Ticks are parasites that bite other animals and consume their blood. They tend to inhabit wooded or grassy areas but some types of tick like the brown dog tick (Ixodes Canisuga) prefer drier environments like kennels, where they also attack cats.
Unlike fleas or mosquitos, ticks drop onto their host as they brush past. Ticks carry disease, which can be harmful to pets. Knowing what to look for is essential - so what does a tick look like on a dog - and can they be mistaken for anything else?
How To Spot Tick Bites On A Dog
When you check your dog for ticks, part their fur and run your fingers across their skin to check for small bumps. Ticks are drawn to warmth, and may be found near extremities and under skin folds. In dogs, this includes the head neck area as well as the feet and ears.What does a tick look like on a dog? Ticks can resemble warts and can be mistaken for minor skin swellings or masses (such as skin tags) - but on closer inspection, you may be able to see legs. The average tick can be as small as 1 mm - but once they have fed, they can swell to around 1cm.
Preventing Tick Bites
The best route to preventing ticks on dogs while you are on walks is to avoid long grass, especially in warmer weather and to carry out routine tick-checks. If you are taking your dog on holiday, ensure their vaccinations are up-to-date.Other tick preventative measures include products such as tick collars - but avoid using any treatments without discussing them with your vet. Take caution when using anti-tick treatments.
- DEET can be lethal to pets. Instead, look for vet-approved, pet-safe pest repellent.
- Spot-on treatments: These are chemical treatments dropped onto your dog’s skin on the back of their neck. These can make humans very unwell, but if ingested by animals they can be lethal, especially to cats.
Use the formula intended for your pet (i.e. spot-on for dogs should be used on dogs only), avoid contact with your skin and follow the instructions carefully.
Keep small children and other pets away from your dog after using a spot-on treatment for at least 24 hours after treatment to avoid accidental ingestion. If this occurs, seek medical or veterinary advice immediately.
How Do Ticks Affect Dogs?
In addition to scratching, symptoms of tick bites in dogs include the following:- Head-shaking: This can occur when a tick crawls inside your dog’s ear. If this happens, do not treat it yourself - take your dog to a vet instead for safe removal.
- Anaemia: In some cases the tick consumes so much blood it leaves the dog with a depleted iron count. Due to their size, smaller breeds or puppies are at increased risk.
Skin around an embedded tick can be red and inflamed, and there may be scabs left by tick bites. It may be easy to see where the tick is located, as dogs tend to bite and chew the irritated area.
Tick-Borne Diseases
Ticks themselves do not cause diseases, but if infected with a bacterium or virus they can transmit a tick borne disease to another animal. Some diseases (like babesiosis and tick-borne encephalitis) are relatively rare - while in the UK, diseases such as Lyme disease and anaplasmosis are more common.Many of these disease share similar symptoms, such as:
- Reduced appetite
- Breathing difficulties,
- Stiff or swollen joints
- Lethargy/listlessness
- Low mood
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Fever/high temperature
- Increased thirst/urination
In addition to the above symptoms, tick infections may also lead to more unusual symptoms such as yellowish skin, a swollen abdomen, loss of consciousness and even tick paralysis (which can subside once the tick is removed).
Lyme Disease
Lyme disease is a serious bacterial infection affecting dogs and occasionally cats, though symptoms in felines tend to be less noticeable - and it can also affect humans. Pets who spend a lot of time in areas where there are sheep or deer are at increased risk for Lyme disease.Anaplasmosis
In addition to sharing many symptoms of Lyme disease, anaplasmosis may cause vomiting, diarrhoea, heavy panting, coughing and (more rarely) seizures and nosebleeds. Transmission between animals and humans (or even between other animals) is possible, though rare.Untreated Tick-borne Illness In Dogs
Symptoms of illnesses such as Lyme disease in dogs may be very subtle at first - and in some cases may not show until weeks or even months after transmission. If you notice any unusual symptoms in your dog following a bite (suspected or confirmed), contact your vet immediately.Typically, illnesses such as anaplasmosis and Lyme can be treated with a short course of antibiotics - but if left untreated they affect the heart, joints and nervous system and may even develop into life-threatening conditions such as kidney failure.
Tick Removal
Now that we know the answer to the question “what does a tick look like on a dog?” it can be easier to know what to look for when attempting to find a tick on your pet. To avoid infection, it’s important to remove ticks without leaving the head and mouthparts behind.If you are unsure how to remove the tick without doing this, it’s best to take your dog to see a vet who will be able to safely remove ticks for you. If you feel you can remove the tick yourself, you will need a pet-safe tick removal tool, in addition to:
- A lidded jar
- Pet-safe disinfectant
- A pair of disposable gloves
- Someone to help steady and comfort your dog.
How To Remove Ticks: Step-By-Step
- Wash your hands and put on your gloves.
- Disinfect the tool.
- Steady your pet.
- Place the tool around the tick, close to your dog’s skin (without accidentally catching it).
- Gently twist and pull out the tick without squeezing or crushing it.
- Clean the affected area with the pet-safe disinfectant
- Re-inspect the area for signs of infection (for example leaking fluid or redness).
If you notice signs of infection, if your dog becomes distressed or if you accidentally leave the head and mouthparts behind, contact your vet for assistance straightaway. Take care not to receive a tick bite yourself. If you are bitten and start to feel unwell, contact your doctor.
Once you have removed the tick, place it in a jar for safe disposal. Never use your finger to crush a tick. Dispose of the tick by putting it in alcohol or inside a tissue and flushing down the toilet before washing your hands thoroughly.