Ticks in Minnesota: Identification, Prevention & Tickborne Diseases

Found a Tick? Get It Identified for FREE!

Did you know the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) offers free tick identification?

If you’ve found a tick on your dog, cat, yourself, or another animal, you can submit it to the MDH Vectorborne Diseases Unit for identification. Their experts will identify the tick species and provide the results to you.

There is no charge for tick identification! You only pay for postage to mail your specimen.

This service also helps public health experts monitor tick populations and identify unusual or potentially invasive tick species throughout Minnesota.

 

How to Submit a Tick

1. Save the tick. Place it in a sealed, watertight container, such as a small zip-top plastic bag, with a paper towel or cotton ball for padding.
2. Complete the submission form. Include information about where and when the tick was found and whether the person or animal has traveled recently.
3. Mail your specimen. Include the completed submission form with the tick. Use a separate form for each person or animal from which ticks were collected.
4. Receive your results. MDH will contact you with the tick identification results using the contact information provided.

 

Mail submissions to:

Minnesota Department of Health
Vectorborne Diseases Unit
625 North Robert Street
P.O. Box 64975
Saint Paul, MN 55164-0975

Download the Free Tick Identification Submission Form (PDF)

Learn More About Minnesota’s Tick Identification Program

Important: This program identifies the species of tick. It does not test ticks for Lyme disease or other infectious organisms, and the results cannot determine whether your pet or a person has contracted a tickborne illness. If you are concerned about your pet’s health, please contact our hospital rather than waiting for identification results.

 

When Are Ticks Active in Minnesota?

Many people associate ticks with summer, but Minnesota’s tick season extends well beyond the warmest months.

Different tick species are active at different times of the year:

• Spring (March–May): Tick activity increases as temperatures rise. Adult deer ticks and wood ticks become more active.
• Summer (June–August): Immature deer ticks, called nymphs, are especially active in late spring and early summer. These tiny ticks can be particularly difficult to detect.
• Fall (September–November): Adult deer ticks become active again, making fall another important season for prevention.
• Winter (December–February): Ticks may still be active during warmer periods when temperatures are above freezing and snow cover is limited.

Our recommendation: Keep your pets on veterinarian-recommended tick prevention year-round.

Minnesota’s unpredictable weather means ticks can be active even when we don’t traditionally think of it as tick season.

 

Common Ticks Found in Minnesota

 

Blacklegged Tick (Deer Tick)

Blacklegged ticks are responsible for most tickborne disease transmission in Minnesota.

They are commonly found in wooded, brushy, and leaf-covered areas. Immature deer ticks can be as small as a poppy seed, making them easy to overlook.

Diseases of concern include:

• Lyme disease
• Anaplasmosis
• Babesiosis (depending on the animal species and infectious organism)

 

American Dog Tick (Wood Tick)

American dog ticks are widespread throughout Minnesota and are frequently encountered in grassy areas, fields, and along trails.

Although they commonly attach to dogs and people, they are less frequently associated with tickborne illness in Minnesota than deer ticks.

Diseases of concern include:

• Rocky Mountain spotted fever
• Tularemia

These diseases are uncommon in Minnesota, but awareness is still important.

 

Lone Star Tick

Lone star ticks are less common in Minnesota, although individual ticks have been reported in the state.

They can transmit certain infections, including ehrlichiosis, and have also been associated with alpha-gal syndrome, a potentially serious allergic condition in people.

Learn More About Minnesota Tick Species

Why Is Tick Prevention So Important?

Ticks are more than just an unpleasant parasite. Certain species can transmit bacteria and other infectious organisms while feeding on an animal.

Some tickborne infections can cause significant illness, and pets may not show symptoms immediately after exposure.

Even pets that spend most of their time indoors can encounter ticks. Ticks may be carried into the home on clothing, other pets, or people.

Consistent prevention helps reduce the risk of tick attachment and disease transmission.

 

How to Protect Your Pet

Use veterinarian-recommended tick prevention. There are several effective prescription products available for dogs and cats. Our veterinary team can help you select an appropriate product based on your pet’s species, age, weight, medical history, and lifestyle.

Check your pet regularly. After outdoor activities, inspect your pet for ticks, paying special attention to:

• Around and inside the ears
• Under the collar and around the neck
• Between the toes
• Under the front legs
• Around the groin and tail
• Around the face and eyelids

Maintain your yard. Keeping grass short, removing leaf litter, and clearing brush can help reduce tick habitat.

Stay on maintained trails. When hiking or walking, avoid tall grasses and heavily wooded or brushy areas when possible.

Never use a tick prevention product intended for dogs on a cat. Certain ingredients, particularly permethrin, can be extremely toxic to cats.

