{"id":928,"date":"2022-09-07T21:00:52","date_gmt":"2022-09-07T21:00:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sweetdoggo.com\/?p=928"},"modified":"2023-07-06T01:10:46","modified_gmt":"2023-07-06T01:10:46","slug":"types-of-ticks-in-dogs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sweetdoggo.com\/types-of-ticks-in-dogs\/","title":{"rendered":"What are the different Types of Ticks in Dogs?","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"<p>We all know how annoying ticks can be to our pets. They feed voraciously on the blood of the host once they are attached to it. Did you know that not all ticks are the same?<\/p>\n<p>This article explains the different types of ticks in dogs, how to identify them, what to do if you find several ticks, and why they are dangerous not only to your dog but to you as well.<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_69_1 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-white ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-66f8de4ae3a80\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-66f8de4ae3a80\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/sweetdoggo.com\/types-of-ticks-in-dogs\/#Ticks_what_are_they_and_how_do_they_behave\" title=\"Ticks: what are they and how do they behave?\">Ticks: what are they and how do they behave?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/sweetdoggo.com\/types-of-ticks-in-dogs\/#Types_of_ticks_in_dogs\" title=\"Types of ticks in dogs\">Types of ticks in dogs<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/sweetdoggo.com\/types-of-ticks-in-dogs\/#Difference_between_hard_ticks_and_soft_ticks\" title=\"Difference between hard ticks and soft ticks\">Difference between hard ticks and soft ticks<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/sweetdoggo.com\/types-of-ticks-in-dogs\/#Appearance\" title=\"Appearance\">Appearance<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/sweetdoggo.com\/types-of-ticks-in-dogs\/#Hard_ticks\" title=\"Hard ticks\">Hard ticks<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/sweetdoggo.com\/types-of-ticks-in-dogs\/#Soft_ticks\" title=\"Soft ticks\">Soft ticks<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/sweetdoggo.com\/types-of-ticks-in-dogs\/#Feeding_habits\" title=\"Feeding habits\">Feeding habits<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/sweetdoggo.com\/types-of-ticks-in-dogs\/#Habitat\" title=\"Habitat\">Habitat<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/sweetdoggo.com\/types-of-ticks-in-dogs\/#Disease_transmission\" title=\"Disease transmission\">Disease transmission<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/sweetdoggo.com\/types-of-ticks-in-dogs\/#Hard_ticks-2\" title=\"Hard ticks\">Hard ticks<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/sweetdoggo.com\/types-of-ticks-in-dogs\/#Soft_ticks-2\" title=\"Soft ticks\">Soft ticks<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/sweetdoggo.com\/types-of-ticks-in-dogs\/#8_Common_ticks_on_dogs\" title=\"8 Common ticks on dogs\">8 Common ticks on dogs<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/sweetdoggo.com\/types-of-ticks-in-dogs\/#1_Brown_dog_tick\" title=\"1. Brown dog tick\">1. Brown dog tick<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/sweetdoggo.com\/types-of-ticks-in-dogs\/#2_Lone_star_tick\" title=\"2. Lone star tick\">2. Lone star tick<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/sweetdoggo.com\/types-of-ticks-in-dogs\/#3_American_dog_tick\" title=\"3. American dog tick\">3. American dog tick<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/sweetdoggo.com\/types-of-ticks-in-dogs\/#4_Black-legged_tick\" title=\"4. Black-legged tick\">4. Black-legged tick<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/sweetdoggo.com\/types-of-ticks-in-dogs\/#5_Rocky_Mountain_wood_tick\" title=\"5. Rocky Mountain wood tick\">5. Rocky Mountain wood tick<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/sweetdoggo.com\/types-of-ticks-in-dogs\/#FAQs\" title=\"FAQ&#8217;s\">FAQ&#8217;s<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-19\" href=\"https:\/\/sweetdoggo.com\/types-of-ticks-in-dogs\/#What_is_the_life_cycle_of_a_tick_like\" title=\"What is the life cycle of a tick like?\">What is the life cycle of a tick like?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-20\" href=\"https:\/\/sweetdoggo.com\/types-of-ticks-in-dogs\/#How_do_dogs_catch_ticks\" title=\"How do dogs catch ticks?\">How do dogs catch ticks?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-21\" href=\"https:\/\/sweetdoggo.com\/types-of-ticks-in-dogs\/#How_to_detect_ticks_on_a_dog\" title=\"How to detect ticks on a dog?\">How to detect ticks on a dog?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-22\" href=\"https:\/\/sweetdoggo.com\/types-of-ticks-in-dogs\/#How_to_remove_ticks_from_dogs_at_home\" title=\"How to remove ticks from dogs at home?\">How to remove ticks from dogs at home?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-23\" href=\"https:\/\/sweetdoggo.com\/types-of-ticks-in-dogs\/#How_to_prevent_ticks_on_dogs\" title=\"How to prevent ticks on dogs?\">How to prevent ticks on dogs?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-24\" href=\"https:\/\/sweetdoggo.com\/types-of-ticks-in-dogs\/#Can_ticks_be_dangerous_for_my_dog\" title=\"Can ticks be dangerous for my dog?\">Can ticks be dangerous for my dog?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Ticks_what_are_they_and_how_do_they_behave\"><\/span>Ticks: what are they and how do they behave?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>It is worth briefly describing the behavior and some interesting <a href=\"https:\/\/www.merckvetmanual.com\/dog-owners\/skin-disorders-of-dogs\/ticks-of-dogs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">facts about these invasive creatures<\/a> before discussing the types of ticks in dogs.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The tick is not an insect, but an arachnid-like spider, scorpions, and mites. Ticks have 8 legs and no antennae.