Can dogs get lyme-causing ticks?

Do the bites from dog fleas can cause lyme disease to humans? We have two dogs at the house and we take them with us whenever we go camping. Should we be alarmed of them getting those lyme-causing ticks and transmit them to us?

In my state, when you bring up Lyme they say "we don't have Lyme" but my Veterinarian has been concerned about it for at least 10 years.

My dog did have a really bad reaction to a Tick Bite and eventually tested negative but the rash from the bite was enough that they recommended he be tested. It was negative, thank heaven. He has also expressed concern about another bacteria. I think it was leptosperosis. I don't know if it can be passed to people, but they were very worried because they (the vet) have been seeing more and more cases every year. Interestingly, the same was occurring with Lyme.

Over the last 10 years, the number of Lyme cases in people and Leptosperious in dogs have been increasing in about 10 out of 100 counties. They are the most populated counties but also the least rural. We do have lots of green space though. The vet said that if our dog spent anytime in a forested area, he had to be vaccinated. This includes all the walking paths in my town. We boarded our dog at a farm and there was a large field where the dogs can run. It's pretty natural but they do mow every now and then. The vet said that is enough to encourage us to vaccinate him.

I think there was a post that had info about a tonic that could be used to prevent Tick bites. I don't recall if it worked for both humans and dogs. I got the impression that it actually killed the ticks, but i could be wrong.

I'm pretty sure it was a link in a post by Traveler. So Traveler if you see this and I'm right some people might want to check the link.

I love my veterinarian.

She is the only person in Ontario that I can talk to about our daughter's tick-borne infections without being dismissed.

I think this is how I was infected. I remember my dog bringing a bunchhhh of ticks into my house last summer. I picked them off one by one. However, I found some in my bathroom and bedroom just roaming around. Gross! I think I was bit by one of them because I became extremely sick with the "flu" for 3 weeks after that. So yes, they can.

Yes, dogs get ticks with lyme, and do get lyme disease.


In our city, every now and again one of the Vets will have an article in the local newspaper about signs/syptoms that your dog has lyme disease...and if brought in, will have blood work done, and put on antibiotics while waiting for results.

But, in this same city, i go to the Dr. with signs/symptoms....nope, couldn't be lyme...it's rare here.

It shows the level of denial that there still is in that population (Dr's). Sad but true.