Ticks often hide deep in the fur, so check your dog carefully after every walk.

Lyme disease is spread by ticks, so if you find a tick on your dog, remove it promptly. Finding a tick doesn't necessarily mean your dog will get Lyme disease. The tick has to be infected, and it usually needs to stay attached for 24 to 48 hours to pass on the bacteria. Most of the time, once the tick has been removed and the area cleaned, your dog will be absolutely fine.

Lyme disease in dogs is a tick-borne infection caused by Borrelia burgdorferi and related bacteria. It can cause fever, joint pain, lameness, lethargy and swollen lymph nodes, and in rare cases serious kidney complications.

What Causes Lyme Disease?

• It's caused by bacteria from the Borrelia burgdorferi group.
• In the UK, it's spread mainly by the bite of infected sheep ticks (Ixodes ricinus), also known as castor bean ticks.
• An infected tick usually needs to be attached for 24 to 48 hours to transmit the bacteria.

Where Are Ticks Found?

Ticks thrive in woodland, long grass, bracken, moorland, heathland and leaf litter, especially where deer and sheep roam. They're most active from spring to autumn but can be found all year round.

Symptoms of Lyme Disease in Dogs

Most infected dogs never show any symptoms. When signs do appear, often weeks or even months after the bite, they may include:

• Fever
• Lameness, often shifting from one leg to another
• Swollen, painful joints
• Lethargy
• Loss of appetite
• Swollen lymph nodes

Rare but serious: Lyme disease can cause kidney damage (Lyme nephritis), which may lead to vomiting, increased thirst and urination, weight loss and extreme lethargy.

Diagnosis

• Diagnosis is based on your dog's symptoms and any history of tick exposure.
• Blood tests detect antibodies and are most accurate 4 to 8 weeks after a tick bite.
• Your vet may recommend urine tests to check for kidney involvement.

Treatment

• Treatment is typically a four-week course of antibiotics, such as doxycycline, prescribed by your vet.
• Pain relief may be given for joint discomfort.
• Severe kidney complications need hospitalisation and intensive care.

Prevention

• Use vet-recommended tick-control products regularly.
• Check your dog for ticks after every walk, especially in woodland or long grass.
• Remove any ticks promptly and correctly (see below).
• Ask your vet whether vaccination is appropriate if you live in or visit a high-risk area.

Lyme disease in dogs is generally treatable, but regular tick control and early detection remain the best protection.

How to Remove a Tick From Your Dog

Tick removal hooks come in different sizes to suit small and large ticks.

• Step 1: Confirm it's a tick. Ticks are small, eight-legged parasites that can be tan, brown, black or grey. They may be flat or swollen after feeding and are often found in warm, hidden areas such as the ears, between the toes, under the collar, in the armpits and groin, and around the tail.
• Step 2: Gather your supplies. You'll need a tick removal tool or fine-tipped tweezers, disposable gloves, a small jar with a lid, surgical spirit or another alcohol, and a pet-safe antiseptic.
• Step 3: Keep your dog calm. Have your dog sit or lie down comfortably. Use treats, or ask a helper to keep them still.
• Step 4: Grasp the tick. Part the fur and grip the tick as close to the skin as possible, by its mouthparts rather than its body. Avoid squeezing the tick's body.
• Step 5: Remove the tick. If you're using tweezers, pull straight out with steady, even pressure, without jerking or crushing. If you're using a tick removal hook, slide it under the tick and gently twist as the tool's instructions describe. Hooks are designed to be rotated.
• Step 6: Clean the bite area. Wash with mild soap and water or a pet-safe antiseptic. Then wash your hands and disinfect your tool.
• Step 7: Dispose of the tick safely. Don't just throw it in the bin, as it can crawl out. Drop it into a jar of surgical spirit or other alcohol, seal the jar, then dispose of it.
• Step 8: Monitor your dog. Watch for signs of tick-borne illness over the following weeks and months (see the symptoms above).