What tick-borne (& related) diseases can infect dogs in the United States?
There are numerous vector-borne diseases that can infect dogs in the United States. While ticks are one of the most common vectors, some of these diseases may also be spread via mosquito or flea bite. One group of rickettsial organisms (Neorickettsia) are spread via ingestion. All of these organisms produce similar illness in dogs. All are intracellular — they get into and survive inside the dog’s blood cells. Most are bacteria, but several are protozoa. Dogs may be multiply-infected; having more than one of these organisms. A single tick bite may transmit multiple species. Infection does not confer lasting immunity, dogs can easily become re-infected.
