Dogs, Ticks and Tick-Borne Parasites, Ticks are more than just creepy; they can spread a number of different diseases that affect both pets and people. And each year, thousands of dogs become infected with serious diseases transmitted by a number of different ticks. Ticks can transmit Lyme disease, Ehrlichia, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, anaplasmosis, tularemia, and babesia. Generally known as vector-borne disease, the risks they pose to your dog can be minimized with preventive measures (topical medications, tick collars, etc.) an.