Ticks in Dogs
Introduction
Ticks in Dogs Guide: Here you'll find in-depth information on Ticks in dogs including its symptoms, prevention, and treatments.
Read More >
What are Ticks
Ticks are external parasites that feed only on the blood of their hosts. They are arthropods, closely related to mites, scorpions and spiders. Both soft (argasid) and hard (ixodid) ticks can feed on the blood of dogs. However, ixodid ticks are more common, reproduce faster and are more problematic to domestic dogs. Dogs pick up ticks from the environment and, less frequently, from other animals. Ticks tend to be attracted to dogs by warmth, physical contact and odors, among other things.
Male and female ticks mate while on their host’s body. The female then feeds on the host’s blood and lays her eggs. Tick eggs hatch into six-legged larvae, which live and feed on their host for about one week. They then detach and molt into eight-legged nymphs, which feed on animals for up to 12 days. The engorged nymphs then detach and molt again, this time into adult ticks. Adults move slowly. They do not scurry like some lice and mites, nor do they jump like fleas.
How Ticks Affect Dogs
There is no breed, age or gender predisposition to tick infestation. Dogs used for hunting or other outdoor activities are more likely to become infested by ticks than dogs that spend most of their time indoors, simply because of greater environmental exposure to the parasites. When free in the environment, ticks reside on grass and plants, holding their legs out to sense when a warm-blooded animal passes by. They crawl onto their canine victim, or “host,” and immediately begin to feed. While ingesting their blood meal, the ticks’ saliva mingles with the dog’s blood and enters its bloodstream. This is how tick-borne diseases are transmitted.
Most of the time, ticks are found by owners when petting or grooming their dogs. Ticks tend to settle in or around a dog’s ears, under their armpits or between their toes, although then can be found anywhere on the body. Many dogs show no signs of being bitten by one or more ticks; the salivary secretions of some species of ticks have adapted to suppress the host animal’s response, making their bites relatively painless. Other dogs will develop recognizable signs of localized irritation, redness and inflammation at the bite site. They may lick, chew and scratch at the area, inflicting self-trauma. Ticks can secrete a number of neurotoxins in their saliva that cause a progressive, ascending paralysis in dogs known as “tick paralysis.” Tick bites can also cause allergic, or “hypersensitivity,” reactions. In cases of severe tick infestation, affected dogs may become mildly to severely anemic due to blood loss. Some of the more serious effects of tick bites are systemic illnesses caused by tick-borne infectious bacterial, viral, protozoal and rickettsial microorganisms. Ticks need to be attached and feed for a number of hours before these infectious organisms can be transmitted to a dog through their saliva.
Specific Ticks That Bother Dogs
The hard (ixotid) ticks that affect domestic dogs include:
- Black-legged tick (Ixodes scapularis): The black-legged tick primarily inhabits the northeastern, southeastern and midwestern United States, although it can also be found on the Pacific coast. Ixodes scapularis is responsible for borreliosis, also called Lyme disease, as it is a vector (carrier) of Borrelia burgdorferi. Lyme disease in dogs causes arthritis, fever and sometimes neurological signs.
- American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis): The American dog tick is found throughout North America. It is especially prevalent along the Atlantic coast, in areas of thick shrubs and long beach grass. Dermacentor variabilis is responsible for Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tick paralysis in dogs, because it is a carrier (vector) of Rhipicephalus ricketsii. Rocky Mountain spotted fever causes affected dogs to suffer from inflammation and death of the tissues of blood vessels (necrotizing vasculitis).
- Brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus): The brown dog tick is also widely distributed throughout North America. It is a carrier of Ehrlicia canis and is associated with babesiosis, ehrlichiosis and tick paralysis in companion dogs.
The soft (argasid) ticks that affect domestic dogs include:
- The main soft (argasid) tick that affects dogs in the United States is the spinous ear tick (Otobius megnini). It is also common in South Africa, India and South America. The soft spinous ear tick causes irritation, head-shaking and overall ill-thrift.
Special Notes
Ticks can parasitize many mammals, including people. They can move from dogs to people, and vice versa. Ticks are diagnosed visually based upon a close physical examination of the dog’s skin, with particular attention being paid to the inside of the ears, under the armpits and between the toes. Ticks should be physically removed as quickly as possible. There are a number of recommended ways to accomplish this. One is to soak the tick with an alcohol-saturated cotton ball while it is still attached to the dog’s skin. After several minutes, the tick can be removed by grasping its head with hemostats or blunt tweezers as close as possible to where its mouth enters the dog’s skin, and pulling it out with constant traction and a gentle twist. It is important to remove the entire head and mouth parts. The so-called “tick feeding cavity” should be cleaned with soap and water, or other disinfectant solutions as recommended by the dog’s veterinarian, to reduce the risk of local inflammation and secondary bacterial infection. If a dog is heavily infested with ticks, it may be necessary to treat it with an insecticidal dip, under the supervision of a veterinarian.
