Regarding dog ticks and disease, which statement is true?

• A. Both statements are true
• B. 1 is false, 2 is true
• C. 1 is true, 2 is false
• D. Both statements are false

Answer: (B)

Ticks transmit pathogens primarily while they are attached, and the risk depends on the tick species and the specific pathogen. A common teaching point is that a bite claim that disease is transmitted instantly is not accurate for many tick-borne diseases in dogs, whereas the idea that transmission generally requires the tick to be attached for a certain period (often around a day or more for several pathogens) is true. Because I don’t have the exact wording of the two statements, I can’t map them precisely to why one is false and the other true. If you share the exact text of both statements, I’ll walk through why the first is incorrect and the second is correct in this context.