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COULD YOUR DOODLE BE AT GREATER RISK FOR TICK INFESTATION?

Wednesday, May 01, 2024 | By: The PAWtographers

ROYAL VETERINARY COLLEGE RELEASES NEW FINDINGS

Goldendoodle standing on the beach, a breed at higher risk for tick infestations.

New Study Highlights Tick Risks for Designer Breeds

The Royal Veterinary College (RVC) has recently published a study involving over 900,000 dogs in the United Kingdom, revealing that certain designer breeds and poodle mixes are at an elevated risk of tick infestation. Published in the Journal of Small Animal Practice in April 2024, the study sheds light on the vulnerabilities of those curly-coated pups that we all love. (The study can be read here.)

Which Designer Breeds Are Most at Risk?

With the great popularity of these designer breeds that have poodle in their heritage, the study highlights the heightened risk of tick infestation with those luxuriously curly-coated pups.

Designer breeds with the highest 5-year frequency of tick infestation included: Cavappo, Goldendoodle,  Cockapoo, and Cavachon.

Designer breeds with the highest overall risk included: Goldendoodle, Cavapoo, and Cockapoo.

But, there are some purebreds on the list...

But it's not just the designer breeds—some well-established purebreds like the Cairn Terrier, Standard Poodle, Jack Russell Terrier, Golden Retriever, and Miniature Schnauzer also face a high risk of tick infestation.

What Breeds Are At Lower Risk?

Breeds with Lower Risk

On the flip side, the study indicates that breeds such as Staffordshire Bull Terriers (Staffies), Rottweilers, Chihuahuas, English Bulldogs, and French Bulldogs have the lowest odds of tick infestation. Interestingly, older dogs and female dogs also seem to be at a lower risk, as are dogs with erect ears compared to those with dropped or pendulous ears. Additionally, dogs with erect ears (i.e., German Shepherd Dogs, Huskies) had lower odds of tick infestation compared to breeds with V-shaped dropped ears (i.e., JRTs and Vizslas) and pendulous ears (Cocker Spaniels).

What This Means for Pet Owners

Ticks are a year-round problem in Florida, and the variety of species we have—such as Brown Dog Ticks, American Dog Ticks, Lone Star Ticks, Gulf Coast Ticks, and Black-legged Ticks—makes vigilance even more critical. The AKC Canine Health Foundation lists several tick-borne diseases that can affect your dog, including Ehrlichiosis, Anaplasmosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Hepatozoonosis, Babesiosis, and Lyme disease.

While a tick must feed for several hours to transmit disease, the AKC CHF warns that transmission can occur in as little as 3 to 6 hours. Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine adds that Lyme disease, in particular, requires a tick to be attached for at least 1-2 days before it can spread to a dog.

How to Protect Your Dog: Vigilance and Prevention

Vigilance:

  • Close Examination: After spending time in tick-prone areas like wooded trails or long grasses, carefully comb through your dog’s coat, check their ears, and examine their paws and between toes.
  • Remove Ticks Properly: If you find a tick, use tweezers to grab it as close to the skin as possible and pull straight out. Keep the tick in a bag for identification if necessary.
  • Screen for Tick-borne Diseases: Symptoms can be vague, so annual VBD screening through a simple blood test is recommended by many veterinarians, especially when testing for heartworms.

Prevention:

  • Maintain Your Yard: Keep grasses short as ticks thrive in wooded areas and tall grass.
  • Consider Tick Preventives: While topical and oral tick preventives are available, they may carry some risk of side effects. It's always best to discuss these options with your veterinarian.

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