Can Ticks Transmit Diseases to Dogs and Cats?
In short: Yes — ticks transmit pathogens to dogs and cats too. In Germany, according to the veterinary parasitology association ESCCAP, anaplasmosis, babesiosis, Lyme disease and TBE are the relevant ones; ehrlichiosis and hepatozoonosis are usually brought back from trips to the south. The most effective protection is finding and removing ticks quickly.
The diseases at a glance
| Disease | Carried by | In Germany? | Affects |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anaplasmosis (Anaplasma phagocytophilum) | Castor bean tick | Widespread | Dogs and cats |
| Babesiosis, "dog malaria" (Babesia canis) | Ornate dog tick | Increasing for some years | Dogs |
| Lyme disease | Hard ticks, mainly the castor bean tick | Yes | Dogs |
| TBE | Castor bean tick | In risk areas | Dogs |
| Ehrlichiosis (Ehrlichia canis) | Brown dog tick | Usually from trips to the south | Dogs |
| Hepatozoonosis (Hepatozoon canis) | Brown dog tick | Pathogen not currently in Germany; infection while travelling | Dogs |
All details per ESCCAP Germany (February 2025); the Robert Koch Institute also names the ornate dog tick as the carrier of Babesia.
Acquired in Germany
- Anaplasmosis: widespread in Germany, according to ESCCAP, in dogs and cats. Possible signs are lethargy, weakness, fever, bleeding into the skin and swollen lymph nodes.
- Babesiosis: infected dogs usually fall ill acutely, according to ESCCAP, with lethargy, fever, loss of appetite, anaemia, yellowing of the mucous membranes and bloody urine — an emergency. How common the pathogen is in ticks varies widely: a Bavarian field study found it in 1 of 301 ticks (0.3 %), studies in Hungary and Serbia found 8.2 and 20.8 %.
- Lyme disease: many dogs come into contact with the pathogen; not all fall ill. Signs of disease are fever, loss of appetite, swollen joints and lymph nodes and recurring lameness, according to ESCCAP; occasionally a reddening at the bite site.
- TBE: dogs don't always show symptoms. Possible signs, per ESCCAP, are fever, increased pain, changes in behaviour, an unsteady gait and coordination problems up to seizures.
Usually brought back from travel
Ehrlichiosis and hepatozoonosis are transmitted by the brown dog tick, which is at home in southern Europe. According to ESCCAP, ehrlichiosis is a disease found in southern Europe, and the hepatozoonosis pathogen does not currently occur in Germany. One caveat: the brown dog tick itself can be brought in on dogs and, according to Germany's Federal Environment Agency, multiply massively indoors. After a trip south with your dog, tell the vet where you have been — and have ticks that keep turning up at home checked.
And cats?
According to ESCCAP, ticks can transmit their pathogens to dogs and cats; anaplasmosis is transmitted to both by the castor bean tick. There is less data on cats overall than on dogs, so the same principle applies to them: find and remove ticks quickly. And never use dog tick treatments on cats — some contain permethrin, which is toxic to cats because they cannot break it down (small-animal clinic, University of Giessen).
Why there are no case numbers like for people
In people, TBE is notifiable in Germany, so the RKI keeps annual statistics — see "TBE and Lyme disease case numbers in Germany". We found no comparable nationwide statistics for tick-borne disease in dogs and cats, so we deliberately give no estimated figure.
What this means for your tick check
Because some pathogens are only transmitted after the tick has been attached for a while, ESCCAP advises removing ticks as quickly as possible; it names tick prevention as the safest protection. Which product suits your pet is a question for your vet — we deliberately recommend none. The checking routine is in "Checking your dog or cat for ticks", and which signs after a bite need the vet straight away in "Tick bite on a dog — when to see the vet?"
The fur check takes a minute: TickSpot makes ticks visible in fur — free, no sign-up.
Start the fur checkFrequently asked questions
Which diseases do ticks transmit to dogs in Germany?
According to ESCCAP, mainly anaplasmosis, which is widespread in Germany, babesiosis, which has been increasing for some years, Lyme disease and TBE. Ehrlichiosis and hepatozoonosis, by contrast, are transmitted by the brown dog tick and are usually brought back from trips to the south.
What signs suggest a tick-borne disease in a dog?
Depending on the pathogen, ESCCAP names lethargy, fever, loss of appetite, swollen lymph nodes, bleeding into skin or mucous membranes, bloody urine, swollen joints and recurring lameness, among others. Not all animals show symptoms. With signs like these in the weeks after a tick bite, your dog belongs at the vet.
Can ticks make cats ill too?
Yes. According to ESCCAP, ticks can transmit pathogens to dogs and cats; anaplasmosis is transmitted to both by the castor bean tick. There is less data on cats than on dogs. Important: never use dog tick treatments on cats — some contain permethrin, which is toxic to cats.
How quickly does a tick transmit pathogens to a dog?
It depends on the pathogen. ESCCAP writes that some pathogens are only transmitted after the tick has been attached for a certain time, and therefore advises removing ticks as quickly as possible. ESCCAP gives no fixed number of hours.
Sources
- ESCCAP Germany: Diseases transmitted by ticks (pathogens, occurrence, symptoms, prevention; 21 Feb 2025, in German)
- ESCCAP Germany: Vector-borne diseases in dogs and cats (in German)
- Robert Koch Institute: Tick FAQ (ornate dog tick as carrier of Babesia — in German)
- German Federal Environment Agency (UBA): Hard ticks (brown dog tick indoors; 4 Sep 2026, in German)
- University of Giessen, small-animal clinic: Permethrin poisoning in cats and dogs (in German)
- Bavarian field study on Babesia canis in ticks: Pathogens 9(7):541 (2020)
Note: This article does not replace veterinary advice. With symptoms, unusual behaviour or after travelling abroad with your pet, seek veterinary advice.