Information about Ticks on Dogs

After a walk through tall grass or the woods, it’s not uncommon to find a tick or two (or more!) on your dog. A tick infestation has the makings of a good horror movie: bloodsucking parasites lurking in the shadows, seeking out warm-blooded victims for their next meal. Unfortunately, this scene isn’t Hollywood fiction, and the next warm-blooded victim may be your dog. As such, dog owners should know how to identify and remove ticks and—better yet—how to prevent them from biting you and your dog in the first place.

Ticks and Dogs: Risk factors and detection
Wildlife, pets, and people are all potential targets for ticks. These parasites can consume so much blood that a heavy infestation can cause anemia. Bites can also lead to tick paralysis, a condition in which tick saliva causes progressive weakness and paralysis in humans and dogs. Ticks can also spread many infectious diseases, including Lyme disease; note that the parasite must remain attached for several hours to transmit a disease, so it’s critical that you check your dog (and yourself) for ticks immediately after a walk.

How to Identify Ticks on Dogs
Ticks aren’t always easy to see on your dog, and longhaired dogs need a more thorough examination. Popular places for ticks to hide: on and in the ears, between the toes, and in the armpits.

When a tick bites, it imbeds its mouthparts in the skin and ingests blood. This feeding may last several days if uninterrupted. The tick will continue to feed until it is full; then it detaches and drops off.

How To Remove a Tick From a Dog
For ticks that haven’t yet attached themselves to the skin, use tweezers to grasp the tick and pull gently. Don’t ever try to pull a tick loose from your dog if its head is already imbedded in your dog’s skin and never use hot matches to remove ticks. Instead, apply rubbing alcohol or a special pet-safe tick spray  with a cotton swab. Once the tick backs out (which usually happens within a minute), you can use tweezers to remove it. Place the tick in a container of rubbing alcohol or flea and tick spray, and either dispose of it or save it in an airtight container for testing. Don’t crush the tick, because contact with blood it has ingested can spread disease.

Occasionally, the tick’s mouthparts remain imbedded in the skin, causing mild redness and swelling at the site. Wash the affected area with soap and water, and consult your veterinarian if the bite doesn’t clear up in a few days or if you notice other symptoms, such as weakness, lethargy, lameness, fever, appetite loss, or eye or nasal discharge.
For dogs with severe infestations, you may want to first use a shampoo, spray, powder, or dip that kills the parasites. Even so, you still may have to remove the dead ticks by hand.

Protecting Your Dog From Ticks
There are many products available to kill ticks and help protect your dog from ticks. A monthly flea and tick topical product (Frontline Top Spot) and a tick collar that contains amitraz (Preventic) are effective. Another monthly topical product (Revolution) controls tick infestations on dogs and protects them from many other parasites. Flea and tick sprays and powders also are available, but must be applied frequently. Treating your yard for ticks and keeping the grass mowed also helps.

Read more about how to protect yourself and your dog from ticks.