<\/li>\n<li>The tick is a parasite that feeds on the blood of its host. For a long time, they can go unnoticed.<\/li>\n<li>Depending on the species, blood-sucking behavior can vary.<\/li>\n<li>It is common for ticks to have a preferred feeding area on their hosts. While some prefer to feed near the ears, nostrils, anus, and under the tail, others prefer to feed near the head, neck, and pubic areas.<\/li>\n<li>Ticks can survive for months or even years without food, depending on the environmental conditions.<\/li>\n<li>Among the diseases they carry are canine ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis, Lyme disease, and babesiosis.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>There is a very common misconception among dog owners that ticks and fleas are the same things. Ticks are arachnids (8 legs), while fleas are insects (6 legs).<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Types_of_ticks_in_dogs\"><\/span>Types of ticks in dogs<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>There are two general types of ticks in dogs. These are:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Hard ticks, Ixodidae<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Soft ticks, Argasidae<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Hard ticks have a hard shield behind their heads, often covered in white or gold patterns on a brown or gray background. These ticks look like flat seeds when not fed.<\/p>\n<p>As for &#8220;soft&#8221; ticks, they do not have one. Their bodies are flat, oval, leathery, and wrinkled as adults.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Difference_between_hard_ticks_and_soft_ticks\"><\/span>Difference between hard ticks and soft ticks<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>What type of tick does a dog have? What&#8217;s the difference? Hard ticks and soft ticks differ in more than just physical characteristics, so it&#8217;s important to know how to identify them.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"PSM 817 Tick Hard Tick Soft Tick Difference\" width=\"1290\" height=\"726\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/9RnRl--GXHU?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Appearance\"><\/span>Appearance<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Hard_ticks\"><\/span>Hard ticks<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>They are flat, oval, and have a hard &#8220;plate&#8221; on their back, which covers the entire dorsal surface of the male, but only a third of the dorsal surface of the female.<\/li>\n<li>Depending on the species they can measure between 3 and 23 mm in length. The female is usually larger than the male.<\/li>\n<li>The hard tick&#8217;s mouthparts are visible when viewed from above. This is a characteristic that helps to easily differentiate it from the soft type of tick.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Soft_ticks\"><\/span>Soft ticks<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>They are oval or pear-shaped, with the anterior region of the body broadly rounded.<\/li>\n<li>They appear to have wrinkled bodies and lack the dorsal shield that characterizes hard ticks.<\/li>\n<li>Males and females are very similar in size.<\/li>\n<li>The mouthparts are located below the body and are not visible from above (it gives the impression that they do not have a mouth).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Feeding_habits\"><\/span>Feeding habits<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Both types of ticks feed on the dog&#8217;s blood.<\/p>\n<p>Hard ticks generally seek out their hosts and feed during the day. They tend to feed for long periods of time, from several days to weeks; this depends on factors such as species, life stage, and type of host.<\/p>\n<p>For their part, soft ticks seek out their host and feed at night. Feeding periods are usually shorter, ranging from minutes to days. The feeding habits of many soft ticks can be compared to that of fleas or bedbugs, as once established they reside in the host&#8217;s nest and feed rapidly once the host returns.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Habitat\"><\/span>Habitat<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Hard ticks thrive in habitats where there are many vertebrate hosts, such as mammals, lizards, and ground-dwelling birds. Its preferred habitat is scrub, woodland, or undergrowth, especially moist woodland and vegetated areas (hiking trails, grassy fields, etc.).<\/p>\n<p>Soft ticks inhabit animal burrows, nests, caves, or human construction such as cabins and sheds. These ticks easily thrive in hot, dry conditions.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Disease_transmission\"><\/span>Disease transmission<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Compared to soft ticks, hard ticks are more likely to parasitize both animals and people. This is the type of tick that transmits the greatest number of diseases.<\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Hard_ticks-2\"><\/span>Hard ticks<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>Lyme&#8217;s disease<\/li>\n<li>Rocky Mountain spotted fever<\/li>\n<li>Tularemia or rabbit fever<\/li>\n<li>Colorado tick fever<\/li>\n<li>Ehrlichiosis<\/li>\n<li>Babesiosis<\/li>\n<li>Tick bite paralysis<\/li>\n<li>Anaplasmosis canina<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Soft_ticks-2\"><\/span>Soft ticks<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>Tick-borne relapsing fever<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"8_Common_ticks_on_dogs\"><\/span>8 Common ticks on dogs<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>According to different <a href=\"https:\/\/www.petmd.com\/dog\/general-health\/8-types-ticks-dogs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">sources<\/a>, these are the 8 most common tick <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pestworld.org\/news-hub\/pest-articles\/what-does-a-tick-look-like-tick-species-and-the-threats-they-pose\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">species<\/a> on dogs:<\/p>\n<p><strong>&#8220;hard&#8221; type<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Black-legged or deer tick (Ixodes scapulars)<\/li>\n<li>Western Black-legged Tick (Ixodes pacificus)<\/li>\n<li>American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis)<\/li>\n<li>Rocky Mountain wood tick (Dermacentor Anderson)<\/li>\n<li>Brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus)<\/li>\n<li>Lone star tick (Amblyomma americium)<\/li>\n<li>Gulf Coast tick (Amblyomma maculatum)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>&#8220;soft&#8221; type<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Spiny ear tick (Otobius megnini)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Could you identify them? Take a look at the following image and discover what the ticks most likely to infect your dog look like \u2026<\/p>\n<p>The numbers in the image correspond to the numbers in the listing above.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_929\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-929\" style=\"width: 700px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-929 size-full\" title=\"Most common ticks on dogs\" src=\"https:\/\/sweetdoggo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Tick-Species-on-Dogs.jpg\" alt=\"common ticks on dogs\" width=\"700\" height=\"700\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sweetdoggo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Tick-Species-on-Dogs.jpg 700w, https:\/\/sweetdoggo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Tick-Species-on-Dogs-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sweetdoggo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Tick-Species-on-Dogs-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-929\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Most common ticks on dogs<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Of all of them, these 5 are usually the <a href=\"https:\/\/tickencounter.org\/tick_identification\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">best-known<\/a> ticks around the world:<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_Brown_dog_tick\"><\/span>1. Brown dog tick<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Typically brown, but may turn bluish-gray when fed; It is oval and flat in shape. Dogs are their favorite host. It almost always sticks to the ears or between the toes.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Lone_star_tick\"><\/span>2. Lone star tick<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>It is reddish-brown in color but turns dark gray once it has eaten. It has an easily visible white spot on the back of its body.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_American_dog_tick\"><\/span>3. American dog tick<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>It is flat, oval, and usually brown with gray or whitish markings.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_Black-legged_tick\"><\/span>4. Black-legged tick<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>It is oval, wide, and flat. Although it can be difficult to distinguish from the brown tick because of its reddish-brown body color, this species has significantly darker legs.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_Rocky_Mountain_wood_tick\"><\/span>5. Rocky Mountain wood tick<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Its body is flat and pear-shaped, reaching an approximate length of 3 to 16 mm. It is usually brown in color but turns gray when swollen.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FAQs\"><\/span>FAQ&#8217;s<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_the_life_cycle_of_a_tick_like\"><\/span>What is the life cycle of a tick like?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The life cycle of ticks is made up of 4 different stages or phases6:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Egg<\/li>\n<li>6-legged larva<\/li>\n<li>8 legged nymph<\/li>\n<li>Adult<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Initially, the adult female tick lays her eggs on the ground. A female can produce between 3,000 and 6,000 eggs. When the ambient temperature and humidity reach optimal levels, the eggs hatch, and the larvae emerge.<\/p>\n<p>Tick larvae are usually very small. Birds and rats are their main hosts at this stage. Once they have fed on the blood of their host, the larvae increase in size. When they are fully fed and large enough, they leave the body of their first host.<\/p>\n<p>At this point, the larva molts its shell and becomes a nymph. The nymphs repeat the same process by searching for and attaching themselves to a second host, which they will abandon once they have fed sufficiently. Following a second molting process, the nymph develops into an adult tick.<\/p>\n<p>When two adult ticks mate, the female lays her eggs on the ground and begins a new life cycle.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_do_dogs_catch_ticks\"><\/span>How do dogs catch ticks?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Typically, ticks remain in grass or on the edges and tips of bushes, awaiting the arrival of potential hosts. When the dog passes and rubs the vegetation, the tick quickly detaches itself from the plant and climbs onto the host.<\/p>\n<p>That said, if a dog spends a lot of time outdoors, especially in wilderness areas, they are at higher risk of picking up ticks. Direct contact with them almost always results in an infestation.<\/p>\n<p>Ticks can only crawl; they cannot jump or fly. Even so, some species are known to be able to crawl several feet to reach their host.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_detect_ticks_on_a_dog\"><\/span>How to detect ticks on a dog?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Unlike fleas, ticks are usually large enough to be distinguished on the dog&#8217;s body. This is especially true if they have already eaten.