Ticks suck. Literally. These eight-legged, resembling-a-spider insects are the bane of canines and dog owners everywhere.
These common parasites are primarily active during the warmer months. They enjoy hiding out in grasslands and woodlands where it is dark and damp, where they can get a ride and a free meal from passing dogs. Unlike fleas, ticks don’t jump. They climb aboard or drop onto a passing host.
Although ticks can bite both humans and cats, dogs are more vulnerable to ticks and diseases carried by ticks. Knowing how to keep your dog free from ticks and what to do if they do is crucial.
It’s crucial that we are well-informed as the weather warms up and we begin to spend more time outdoors with our favorite companions.
What does a tick look like on a dog?
Ticks come in a variety of sizes and shapes, but they typically have an oval shape, are small, flat, and black. Ticks typically enlarge to the size of a small coffee bean after gorging on blood. When you look closely, you can see their eight legs, even though they sometimes resemble a wart in a dog’s fur.
A tick on a dog’s skin
Harmful Ticks: How to Recognize Them on Dogs
Before a tick attaches, its movements often gives it away. If you notice a tiny, brownish spider crawling on your dog, remove it as soon as you can with gloves on, a tissue, or rubbing alcohol.
A tick that has become embedded in a dog’s skin may resemble a raised mole or a dark skin tag. You’ll need to look very closely for telltale indications it’s a tick, such as the hard, oval body and eight legs, as they can be difficult to distinguish from a small bump.
Only the tick’s head, which contains the parasite, can enter your dog’s body. Therefore, it’s unlikely to be a tick if you notice a bump that looks like it’s under the skin. But if you notice something that seems to be protruding from your dog’s skin, it might be a tick. Grab a small magnifying glass to take a closer look.
Several tick species can spread diseases to dogs, and knowing which ones they are and what they look like can help your veterinarian identify and treat diseases when symptoms appear.
These ticks have flat, oval-shaped bodies. Males have a mottled brown and white pattern across their backs, while females have white-to-off-white markings on their upper backs.
The American dog tick is found east of the Rocky Mountains and in a growing number of areas along the Pacific Coast. Research shows that this tick species prefer attaching around the head, ears and neck of dogs (2). As larvae and nymphs, the American dog tick tends to stick to smaller animals like mice but adult ticks prefer dogs.
As Lyons explains, “at each of these life stages, there’s a chance that whatever animals it’s feeding on has one of these pathogens, and the tick will ingest it and transmit it to its next host through the bacteria in its saliva,”
Black-legged female ticks have flat, oval-shaped orange bodies and a sizable brown dot on their backs. They are named for their black legs. The males are also oval-shaped and flat, but their bodies are brown with an off-white border. The Western black-legged tick (Ixodes pacificus) also has black legs. Males have an orange border around their oval bodies and dark brown and rust-colored markings on their scutums; females have a rust-colored scutum with a dark brown marking on their upper back.
The Lyme disease-causing bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi is carried by the black-legged tick (Ixodes scapularis) and the western black-legged tick. Both species’ adult females have black scutum, legs, and heads. They also have a reddish-colored abdomen.
These ticks, also referred to as deer ticks, attach to dogs’ heads, ears, necks, and occasionally backs. The Western black-legged tick has a range that includes Arizona, California, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington, while the black-legged tick is found throughout the Northeast and upper Midwest. Both prefer high brush and open grasslands.
This species, which is known for its brown color, can live its entire life cycle both indoors and outdoors, so it can be found in residences, dog shelters, grooming parlors, boarding establishments, and grasslands. It has been identified in every state. The males and females look similar. Both have brown bodies that are flat and oval-shaped, but the male is darker than the female.
The main species that spreads Rocky Mountain spotted fever is the brown dog tick. While it will attach almost anywhere on a dog, Dr. According to Oklahoma State University resident in veterinary parasitology Kathryn Duncan, the Brown Dog Tick is typically found on or near a dog’s head, ears, legs, and between the toes.
A white spot that resembles a paint drip can be seen on the female Lone Star Tick’s back. Males have rust-colored and dark brown markings, but no white dots. Their bodies are slightly more rounded than other tick species.
However, Duncan notes that the geographic distribution of these ticks is rapidly expanding, adding, “It’s up into the Northeast now and making its way into the Midwest.” These ticks are currently found throughout the Southeast, including some areas of Texas. These ticks can be found hiding in fields and other brushy areas.
The Heartland virus disease, which causes fever, exhaustion, headache, nausea, and diarrhea in dogs, and ehrlichiosis can both be spread by the Lone Star Tick, which attaches to dogs around the head, neck, belly, armpits, and groin.
“It’s a hunter tick,” Duncan explains. “It will chase after your pet, hunting them down, because it can see us through carbon dioxide emissions and shadows.” ”.
How do I safely remove a tick from my dog?
The team at warns us, “If you find a tick on your pet, it’s important to remove it as soon as possible to reduce the risk that it will infect your dog with a disease.” It’s imperative to avoid pulling, crushing, or squeezing ticks to prevent the spread of disease and the possibility of leaving the tick’s head or mouth parts behind. “.
The experts advise using a specially made tick twisting tool to slide between the tick and your dog’s skin, getting as close to the skin as possible, if you want to get the tick off of your dog. Make sure the tick is securely fastened inside the hook; if it feels loose, use a smaller hook.
“Be careful not to pull the tick off; the tick will let go when you’ve twisted the tool two to three times in the same direction until you feel the tick loosen from your pet.” When the tick starts to budge, slowly lift the tool away; it ought to remain in the hook. Make sure the tick is disposed of so that it cannot harm any other people or animals. “.
Always consult your neighborhood veterinarian if you are unsure or have trouble getting the tick off your dog.
FAQ
Do tick bites leave a hole?
When a tick bites you, it may leave a tiny puncture mark where it burrowed into your skin to feed. Around this puncture, a tiny, dry, crusty scab may appear.
What does a tick burrow look like on a dog?
You might be able to see a tick crawling around on your dog, but it will be very small. And once it becomes embedded, it’ll be harder to spot. When a tick is embedded in a dog, it will appear to be a mole or wart, but if you look closely, you can see the tick’s legs.
How do you tell if it’s a tick on dog?
A feeding tick could easily be mistaken for a scab. Part your dog’s fur and carefully examine it to determine if it has a tick or a scab. Scabs are typically flat against the skin, whereas ticks stick out, especially as they get bigger.
Do ticks leave marks on dogs?
A dog’s tick bite resembles a tiny red bump, much like a mosquito bite. These bumps frequently develop at the site of a tick bite or are removed by ticks and disappear after a few days.