 

What Should I Do If I Find a Tick on My Pet?

Finding a tick can be alarming, but prompt and proper removal is important.

1. Use fine-tipped tweezers or an appropriate tick-removal tool.
2. Grasp the tick as close to your pet’s skin as possible.
3. Pull outward gently and steadily without twisting or crushing the tick.
4. Clean the bite area after removal.
5. Monitor your pet for signs of irritation or illness.

Avoid using petroleum jelly, nail polish, heat, or other home remedies to make a tick detach. These methods are not recommended.

If you’re unable to remove the tick safely, or the area becomes increasingly red, swollen, painful, or irritated, contact our hospital.

 

Tickborne Diseases in Dogs

 

Lyme Disease

Lyme disease is caused by bacteria transmitted through infected blacklegged ticks (deer ticks).

Many exposed dogs never develop noticeable symptoms. However, some dogs can become ill, sometimes weeks or months after infection.

Possible symptoms include:

• Fever
• Decreased energy or unusual tiredness
• Decreased appetite
• Joint pain or swelling
• Limping or shifting-leg lameness
• Reluctance to walk, play, or exercise

In rare cases, Lyme disease can also cause serious kidney complications.

 

Anaplasmosis

Anaplasmosis is another tickborne bacterial infection transmitted by blacklegged ticks.

Possible symptoms include:

• Fever
• Lethargy
• Loss of appetite
• Joint pain or stiffness
• Limping
• Occasionally, bruising or unusual bleeding associated with low platelet counts

Some infected dogs may show few or no symptoms.

 

Ehrlichiosis and Other Tickborne Diseases

Other tickborne infections, including ehrlichiosis and certain forms of babesiosis, may also affect dogs.

Depending on the infection, symptoms can include fever, weakness, pale gums, abnormal bleeding, joint discomfort, or other signs of illness.

Because many tickborne diseases share similar symptoms, veterinary testing may be necessary to determine the cause.

 

What About Cats?

Cats can also encounter ticks and develop certain tickborne infections, although the diseases and clinical signs may differ from those seen in dogs.

Possible signs of illness include fever, decreased appetite, lethargy, weakness, or unusual behavior.

Cats require species-appropriate parasite prevention. Never apply a canine tick prevention product to a cat without veterinary direction.

If your cat has been exposed to ticks and begins acting ill, contact our hospital.

 

When Should I Contact South Hyland Pet Hospital?

Finding a tick on your pet does not automatically mean your pet has contracted a disease, and not every tick bite requires an appointment.

However, please contact us if:

• Your pet develops fever, lethargy, or decreased appetite following possible tick exposure.
• Your dog begins limping, seems stiff, or shows signs of joint discomfort.
• Your pet develops swelling, significant irritation, or infection at a tick bite site.
• You discover multiple ticks or have concerns about repeated exposure.
• Your pet is not currently receiving tick prevention and you would like guidance.
• You have questions about Lyme disease vaccination or tickborne disease testing.

Seek urgent veterinary care if your pet develops severe weakness, collapse, difficulty breathing, pale gums, or unexplained bleeding.

 

Should My Dog Be Tested After a Tick Bite?

Not necessarily. Testing immediately after a tick bite may not detect a newly acquired infection because it can take time for detectable antibodies to develop.

Your veterinarian can recommend whether testing is appropriate based on your dog’s symptoms, exposure history, preventive care, and the timing of the tick bite.

Routine screening for certain tickborne diseases may also be recommended as part of your dog’s preventive healthcare.

 

Does My Dog Need a Lyme Disease Vaccine?

A Lyme disease vaccine is available for dogs and may be recommended based on their risk of exposure.

Vaccination can provide an additional layer of protection against Lyme disease, but it does not protect against all tickborne diseases and does not prevent ticks from attaching.

For this reason, vaccination should complement—not replace—consistent tick prevention.

Our veterinary team can help determine whether Lyme disease vaccination is appropriate for your dog.

 

Additional Minnesota Tick Resources

For additional information about tick identification, prevention, and tickborne illnesses, we recommend these trusted resources:

• Minnesota Department of Health – Tickborne Diseases
• Minnesota Department of Health – Tick Identification and Monitoring
• Minnesota Department of Health – Preventing Tickborne Disease
• Minnesota Board of Animal Health – Ticks and Minnesota’s Animals

 

Questions About Tick Prevention or Your Pet’s Health?

We’re happy to help you select appropriate parasite prevention, discuss your pet’s risk of tickborne disease, and determine when testing or veterinary care may be recommended.

Keeping pets protected from ticks is an important part of their preventive healthcare—and we’re here to help!