Because ticks and their blood can be dangerous to people, they should not be held, squeezed or touched with bare hands. Several different tick-removal devices are commercially available. After they are removed, ticks should be put into a sealed container with a small amount of alcohol and disposed of in an outdoor garbage receptacle. It may be wise to call the dog’s veterinarian first, to see if she wants to see the tick to evaluate any potential adverse consequences to the dog from its bite.
The prognosis for dogs that have been parasitized by ticks is good, so long as the ticks are removed and effective measures are taken to prevent re-exposure and re-infestation. There are a number of commercial topical preventatives that are quite effective in managing ticks in companion dogs, including liquid on-spot treatments, rinses and collars. A veterinarian can recommend an appropriate product for dogs in particular geographic areas. Some tick preventatives are not appropriate for young puppies or in households with young children. Avoiding outdoor areas that harbor ticks is an excellent way to reduce the risk of infection. Certain vaccines are available for some diseases caused by tick-borne organisms, such as Lyme’s disease. Removing ticks promptly can help prevent transmission of tick-borne diseases. Long grass, weeds and brush should be kept trimmed low to eliminate the outdoor residential areas preferred by these parasites. Environmental pesticides are also available.
Ticks are ectoparasites that feed only on the blood of their hosts. They are arthropods closely related to mites, scorpions and spiders. Both soft ticks (argasids) and hard ticks (ixodids) can feed on the blood of dogs, although ixodid ticks are more common.There is no breed, age or gender predisposition to tick infestation. Affected dogs may show no signs or may exhibit signs of irritation at the bite site including redness, inflammation, chewing, scratching and
The brown dog tick is not a vector of human disease, but it is capable of transmitting canine piroplasmosis among dogs.The American dog tick may carry Rocky Mountain spotted fever, tularemia, and other diseases from animals to people. Dogs are not affected by these diseases, but people have become infected by picking ticks from dogs. People living in areas where these wood ticks occur should inspect themselves several times a day. Early removal is important
Lyme disease was first recognized in 1975 as a distinct clinical disorder and is currently the most frequently reported vector-borne disease in the United States (CDC 1995). Transmission of the spirochete B. burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease, occurs by the bite of Ixodes ticks. In the United States, the blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis Say affects the greatest number of people for three principal reasons:Lyme disease is one of many tick-transmitted diseases. The Lyme
Rocky Mountain spotted fever is a disease caused by the bacterium Rickettsia rickettsii (rick-ETT-cee-uh rick-ETT-cee-eye), which is carried by ticks. People usually start having fevers and feeling nauseous about a week after being bitten by a tick, although some people do not remember having had a tick bite. A few days after the fever begins, people who have Rocky Mountain spotted fever often have a rash, usually on their arms or ankles. They also may
Pesticidal control of ticks may require both pet treatment and treatment of the infested area. If a heavy tick infestation occurs it is necessary to treat pets, home, and yard at the same time. Established brown dog tick infestations of homes and yards are frequently difficult to control.Pets should be treated by using dusts, dip or sprays. Rub dusts into the fur to the skin being careful not to allow chemicals to get into the
Symptoms of ticks in dogs include the more obvious symptom of the presence of ticks on the dog, and symptoms which can be difficult to associate with ticks such as fever, skin irritations, and even paralysis. Sadly, the diagnosis of tick diseases may also be the only recognizable symptom of the presence of a tick, at some time, on the dog.Ticks often cause symptoms on the skin which cause owners to take a close look
Adult deer ticks have no white markings on the dorsal area nor do they have eyes or festoons. They are about 3 mm and dark brown to black in color. Adults exhibit sexual dimorphism. Females typically have the area behind the scutum with an orange to red color. Figure 3. Two male and one female blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis Say, questing on vegetation. Only the legs are visible from the second male tick, which
The American dog tick, is a common pest of pets and humans. The adult males and females are frequently encountered by sportsmen and people who work outdoors. Dogs are the preferred host, although the American dog tick will feed on other warmblooded animals. The nymphal stages of the American dog tick usually only attack rodents. For this reason the American dog tick is not considered a household pest.
The brown dog tick seldom attacks animals other than dogs. It is most likely found where dogs are kept in or around the house. The brown dog tick is not known to transmit diseases to humans but may transmit disease among dogs.
The adult female tick lays a mass of 1000-3000 eggs after engorging on a dog's blood. These eggs are often found in cracks on the roof of
You’ve discovered a tick on your dog, and you need to remove it as soon as possible. However improper tick removal can lead to skin infections, pain, and exposure to tick diseases. If you have found a tick on your dog, follow these safe tick removal steps below.Once you have located a tick, grab a pair of tweezers, and a container of alcohol. Do not remove the tick with your bare hands or you may