Tick Tock - It’s Time to Talk About Ticks
Tick Tock - It’s Time to Talk About Ticks
It’s winter in Wisconsin. Why are we talking about ticks? Unfortunately, many pet owners are stuck in the old ways of thinking about ticks and tick disease. It is our job as veterinarians to educate about this critical topic. Times have changed and so have the ways we protect our pets from these blood sucking pests.
Wisconsin officially is home to 16 reported species of ticks. Try not to let this keep you up at night. We have ways to fight them and the nasty diseases they carry. The three major species most prevalent in the state are the Deer Tick (Ixodes scapularis), the Wood Tick (Dermacentor variabilis ), and the Lone Star Tick (Amblyoma americanum).
Most veterinarians follow the recommendations of leading professional organizations like The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) and The Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) in recommending year-round flea and tick prevention. Yes, even through the winter in Wisconsin. We have increased the number of days above freezing in this state for multiple years consecutively. There are now enough days above freezing each winter that year-round prevention is essential. In addition, more and more of the tick population is carrying tick-born diseases. In 2025 the risk of skipping fall and winter prevention is just too great.
The nature of pets exploring areas and being closer to the ground makes their exposure even higher than that for humans. Ticks are gross in and of themselves when they attach but they also transmit countless dangerous diseases. The three most common in this state are Lyme, Anaplasma, and Ehrlichia.
Anaplasma – The Big Winner in Wisconsin
While many people have not heard of Anaplasma, 1 in 8 dogs tested in Wisconsin in 2024 were positive for this disease. This makes it the most common tick born disease in this state. It is transmitted by both the Wood Tick and the Deer Tick. Depending on where you live in the country, 15 – 45% of Wood Ticks are carrying some form of Ehrlichia.
Two types of illness are common with Anaplasma, although many dogs show no signs of illness at all. One form looks similar to Lyme with signs of joint pain, lethargy, fever, and decreased appetite. The other form involves destroying the platelets that clot the blood and causes excessive bleeding.
There is no vaccine for prevention of this disease. Tick control and removal early in the first few hours after attachment are the best means to prevent it. Anaplasma can transmit to dogs as soon as 2 hours after a tick attaches and takes a blood meal. Most tick prevention medications are not capable of killing ticks fast enough to prevent transmission of this disease. Simparica oral flea/tick prevention and Seresto collars are the best choices we recommend for the fastest kill rate of ticks.
Lyme – The Runner Up in Wisconsin
Most of us are familiar with this disease in people, as it poses major risks for us all in this state. Last year 1 in 15 dogs tested was positive for Lyme disease. 40% of Deer Ticks tested are carrying this bacterial invader. Unlike in people, most dogs (90%) never show true symptoms of the disease even when it is lurking. Also different than illness in people, when it does become apparent, it is usually weeks to months after the actual transmission of the disease. Similar to people, this can appear like joint pain, lethargy, decreased appetite and fever. It can also affect the health of the kidneys and damage them over time. Chronic relapsing disease is possible even after treatment.
Thankfully, unlike Anaplasma, this disease is easier to prevent because it takes 24 hours after tick attachment to transmit the bacteria to dogs. Many of the recommended products today will kill ticks prior to transmission if given monthly as directed. In addition, we have a safe and effective vaccine available to provide further protection if any ticks manage to sneak through.
Ehrlichia – Last but Not Least
This disease is less common in Wisconsin because it is transmitted by the Brown Dog tick (Rhipicephalus) and Lone Star Tick, which are less common in Wisconsin. 1 in 100 dogs tested last year tested positive in this state. Many dogs will become infected with out of state travel to areas of the country where it is more common. However, some will get infected here at home. This disease has many different forms and some of the most life- threatening forms of disease. It can appear with no clinical signs, or the typical joint pain and fever and lethargy. It can also harm the kidneys, affect the spleen, and result in severe bleeding problems. There is no vaccination for prevention of this disease.
We don’t want to scare you with this information. Our goal is to educate and prevent crippling disease transmission. It is essential to ensure you are using a product with a fast kill time for ticks (Simparica Trio, Seresto collar). It is essential to use flea and tick protection every month of the year in Wisconsin. Disease transmission happens every month of the year with temps above freezing for even a day or two. Consider Lyme vaccination if you often go outdoors with your pet as a backup for Lyme prevention. Have your dog tested annually for heartworm and tick diseases (4DX commonly used by our clinic tests for all 4 diseases). This allows early detection before symptoms show up and screening for underlying complications and treatment if needed.
Our feline friends should not be left out. They can also become infected with Anaplasma. The disease has more severe consequences for them than dogs, so prevention is important. Cats are naturally more resistant to Lyme and Ehrlichia, but infection does rarely happen. Cytauxzoon felis is a tick- borne disease of major concern for our feline friends but not dogs. This can cause severe and fatal illness and is transmitted by the Lone Star Tick.
If you are looking for further information, or just want to look at fun maps of pet specific parasitic diseases throughout the country, visit the Companion Animal Parasite Counsil website. (capcvet.org). You can see for yourself the rise of all of these diseases each year as more ticks become infected and transmit disease. Enjoy the outdoors safely with your pet in all seasons. Be smart about tick disease prevention.
Sincerely,
Dr. Trisha Metzger (and all of the phenomenal team members of Countryside Animal Clinic)