The Tick You Need to Know About

The most common tick on dogs in Namibia is the brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus). Unlike bush ticks that live in the veld, this one lives with you — in your yard, in your kennels, in the cracks of your walls and floors. It does not need the bush to survive. It breeds indoors.

That means even if your dog never leaves the property, it can still pick up ticks. And if you only treat the dog but not the environment, you will never get on top of it.

Tick Bite Fever in Dogs (Ehrlichiosis)

This is the number one tick disease in Namibian dogs. A study in Windhoek found that more than half the dogs tested had been exposed to Ehrlichia canis. It was especially common in areas where tick control is limited.

What you will see: Your dog goes off food, loses weight, becomes lazy and tired. As it gets worse — bleeding from the gums or nose, bruising on the belly, and pale gums. Left untreated, it becomes chronic and can kill.

The good news: caught early, treatment is straightforward. The bad news: once it is chronic, treatment is expensive, complicated, and sometimes too late.

Biliary in Dogs (Babesiosis)

The second major tick disease. The tick injects a parasite that destroys your dog's red blood cells. This is the one that kills quickly if you miss it.

What you will see: Sudden weakness, dark or red-brown urine, yellow or white gums, high fever. Your dog may collapse.

Babesiosis in Cats

Cats in southern Africa can also get babesiosis. It is less common than in dogs, but when it happens, it is serious. The signs are similar — lethargy, loss of appetite, pale gums, and sometimes jaundice (yellowing). Cats are good at hiding illness, so by the time you notice something is wrong, the disease may already be advanced.

The same principle applies: keep your cat on a registered tick prevention product year-round.

Tick Disease in Cattle

Gallsickness (Anaplasmosis)

Spread mainly by the blue tick (Rhipicephalus decoloratus). Present throughout most of Namibia. The parasite attacks red blood cells. Symptoms appear 3 to 6 weeks after infection: fever, drop in milk production, weakness, pale membranes, sometimes sudden death. Adult cattle are more severely affected than calves.

Redwater (Babesiosis)

Also spread by the blue tick. Cattle develop a high fever and pass dark red or brown urine — hence the name. Destroys red blood cells rapidly. Can be fatal without prompt treatment.

How to Protect Your Animals

The single most important thing: consistent, year-round tick prevention. Not just in summer. Not just when you see ticks. Year-round. Missing even one month creates a gap that ticks will exploit.

Monthly Tablets (Dogs)

Oral tablets that kill ticks after they bite. Easy to give, no messy application, and your dog can swim or be bathed without affecting the treatment.

Spot-On Treatments (Dogs and Cats)

Applied to the skin between the shoulder blades. Spreads across the body through the skin oils. Avoid bathing your dog for 48 hours after application.

Tick Collars

Long-lasting option — one collar provides months of protection. Releases active ingredient slowly through the skin. Good for owners who forget monthly treatments.

Dips and Sprays

Useful for heavy infestations and environmental control. For the brown dog tick specifically, treating the environment matters as much as treating the dog. These ticks breed in kennels, cracks in walls, and shaded areas around your house. Dip the dog and spray the environment.

When to Call the Vet

If your dog or cat shows any of these signs, it is not a wait-and-see situation: