2025 Parasite Forecast Shows Rising Risks for Hunting Dogs
The Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) has released its 2025 annual parasite forecast — and for those of us who spend more time in the woods than on the porch, it offers a look at what’s moving through the country alongside our hounds.
Based on over 10 million diagnostic tests reported each year, CAPC’s forecasts have a 94% accuracy rate in predicting where parasite-borne diseases are most active.
That means what’s showing up on their maps often matches what’s showing up in the dog box.
What Areas Are Seeing the Biggest Changes?
Lyme disease and anaplasmosis — both spread by ticks — continue expanding south and west. The upper Midwest and Northeast remain high-risk regions.
Ehrlichiosis stays prevalent in the Southeast but is creeping northward into the Midwest and parts of New England.
Heartworm — carried by mosquitoes — is holding strong in the Southeast, stretching up along the Mississippi River corridor, and increasing in places like Kansas, Colorado, Northern California, and parts of the mountain west.
What It Means for Houndsmen
Most houndsmen already know that woods-running dogs pick up more than just a track. Time in the brush, the bottoms, and the backcountry means exposure.
CAPC Board President Dr. Brian Herrin reminds hunters that even areas with historically lower parasite levels aren’t off the hook:
"Low risk doesn’t mean no risk. Year-round prevention is essential to keeping dogs safe from these potentially fatal diseases."
Dogs continue to serve as a first sign of changing conditions, often picking up parasites long before human cases rise.
Where to Learn More
CAPC offers detailed, county-by-county maps and 30-day forecasts for parasite activity at: www.PetDiseaseAlerts.org
Whether your hounds hunt hardwoods in the South, the big woods of the North, or canyon country out West, it’s worth knowing what’s moving in your region.