Most ticks don’t carry diseases and most tick bites don’t cause serious health problems.
But several diseases are attributed to bacteria transmitted by tick bites including Lyme Disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. Ticks can act as a transmitter of disease for both humans and many domesticated animals. When ticks latch onto their host to obtain a blood meal, they transmit these potentially infectious bacteria through their saliva. If you have a dog that likes to run in the woods, he will be at higher risk for having a tick join him. Your veterinarian can recommend either a monthly flea and tick preventative chew tablet or topical medication to reduce the risk of your dog becoming infected with ticks or bringing them into your home.