<\/p>\n<p>Upon close inspection, you will be able to see them as if they were small warts. Be sure to check on the dog regularly, parting the fur a bit and running your fingers over its fur.<\/p>\n<p>You can usually find them around the pet&#8217;s head and neck, but they can also stick to the paws and under the tail. Also consider that tick bites usually cause some signs on the dog&#8217;s body, such as irritation and redness.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>Ticks that have been on a dog for only a short time (1 hour to 1 day) may appear flat. But those that have been feeding for days will look quite rounded.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_remove_ticks_from_dogs_at_home\"><\/span>How to remove ticks from dogs at home?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>In most cases, it is not necessary to go to the vet to clean the dog of ticks. This is the basic procedure to remove them at home \u2026<\/p>\n<p><strong>You will need to:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>1 pair of gloves<\/li>\n<li>1 pair of clean pointed tweezers<\/li>\n<li>An antiseptic, for example, hydrogen peroxide<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Instructions:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Using the tweezers, grab the tick as close to the dog&#8217;s skin as possible, without actually pinching it.<\/li>\n<li>Slowly pull outward in a steady motion, making sure to remove the entire tick. If the head remains attached to the dog&#8217;s body, it could lead to infection or inflammation. It is very important to pull steadily, but slowly.<\/li>\n<li>After the extraction, disinfect the area with an antiseptic; you can do it with hydrogen peroxide or soap and water.<\/li>\n<li>Never try to remove a tick with your bare hands. These parasites are successful transmitters of numerous diseases.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Note: If the tick is in an area that is difficult to access, you can resort to applying soapy water or apple cider vinegar to facilitate its removal.<\/p>\n<p>To know all the steps, useful tips, and warnings, visit How to Remove Ticks in Dogs Fast? Easy Method + Remedies.<\/p>\n<p>You may also be interested in 15+ <a href=\"https:\/\/sweetdoggo.com\/best-home-remedies-for-fleas-on-dogs\/\">Best Homemade Flea Remedies<\/a><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_prevent_ticks_on_dogs\"><\/span>How to prevent ticks on dogs?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Keep your dog away from tick-infested areas to prevent infection.<\/p>\n<p>They tend to live in particular microhabitats, like grass or the boundary between lawns and wooded areas. Ticks are less likely to reach pets when these habitats are properly maintained.<\/p>\n<p>Keep the dog out of tall grass and brush, and trim vegetation around the house. Also, insecticides may help.<\/p>\n<p>You can also use anti-tick products, such as sprays and shampoos, to repel ticks and keep your dog&#8217;s coat clean.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_ticks_be_dangerous_for_my_dog\"><\/span>Can ticks be dangerous for my dog?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>On their own, ticks do not pose much of a threat to your pet&#8217;s health; however, these parasites are known to transmit numerous infectious conditions.<\/p>\n<p>As they feed, ticks can introduce microorganisms into the body of their host. This includes the pathogens that cause Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, babesiosis, and ehrlichiosis, among others.<\/p>\n<p>In addition, ticks release toxins that are harmful to their hosts. Cutaneous wounds caused by their bites can lead to secondary bacterial infections and infestations of other parasites.<\/p>\n<p>Serious tick infections can lead to anemia, paralysis, and even death in the dog.<\/p>\n","protected":false,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"html"}]},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We all know how annoying ticks can be to our pets. They feed voraciously on the blood of the host once they are attached to it. Did you know that not all ticks are the same? This article explains the different types of ticks in dogs, how to identify them, what to do if you [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"html"}]},"author":2,"featured_media":1328,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_lock_modified_date":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"blocksy_meta":{"styles_descriptor":{"styles":{"desktop":"","tablet":"","mobile":""},"google_fonts":[],"version":6}},"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"link","format":"url"}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sweetdoggo.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/928"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sweetdoggo.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sweetdoggo.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sweetdoggo.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sweetdoggo.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=928"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/sweetdoggo.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/928\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1440,"href":"https:\/\/sweetdoggo.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/928\/revisions\/1440"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sweetdoggo.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1328"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sweetdoggo.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=928"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sweetdoggo.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=928"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sweetdoggo.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=928"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}