
If a dog eats a tick that carries Borrelia, the dog may be able to become infected with it. Visible symptoms usually only appear weeks later. What is noticeable here is that dogs get a fever and their walking style becomes a little stiffer.
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#3 Anaplasmosis
Ticks can also contain bacteria from the genus “Anaplasma”. These can then be passed on to the dog and lead to “anaplasmosis”.
This infectious disease primarily affects the white blood cells and spreads relatively quickly through the bloodstream throughout the body. Here is some interesting data:
- 33% of all dogs in Germany have become infected without showing any symptoms.
- Around every 20th tick in Germany contains the bacteria.
- The first symptoms appear just 1-3 weeks after transmission. [6]
The stronger the dog's immune system, the less likely it is to transmit the disease by eating the tick.
The first signs here include high fever, diarrhea and vomiting. Depending on the specific type of bacteria, symptoms can also vary. Other examples are:
- Loss of appetite
- Digestive problems
- Enlarged lymph nodes
- Bleeding in the mouth
- Labored breathing
- Pale gums
- Nosebleeds [7]
A blood test is sufficient for diagnosis. Fortunately, the chances of recovery are very good. Antibiotics over a period of 3 weeks is usually sufficient.
If there are no symptoms, then no therapy is usually necessary. Here you should visit the vet for diagnosis and treatment.
In rare cases, eating a tick can also cause anaplasmosis. This bacterial infectious disease is very common in Germany, but is rarely dangerous. The chances of treatment and recovery are very high here.
#4 Ehrlichiosis
If dogs contain bacteria from the Ehrlichia species, “Ehrlichiosis” can occur during transmission. It is a bacterial infectious disease.
It is also colloquially known as “tick fever”. For reasons that are unclear, the consequences are said to be particularly severe in Dobermans and German Shepherds.
It is primarily transmitted through the bite of the tick. For successful transmission, the tick usually has to suck blood for more than 3 hours. [8]
Under certain circumstances, the infectious disease can also be transmitted by eating the tick. In practice, however, this should rarely happen.
The first signs of this often appear between 1-3 weeks after infection. At first there is mostly a fever. Other classic signs include:
- Dog looks weak
- Gastrointestinal problems
- Bleeding gums
- indifference
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Dog gets a nosebleed
- Breathing problems [9]
The carrier is usually the “brown dog tick”, which fortunately cannot survive long-term in Germany. In southern Europe, however, it is more common.
The earlier the life-threatening Ehrlichiosis is diagnosed, the better the chances of treatment. Antibiotics and blood transfusions are primarily used.
Eating a tick can, under certain circumstances, lead to “Ehrlichiosis”. It can usually be recognized by chronic digestive problems and a severe fever. The sooner action is taken, the better the dog's chances of survival.
#5 Babesiosis
Babesiosis is also known colloquially as “dog malaria”. It is transmitted when the ticks contain parasites of the Babesia species.
In Germany, this type of tick is primarily found in the east and southwest. What is striking about this disease is that it leads to anemia.
Because the parasites attack the red blood cells, so that the proportion of them decreases increasingly. The first symptoms can usually be seen after 1-3 weeks:
- Dog is not hungry
- Sudden collapse
- Dark urine
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Dog has a fever
- Feeling of weakness
- Pale gums [10]
These types of ticks are most commonly found in France and southern Europe. There is already a vaccination for prevention, but it does not provide complete protection.
It is transmitted primarily via bite. In some cases, the parasites can also be transmitted by eating and swallowing ticks.
If left untreated, “babesiosis” often leads to death. To counteract anemia, medication and blood transfusions are primarily used.
In addition, the treatment also depends on which type of Babesia the dog is infected with. Here you should seek professional help for treatment. [11]
When dogs struggle with “babesiosis,” it can be fatal if left untreated. It is usually transmitted through a bite. In rarer cases, the parasites can also enter the bloodstream through eating the tick.
#6 TBE
TBE is the abbreviation for tick-borne encephalitis. It is a viral disease that can be found in the saliva of ticks.
It is estimated that around 2% of all ticks in Germany are affected by these parasites. The south of Germany and Europe are primarily affected.
In most cases, TBE is transmitted through a bite. If the viruses take over the stomach acid, then eating the tick can also be the trigger. [12]
You can simply ask your veterinarian or your family doctor to find out to what extent this disease is a problem in your region. The most common signs include:
- fatigue
- Sudden paralysis
- Dog holds head crooked
- Coordination problems
- Touch sensitivity
- Seizures
- Partial fever [13]
The first symptoms usually become noticeable around a week after the infection. Dogs with strong immune systems also often produce antibodies against it.
A cure is rarely possible here. Rather, the symptoms are treated in such a way that the dog is able to live a symptom-free life.
The first vaccines against it are now available. How reliable these are is still unclear. Nevertheless, prevention is the best option for TBE.
If dogs eat a tick and it contains certain viruses, in rare cases TBE can also be transmitted. It is typical for dogs to have difficulty with coordination or even suddenly convulse.
More tips
In any case, it makes sense to ask your local veterinarian which diseases are most commonly transmitted by parasites in your region.
When does it make sense to see a veterinarian?
- Sudden fever and fatigue
- After infections abroad
- When the dog behaves strangely
- For persistent digestive problems
- Other pathological symptoms
If you are worried, you can ask the vet if he can examine your dog for typical tick-related illnesses.
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