Could My Dog Have Tularemia (Rabbit Fever)?

If your dog has been roaming outside, chasing rabbits, or picking up ticks, tularemia is worth knowing about. Also called rabbit fever, it’s a bacterial infection that can make dogs sick and, in some cases, spread to people. The good news: dogs are generally resilient to it, and most recover fully with prompt treatment.

What is tularemia in dogs?

Tularemia is a bacterial infection caused by Francisella tularensis, a tough bacterium that lives in wildlife populations, particularly in rabbits, hares, and rodents. When those animals get infected, the bacteria can spread to dogs through several routes: a tick or deer fly bite, direct contact with an infected animal’s body, or eating infected prey.

Dogs are considered moderately resistant compared to rabbits (highly susceptible) or cats (can get severely ill). Many dogs exposed to Francisella tularensis will have mild symptoms or none at all. That said, it’s not something to brush off, especially because of the risk it poses to the humans in your home.

How dogs get tularemia?

The most common ways a dog picks up tularemia include:

• Eating infected rabbits or rodents: One of the most frequent routes. Dogs that hunt, scavenge, or simply find a dead animal outside can ingest the bacteria directly.
• Tick bites: Several tick species can carry and transmit Francisella tularensis. Dogs who spend time in tall grass, wooded areas, or fields are at higher risk.
• Deer fly bites: Biting insects that can transmit tularemia, especially in summer months near water or wooded areas.
• Contact with contaminated water or soil: Less common in dogs, but possible if they drink from or wade through water in areas with infected wildlife.

Tularemia symptoms in dogs: what to look for

The incubation period for tularemia in dogs is typically one to ten days, with most owners noticing something’s off within three to five days of a known exposure.

• Sudden fever: Your dog may feel hot to the touch and seem uncomfortable. In a dog with recent tick exposure or contact with wildlife, a fever is a same-day vet call.
• Lethargy: Noticeably less energy, reluctance to move or play. Combined with fever and any outdoor exposure to rabbits or ticks, don’t wait.
• Enlarged lymph nodes: Swollen glands you might feel under the jaw, in the armpits, or behind the knees. Worth mentioning specifically to your vet alongside any exposure history.
• Loss of appetite: A dog turning away from food alongside other symptoms warrants a prompt vet visit.
• Runny nose or eye discharge: Can accompany the systemic illness.
• Stiffness or muscle soreness: Your dog may seem reluctant to move or flinch when touched.
• Vomiting or diarrhea: In more severe cases. Combined with the above, see a vet today.

In rare, more serious cases, tularemia can affect the liver, spleen, or lungs. If your dog seems severely ill, not just a little under the weather, get to a vet quickly.

Should I go to the emergency vet, or can this wait?

Call your vet and aim to be seen today if:

• Your dog has a fever alongside lethargy after recent outdoor activity in a high-risk area
• You know or suspect your dog had contact with a rabbit, rodent, or dead animal in the past ten days
• Your dog seems generally unwell with no obvious cause

Go to emergency care now if:

• Your dog is severely lethargic or can’t stand
• Symptoms are progressing rapidly over a few hours
• Your dog is showing signs of respiratory distress alongside other symptoms

Tularemia can escalate. If your dog’s outdoor history suggests exposure and they’re showing multiple symptoms, don’t wait for a morning appointment go to an emergency vet.

Diagnosis and treatment of tularemia in dogs

How vets diagnose tularemia

Your vet will start with a physical exam and a full history, including any recent outdoor activity, tick exposure, or contact with wildlife. From there, they’ll likely run blood tests to look for signs of infection and inflammation, and may use a blood culture or PCR test (a lab technique that detects the bacteria’s DNA directly) to confirm tularemia. Swollen lymph nodes may also be tested by taking a small fluid sample for analysis.

Treatment options

The primary treatment is antibiotics. Doxycycline is commonly used and works well against Francisella tularensis. Treatment usually lasts one to two weeks, and most dogs respond well and recover fully.

For dogs with more severe illness, supportive care may be needed alongside antibiotics, including IV fluids, fever management, and in serious cases, a hospital stay for close monitoring. The prognosis when treatment starts promptly is generally very good.

The zoonotic angle: protecting your household

Tularemia is a zoonotic disease (it can spread from animals to people), and it’s a reportable disease in the United States, meaning confirmed cases must be reported to public health authorities.

Your dog isn’t likely to sneeze tularemia onto you. But the risks are real if you handle a sick dog without precautions, especially when dealing with body fluids, wounds, or tick removal.

If your dog is sick or diagnosed:

• Wear gloves when handling your dog, cleaning up waste, or dealing with wounds or discharge
• Wash your hands thoroughly after any contact during their illness
• Avoid letting your dog lick your face or open cuts while being treated
• Tell your vet immediately if you suspect tularemia. They’re required to report confirmed cases, which triggers public health follow-up.
• Watch yourself too. Symptoms in people include sudden fever, headache, swollen lymph nodes, and skin ulcers at a bite or contact site. If you develop these after handling a sick dog or wildlife, see a doctor and mention the potential exposure.

Tularemia being reportable isn’t bureaucratic red tape. It helps health officials track outbreaks, identify high-risk areas, and protect people who may have been exposed without knowing it.

Does pet insurance cover tularemia in dogs?

Vet costs for tularemia can add up fast, especially if your dog needs blood work, a PCR test, antibiotics, and supportive care.

Tularemia is covered under a Lemonade Pet accident and illness policy, as long as it’s not pre-existing and develops after your waiting periods end. If your dog gets a tick bite next weekend and you don’t have a policy yet, you’d be paying out of pocket. Enrolling before something happens is what makes pet insurance actually useful.

Before we go

Tularemia in dogs is treatable, and most dogs come through it just fine with prompt vet care and the right antibiotics. If your dog spends time outdoors, especially in areas with rabbits, rodents, or ticks, it’s worth knowing the signs. And if your dog does get sick, take the zoonotic risk seriously. A few simple precautions protect everyone in your household. Your vet is the first call.

Tularemia in dogs FAQs

A few quick words, because we <3 our lawyers: This post is general in nature, and any statement in it doesn’t alter the terms, conditions, exclusions, or limitations of the policies issued, which differ according to your state of residence. You’re encouraged to discuss your specific circumstances with your own professional advisors. The purpose of this post is merely to provide you with info and insights you can use to make such discussions more productive! Naturally, all comments by, or references to, third parties represent their own views, and Lemonade assumes no responsibility for them. Coverage may not be available in all states. Please note that statements about coverages, policy management, claims processes, Giveback, and customer support apply to policies underwritten by Lemonade Insurance Company or Metromile Insurance Company, a Lemonade company, sold by Lemonade Insurance Agency, LLC.  The statements do not apply to policies underwritten by other carriers.