Ticks are truly annoying pests, but the real danger lies in the diseases they spread. One is anaplasmosis [anna-plaz-MOH-sis], a potentially fatal bacterial disease that can affect both dogs and people. And because of expanding tick populations, anaplasmosis is spreading to more areas, too.

Depending on the specific organism that infects a dog, symptoms may range from fever, joint pain and loss of appetite to uncontrollable bleeding. It’s important to contact your veterinarian if your dog is showing suspicious signs or has come in contact with ticks. Fortunately, treatment with doxycycline is usually effective — particularly early on in the illness.

That said, prevention is better than a cure. That includes using a year-round tick preventative and checking your pooch for ticks after they’ve been outside.