Tick Fever (Ehrlichiosis) & Kennel Cough in Dogs: Symptoms, Causes

A dog who suddenly becomes quiet, stops eating, develops a fever, or starts coughing can leave any pet parent worried.

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And the questions usually start immediately:

“Could it be tick fever?”
“Is this kennel cough?”
“Can I wait and watch?”
“Does my dog need a vet?”

These are reasonable questions. But tick fever and kennel cough are not the same condition, and a symptom such as fever, weakness, or coughing can have several possible causes.

This guide explains what pet parents should know about tick fever, particularly canine ehrlichiosis, and kennel cough, including the early signs, how veterinarians investigate them, what treatment may involve, and the warning signs that should not be ignored.

Important: This article is for pet-parent education and is not a substitute for a veterinary examination or diagnosis. If your dog is seriously unwell, contact a veterinarian promptly.

Tick Fever in Dogs: What Does It Actually Mean?

“Tick fever” is a term commonly used by pet parents to describe illnesses associated with tick-borne infections.

One important example is canine ehrlichiosis, usually associated with Ehrlichia canis. Ehrlichia bacteria are transmitted by ticks and can affect blood cells, resulting in problems such as fever, low platelet counts, weakness, enlarged lymph nodes, and bleeding tendencies.

However, tick fever is not necessarily one single disease.

Dogs can also develop other tick-borne infections, including babesiosis and anaplasmosis, which can produce overlapping symptoms.

That is why seeing a tick on your dog does not automatically mean your dog has ehrlichiosis—and why symptoms alone cannot confirm the diagnosis.

What Are the Early Signs of Ehrlichiosis?

One reason tick-borne disease can be difficult for pet parents to recognize is that the first signs may seem relatively ordinary.

Your dog may simply appear:

• More tired than usual
• Less interested in food
• Feverish
• Reluctant to exercise
• Weak or less active
• Stiff or reluctant to walk
• Less playful

Veterinary references describe fever, low platelet counts, enlarged lymph nodes and an enlarged spleen among possible findings in canine ehrlichiosis. More serious disease can involve bleeding, severe weight loss and neurological or organ-related problems.

The important point for pet parents

A dog doesn’t always look critically ill at the beginning.

You may simply think:

“He seems tired today.”

But if your dog has recently had tick exposure and is showing unusual weakness, fever, appetite changes or other concerning symptoms, it is worth discussing the situation with your veterinarian.

Signs of Tick Fever You Should Never Ignore

Some symptoms deserve more urgent attention.

Watch for:

• Nosebleeds
• Blood in urine or stool
• Unusual bruising
• Very pale gums
• Severe weakness
• Collapse
• Significant weight loss
• Difficulty breathing
• Neurological changes
• Persistent or worsening illness

Low platelet counts are common in canine ehrlichiosis, and severe thrombocytopenia can contribute to bleeding problems.

If your dog is collapsing, having difficulty breathing, bleeding unexpectedly, or appears severely unwell, seek urgent veterinary care rather than waiting for the symptoms to pass.

Why Does a Vet Ask for a Blood Test?

This is one of the most confusing parts for pet parents.

You may take your dog to the vet because they have fever and weakness, and suddenly you’re hearing about:

CBC. Platelets. Blood smear. Antibody testing. PCR.

Why?

Because the symptoms of tick-borne disease can overlap with many other illnesses.

A complete blood count (CBC), for example, can help the veterinarian identify abnormalities such as low platelets or anemia. Depending on the dog’s history and clinical signs, additional testing such as serology or PCR may be used to investigate ehrlichiosis.

A test result also needs to be interpreted alongside your dog’s symptoms, examination and exposure history.

In other words: a blood test is part of the diagnostic puzzle—not the entire puzzle.

Can Tick Fever Be Treated?

Yes, canine ehrlichiosis is treatable, and veterinarians commonly use antibiotics such as doxycycline when ehrlichiosis is diagnosed or strongly suspected. Supportive care may also be needed depending on the dog’s condition.

However, treatment should be determined by a veterinarian.

The appropriate plan depends on factors such as:

• The suspected or confirmed infection
• Severity of illness
• Blood-test abnormalities
• Presence of bleeding or anemia
• Other medical conditions
• Whether the disease appears acute or chronic

Some dogs improve quickly after appropriate treatment, while dogs with chronic disease may continue to have abnormal blood values for much longer.

Don’t stop treatment simply because your dog looks better

If your veterinarian prescribes medication, follow the prescribed course and return for recommended follow-up testing.

Feeling better is encouraging—but it does not necessarily mean the underlying problem has been completely resolved.

How Can You Prevent Tick Fever?

The most important strategy is consistent tick control.

Depending on your dog’s lifestyle and local tick risk, your veterinarian may recommend an appropriate tick-prevention product.

You can also:

• Check your dog after outdoor activity
• Pay particular attention to areas where ticks can hide
• Avoid areas with heavy tick exposure where practical
• Remove attached ticks promptly and carefully
• Keep your dog’s environment clean
• Maintain regular preventive care

Veterinary guidance emphasizes that tick prevention is central to preventing ehrlichiosis and other tick-borne infections.

And remember:

Finding one tick does not mean there is only one tick.

Now, What About Kennel Cough?

Kennel cough is a common name for a contagious canine respiratory illness, and it can involve more than one infectious organism.

The classic sign is often a persistent, dry or hacking cough. But coughing in dogs has many possible causes, so it is important not to assume that every cough is kennel cough.

This distinction matters.

A dog coughing after boarding, grooming, daycare or close contact with other dogs may have been exposed to a contagious respiratory infection—but a veterinarian may need to consider other possibilities depending on the dog’s age, health and other symptoms.

