Experts Warn 2026 Could Be the Worst Tick Season Yet for Dogs — Here's How to Protect Yours

If you've noticed your dog picking up more ticks than usual on your spring walks — you're not imagining it. Experts across the country are sounding the alarm: 2026 is shaping up to be one of the worst tick seasons in recent memory, and your dog is squarely in the crosshairs.

Warmer winters, expanding tick habitats, and invasive species are colliding in ways that put dogs at higher risk than ever before. Here's what every dog owner needs to know to keep their best friend safe this season.

Why 2026 Is Shaping Up to Be an Especially Bad Tick Year

Multiple factors are converging to make this spring and summer particularly dangerous for dogs. According to the Companion Animal Parasite Council's (CAPC) 2026 Pet Parasite Forecast, released in March, this year is projected to be high risk for canine Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis, and heartworm disease — including in areas that were previously considered low- or moderate-risk.

"Vector-borne disease risk continues to expand, and not in straight lines," said Dr. Kathryn E. Reif, associate professor in parasitology at Auburn University and lead author of the 2026 forecast. "Land use changes, pet travel, wildlife dynamics, and climate-driven warming and extreme weather are accelerating shifts in where and when these vectors spread."

The biggest driver? Climate change. This past winter was one of the warmest on record, creating more fertile conditions for ticks to breed and hatch. Warmer temperatures in traditionally colder regions are helping ticks flourish in areas where they weren't a problem just a decade ago.

And here's an unsettling twist: the heavy snowfall in the Northeast this winter actually helped ticks survive. Snow cover insulates the ground, protecting dormant ticks from lethal cold. The result? More ticks survived to lay eggs this spring. In some parts of the Northeast, tick populations have increased by approximately 25% compared to last year.

New Tick Species Are Spreading — and They're Coming for Your Dog

"We are certainly seeing more ticks in more places and carrying more and more diseases," says Joellen Lampman, the tick integrated pest management coordinator at Cornell University.

The Gulf Coast tick and the Lone Star tick are now showing up in new regions across the U.S. But perhaps most concerning is the Asian longhorned tick, an invasive species first detected in New Jersey in 2017 that has now been confirmed in 22 states. This tick can reproduce without mating, which makes its spread especially difficult to contain.

These newcomers aren't replacing native ticks — they're adding to them. "There's no time of year when we are completely safe from ticks," Lampman warns.

For dog owners, this means the old rules of thumb no longer apply. Tick season isn't just a summer concern anymore. The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station reported receiving ticks for testing as early as February this year, and the CT Mirror reported that tick season is starting earlier than usual in 2026.

The Diseases That Should Be on Every Dog Owner's Radar

Ticks aren't just a nuisance — they're disease carriers. Here are the major tick-borne diseases that pose a risk to dogs in 2026:

Lyme Disease

Caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi and transmitted by blacklegged ticks, Lyme disease remains the most common tick-borne illness. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), only 5% to 10% of infected dogs actually show symptoms — but when they do, the consequences can be severe. Watch for intermittent lameness, fever, loss of appetite, and swollen joints. In rare cases (1% to 5%), dogs can develop Lyme nephritis, a form of kidney disease that can be fatal.

The CAPC's 2026 forecast projects Lyme risk expanding across Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan, with sustained risk spreading into the Northern Plains. Over 89,000 cases of Lyme disease were reported in the latest CDC surveillance data.

Ehrlichiosis

Transmitted primarily by the Lone Star tick and brown dog tick, ehrlichiosis can cause fever, lethargy, weight loss, and bleeding disorders. The CAPC warns that sustained high risk persists across the Southeast, Southwest, and south-central U.S., with northward expansion expected.

Anaplasmosis

Often occurring alongside Lyme disease in the same regions, anaplasmosis can cause joint pain, lethargy, and decreased appetite in dogs. The 2026 forecast predicts rates at an expected minimum of 10% in the Northeast.

Babesiosis

A parasitic disease that destroys red blood cells, babesiosis can cause severe anemia, jaundice, and organ failure. While less common in the U.S., the spread of brown dog ticks — which can live and reproduce indoors — raises the risk for dogs year-round.

7 Ways to Protect Your Dog This Tick Season

The good news? Tick-borne diseases are largely preventable. Here's what veterinarians and experts recommend:

1. Use Year-Round Tick Prevention

The CDC recommends using a veterinarian-approved tick preventive product on your dog year-round — not just during the traditional "tick season." Options include oral chewables (like NexGard, Bravecto, or Simparica Trio), topical treatments, and tick collars. Talk to your vet about which option is best for your dog's breed, size, and lifestyle.

2. Do a Daily Tick Check

Make it a habit to check your dog for ticks every day, especially after walks in wooded or grassy areas. Pay special attention to the ears, between the toes, under the collar, around the tail, and in the groin area. Ticks on dogs with long or dark fur can be especially hard to spot, so use your fingers to feel for small bumps.

3. Remove Ticks Immediately and Correctly

If you find a tick, use fine-point tweezers or a tick removal hook (like a Tick Tornado). Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible and pull straight upward in a slow, steady motion. Never crush a tick with your fingers, and clean the bite area with rubbing alcohol afterward. The AKC notes that squeezing a tick can actually inject more infectious material into your dog.

4. Ask Your Vet About the Lyme Vaccine

Unlike most tick-borne diseases, Lyme disease has a vaccine available for dogs. If you live in a high-risk area — especially the Northeast, Upper Midwest, or the expanding zones highlighted in the 2026 CAPC forecast — talk to your veterinarian about whether the Lyme vaccine is right for your pup.

5. Manage Your Yard

Ticks thrive in tall grass, leaf litter, and shady, moist areas. Keep your lawn mowed, remove leaf piles, and create a barrier of wood chips or gravel between wooded areas and your yard. Consider treating your yard with pet-safe tick control products.

6. Know the Symptoms

Because many tick-borne diseases don't show symptoms for weeks or even months after a bite, stay alert for subtle changes in your dog's behavior. Limping, lethargy, decreased appetite, fever, and swollen joints are all reasons to visit your vet — even if you haven't noticed a tick recently.

7. Request Annual Tick-Borne Disease Testing

Ask your vet to include a tick-borne disease panel in your dog's annual checkup. A simple blood test (like the SNAP 4Dx) can screen for Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis, and heartworm all at once. Early detection can make a huge difference in treatment outcomes.

The Bottom Line

Tick-borne diseases in dogs are expanding to new regions, starting earlier in the year, and affecting more pets than ever. But with the right prevention, vigilance, and partnership with your veterinarian, you can keep your dog safe and happy through what experts predict will be a particularly challenging season.

The most important step? Start now. Don't wait for the first tick sighting — by then, ticks have already been active for weeks.

Looking for more ways to keep your pup healthy and safe this spring? Sidewalk Dog has you covered with expert tips, local resources, and everything you need to enjoy the season with your four-legged best friend. Find dog-friendly spots in your city where you and your pup can explore safely — tick check included.