When your dog has been walking in the woods or playing in your yard, it’s always smart to do a quick tick check to see if you find any of the unwelcome parasites on your pup.
Ticks attach themselves to animals and people. While they feed on their host’s blood, they can transmit diseases into their host’s body. These diseases include Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, anaplasmosis, and ehrlichiosis. These diseases can be spread to people, so tick bites can threaten anyone in your home.
“It is best to do a thorough tick check on your pet as well as yourself as soon as you both return from a tick-friendly area,” says Kathleen Claussen, DVM, a small animal veterinary practitioner. “It can take some ticks only a few hours to pass disease. Examining the entire dog using a small flashlight can be very helpful.”
Where to Check Your Dog for Ticks
Ticks generally attach by going from grass, shrubs, or other plants when your dog or another host brushes by. Although they can be found anywhere on your pet, they often prefer places they can hide, like in your dog’s ear or between your pup’s toes.
Sometimes your dog can give you a clue that ticks are hanging around. But not always.
“Scratching or licking at a particular area or shaking their head can be an indication of a problem, so look closely for anything out of the ordinary,” says Amy Flowers, DVM, associate veterinarian at a small animal practice. “A lot of times, dogs don't even seem to notice ticks, so still check your dog even if they are acting normal.”
Where Ticks Hide
Ticks can be hard to spot just by simply looking.
“Ticks vary in size and can be very tiny and seed-like or larger and more obvious,” Flowers says. “Use soft pressure and run your fingers along your dog, feeling for any bumps. Inspect any bump to see if it’s a tick.”
It’s very important that you know what your dog’s fur and body usually look like, so you’ll be able to more easily spot a tick.
“Regular grooming is important so you know what is ‘normal’ for your pet,” says Claussen. “This will help prevent a bump, scab, skin tag, or nipple from being mistaken as a tick.”
8 Areas to Check Your Dog for Ticks
Ears. Dogs stick their noses everywhere, so it’s easy for ticks to hitch a ride on their heads. Look around the outside of their ears as well as inside. You might notice your dog shaking its head or pawing at its ears. This could be a sign of a latched-on tick.
Eyes. It can be easy to miss a tick around the eyelid because it might look just like eye gunk. Be very careful when removing ticks near the eyes.
Under the collar. You likely leave your dog’s collar on all the time, so it can be easy to miss a tick hidden underneath. Take off or lift up the collar to check the area.
Feet. When dogs are walking through ground cover or tall grass, it’s easy for ticks to latch on to their feet. Look for them between your pup’s toes or nestled in between their paw pads. You might notice your dog biting or licking their feet, which could mean a tick is buried in their paws.
Tail. Check the entire length of the tail, especially the underside, where ticks are easier to miss.
Armpits. It’s dark and moist where your dog’s legs meet their body. Do a thorough check of this armpit area for stowaways.
Groin. It’s also tick-friendly between your dog’s back legs in the groin. It’s an area you probably don’t usually see and definitely a key spot to check.
Fur. Run your hand through your dog’s coat, feeling for any unusual bumps. Be sure to check their legs, torso, and neck. You can use a flea comb to catch ticks in thick fur or on puppies that are too young for other types of prevention.
What if You Find a Tick?
If you find a tick on your dog, remove it right away. Always wear disposable gloves to make sure the tick doesn’t touch your skin.
Don’t use a hot match, petroleum jelly, or any other folk remedy to remove the tick. Instead use tweezers or a tick removal tool.
Use tweezers to grasp the tick as close to your dog’s body as possible. Be careful not to pinch your dog’s skin. Pull it out slowly in a straight, smooth motion. Try not to squeeze the tick so that it releases any fluids.
You can also use a tick remover gadget that works to safely remove a tick. These are spoons or little hooked-shaped devices that help you pull out the tick. You slide the notch around the tick to pull it off.
Drop the tick in a small jar or zip-top bag filled with rubbing alcohol. Mark the date you found it and keep an eye on your dog for any unusual symptoms. Wipe your dog’s skin with antiseptic, like alcohol, and keep an eye on the area for any reaction.
When you’re finished, clean the tweezers with alcohol and wash your hands well. You may also want to reach out to your vet. If you go, take the tick with you to help ID what kind it was.
“If you see signs of infection, it is good to see your vet,” says Claussen. “If your pet is not feeling well following the finding of a tick/ticks, or if your pet is infested with many ticks, it would be best to consult with a veterinarian immediately to determine the best course of action.”
Show Sources
Photo Credit: iStock/Getty Images
SOURCES:
American Kennel Club: “7 Places to Look for Ticks on Your Dog,” “Tick-Borne Diseases in Dogs: Symptoms & How to Prevent.”
CDC: “How to Check Your Pet for Ticks,” “How Ticks Spread Disease.”
American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation: “Tick-borne Disease: Prevalence, Prevention, and Treatment.”
The Humane Society of the United States: “What to do if you find a tick on your dog.”
The University of Maine Cooperative Extension: “Tick Removal.”
Kathleen Claussen, DVM, a small animal veterinary practitioner.
Amy Flowers, DVM, associate veterinarian at a small animal practice.
