Tularemia isn’t a disease most pet owners, let alone veterinarians think about day to day—and that’s exactly why it deserves our attention this time of year. While uncommon, it’s one of those infections that can move quietly from wildlife to pets and, in some cases, to people. As a veterinary team, our goal isn’t to alarm, but to make sure you know what to watch for and how to reduce risk.

Tularemia is caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis. It’s found in wildlife, particularly rabbits, rodents, and some other small mammals. In veterinary school, they teach this as the hunter’s disease as exposure commonly occurs during the dressing of rabbits. Dogs and cats typically become infected through direct contact—most often by hunting or scavenging infected animals. Tick and deer fly bites can also transmit the disease, and less commonly, exposure can occur through contaminated water or soil.

Cats tend to be more severely affected than dogs. Their natural hunting behavior puts them at higher risk, and when they do become infected, the illness can progress quickly. Dogs, while more resistant overall, are certainly not immune.

The early signs of tularemia can be vague. Pets may develop a sudden fever, lethargy, and a noticeable drop in appetite. You might see swollen lymph nodes, especially around the head and neck, or oral ulcers. Some pets develop eye discharge, coughing, or abdominal pain. In more serious cases, particularly in cats, the disease can progress to organ involvement, difficulty breathing, or signs of sepsis.

Because these symptoms overlap with many other conditions, diagnosis requires a combination of clinical suspicion and testing. If we’re concerned about tularemia, we may recommend bloodwork to look for signs of infection and inflammation, along with specific testing such as PCR assays or serology to confirm exposure to Francisella tularensis. This will usually involve swabbing in the back of the throat or fine needle aspiration of inflamed lymph nodes. It’s important to note that this is a zoonotic disease, so veterinary staff take precautions when handling suspected cases to protect both clinic personnel and pet owners.

Treatment is most effective when started early. Tularemia does not respond to just any antibiotic—specific medications such as tetracyclines and fluoroquinolones are required. Depending on how sick the pet is, hospitalization and supportive care (fluids, pain control, nutritional support) may be necessary. Many pets recover well with prompt treatment, but delayed care can lead to more serious outcomes.

One of the more important aspects of tularemia is its zoonotic potential, meaning it can be transmitted from animals to humans. People can become infected through bites from infected ticks or flies, handling infected animals (including pets), or contact with contaminated materials. When we talk about tularemia being zoonotic, one of the highest-risk situations for people isn’t casual contact with a healthy pet—it’s direct handling of an infected animal or its tissues. The bacterium, Francisella tularensis, is highly infectious and can enter the body through very small breaks in the skin or through mucous membranes like the eyes, nose, or mouth.

In practical terms, this means people can become infected when they handle a sick pet, a deceased animal, or wildlife that their pet has brought home—especially without protection. Even minor, unnoticed cuts on your hands can be enough for the bacteria to gain entry. Contact with bodily fluids such as saliva, blood, or discharge from the eyes or nose increases that risk. For example, cleaning up after a lethargic cat with oral ulcers, or examining a dog that has been carrying around a rabbit, can create an opportunity for exposure if proper precautions aren’t taken.

There is also a risk from aerosolization, which sounds more intimidating than it typically is, but it’s worth understanding. Activities that disturb contaminated fluids—such as power washing an area where an infected animal has been, or more commonly in veterinary settings, certain medical procedures—can release tiny particles into the air. If inhaled, this can lead to a more severe form of the disease in humans, known as pneumonic tularemia. While this type of exposure is less common at home, it reinforces why clinics take additional precautions when tularemia is suspected.

In humans, tularemia often begins with sudden fever, chills, headache, and fatigue. Depending on how the infection is acquired, it may also cause swollen lymph nodes, skin ulcers, sore throat, or even pneumonia. While treatable with appropriate antibiotics, it can be serious and even life threatening if not recognized early.

For pet owners, the key is awareness without panic. Preventative steps go a long way. Keeping cats indoors significantly reduces their exposure risk as well as maintaining tick preventative. For dogs, avoiding areas with high tick populations, using consistent tick prevention, and discouraging hunting or scavenging behavior are important. If your pet does catch or interact with wildlife—especially rabbits or rodents—use gloves if you need to handle them and wash your hands thoroughly afterward. Any sudden illness following these types of exposures should prompt a veterinary visit.

In Kansas, tularemia is considered an endemic but relatively uncommon disease, with cases reported in both animals and humans each year. Over the past couple of years, state health data has continued to show sporadic cases rather than large outbreaks, often tied to seasonal patterns like increased tick activity. While the overall numbers remain low, the presence of the disease in our region makes awareness and prevention worthwhile.

Tularemia sits in that category of diseases that are rare enough to overlook, but significant enough to recognize when it appears. If your pet is acting off—especially after known exposure to wildlife or ticks—trust your instincts and reach out. Early attention can make all the difference, both for your pet’s health and for your family’s safety.