Cornell’s canine-health guidance recommends contacting a veterinarian when a dog has respiratory signs such as coughing, sneezing, breathing difficulty or nasal/eye discharge, particularly when lethargy or reduced appetite is also present.

What Does Kennel Cough Sound Like?

Many pet parents describe kennel cough as a:

Dry, harsh, hacking or “honking” cough.

Your dog may appear otherwise fairly normal between coughing episodes.

The cough can become more noticeable:

• During excitement
• During exercise
• When pulling on a collar
• At night
• After drinking
• During periods of activity

But the sound alone cannot tell you exactly what is causing the cough.

This is an important distinction:

A cough is a symptom.

Kennel cough is a possible diagnosis.

That difference can prevent pet parents from overlooking a more serious respiratory problem.

How Do Dogs Catch Kennel Cough?

Despite the name, your dog does not need to have stayed in a kennel to develop kennel cough.

Dogs can be exposed when they are in close contact with other dogs or contaminated respiratory droplets and objects.

Potential exposure settings include:

• Boarding facilities
• Dog daycare
• Grooming salons
• Dog parks
• Training classes
• Dog shows
• Veterinary environments
• Playgroups
• Other places where dogs mix closely

Respiratory infections can spread through droplets and contaminated objects such as bowls and toys.

So if your dog develops a cough after spending time around other dogs, tell your veterinarian about that recent exposure.

Can Kennel Cough Spread to Other Dogs?

Yes.

That is why a coughing dog should not simply continue normal social activities.

If your dog is coughing:

Avoid unnecessary contact with other dogs until your veterinarian advises that it is safe.

That means reconsidering:

• Dog parks
• Daycare
• Boarding
• Grooming appointments
• Group training
• Playdates

Cornell specifically recommends avoiding exposure to other dogs when a dog is showing respiratory illness until contagiousness has been addressed.

This is especially important if another dog in the household is a puppy, senior, or has an underlying health problem.

Does Every Coughing Dog Need Emergency Care?

Not necessarily.

Many respiratory illnesses can be mild, but the overall condition of the dog matters.

A mild cough in an otherwise bright, eating and normally breathing dog is different from:

coughing + lethargy + poor appetite + breathing difficulty

Contact your veterinarian if your dog develops a persistent cough or other signs of illness.

Seek urgent veterinary attention if you notice:

• Difficulty breathing
• Blue, grey or very pale gums
• Collapse
• Severe weakness
• Significant breathing effort
• Severe lethargy
• Persistent vomiting alongside respiratory illness
• Rapid deterioration

Puppies, older dogs and dogs with underlying health conditions may require particularly careful assessment.

Tick Fever vs Kennel Cough: What’s the Difference?

Feature	Tick Fever / Ehrlichiosis	Kennel Cough
Main cause	Tick-borne bacterial infection	Contagious canine respiratory infection
Typical concern	Blood abnormalities and systemic illness	Respiratory signs and persistent cough
Common sign	Fever, weakness, appetite changes	Dry/hacking cough
Tick exposure	Relevant	Not required
Dog-to-dog respiratory spread	Not the typical route for E. canis	Yes, commonly
Blood-test abnormalities	Can occur	Not necessarily
Bleeding	Can occur in ehrlichiosis	Not a typical feature
Cough	Can occur in some cases	A defining clinical feature
Diagnosis	Clinical history + blood tests and specific testing	Clinical assessment; testing depends on case
Prevention	Tick control	Vaccination and reducing exposure where appropriate

The key takeaway:

A weak, feverish dog with tick exposure and a coughing dog exposed to other dogs may be dealing with completely different problems.

And sometimes symptoms overlap.

That is why veterinary assessment matters.

When Should You Stop Searching and Call the Vet?

Search engines can help you understand symptoms.

They cannot examine your dog.

A practical rule is:

If your dog has mild symptoms but is otherwise behaving normally:

Monitor closely and contact your veterinarian for advice if symptoms persist or worsen.

If your dog has multiple symptoms:

For example, coughing plus lethargy, fever, poor appetite or nasal discharge—contact your veterinarian.

If your dog is severely unwell:

Difficulty breathing, collapse, unexplained bleeding, very pale/blue gums or severe weakness warrants urgent veterinary attention.

Don’t let online research delay necessary veterinary care.

What Should You Tell Your Veterinarian?

Before the appointment, make a quick note of:

For suspected tick fever:

• When you first noticed the symptoms
• Whether you found any ticks
• When your dog last received tick prevention
• Changes in appetite
• Changes in activity
• Any fever you have measured
• Any unusual bleeding or bruising
• Recent travel or outdoor exposure
• Previous tick-borne illness

For suspected kennel cough:

• When the cough started
• What the cough sounds like
• Whether it happens at rest or during activity
• Recent contact with other dogs
• Recent boarding, grooming or daycare
• Vaccination history
• Nasal or eye discharge
• Appetite and energy level
• Any breathing difficulty

A simple timeline can give your veterinarian valuable context.

The Bottom Line for Dog Parents

Tick fever and kennel cough are two very different conditions—but they have something important in common:

Early recognition matters.

With tick-borne disease such as ehrlichiosis, a dog may initially appear simply tired, feverish or less interested in food before more significant abnormalities become apparent. With kennel cough, a persistent cough may be contagious even when a dog otherwise seems fairly normal.

So don’t focus only on the disease name.

Focus on your dog’s symptoms, recent exposure, behaviour and overall condition.

And if something doesn’t seem right, don’t wait for an internet search to give you certainty.

Your veterinarian is the right person to determine what is actually happening and what your dog needs next.