Ticks and Your Pets: How These Tiny Bloodsuckers Can Endanger Your Dog

If your dog spends time outside—whether romping through the backyard, hiking trails, or just lounging on the lawn—there’s a good chance they’ve encountered ticks. These tiny arachnids are masters of stealth, clinging onto your pet’s fur unnoticed and embedding themselves into the skin for a blood meal. But their bite isn’t just irritating—it can transmit serious diseases that impact your dog’s health.

Understanding how ticks latch onto pets, where they hide, and how to prevent infestations is crucial for keeping your furry friend safe from these silent, bloodsucking invaders.


1. How Do Ticks Get on Dogs?

Ticks don’t fly or jump like fleas. Instead, they use a strategy called questing—perching on tall grass, shrubs, or leaf litter with their front legs extended, waiting for a warm-bodied host to brush past them.

Dogs are prime targets for ticks due to their outdoor adventures. Ticks commonly latch onto dogs when they:

  • Walk through grassy fields, wooded areas, or even overgrown yards.
  • Roll in leaf piles or dig in brushy areas.
  • Come into contact with other animals, such as rodents or deer, that carry ticks.
  • Visit dog parks or kennels where ticks may be present.

Once attached, a tick buries its mouthparts into the skin and feeds on your dog’s blood for several days. The longer it stays attached, the higher the risk of disease transmission.


2. Where Do Ticks Hide on Your Dog?

Ticks aren’t always easy to spot, as they prefer hidden, warm, and soft areas on a dog’s body. The most common places ticks hide include:

  • Inside and around the ears (especially inside the ear flap).
  • Between the toes and paw pads.
  • Around the eyes and eyelids.
  • Under the collar or harness.
  • Along the groin or armpits.
  • At the base of the tail.

Regularly checking these areas can help you spot and remove ticks before they cause harm.


3. Tick-Borne Diseases in Dogs

Ticks are more than just a nuisance—they are vectors of disease, transmitting bacteria and parasites that can cause severe health problems for dogs. Some of the most common tick-borne diseases include:

1. Lyme Disease

  • Caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, transmitted through the bite of an infected deer tick.
  • Symptoms: Lethargy, joint pain, fever, loss of appetite, and, in severe cases, kidney failure.

2. Ehrlichiosis

  • Transmitted by the brown dog tick and lone star tick.
  • Symptoms: Fever, weight loss, swollen lymph nodes, and bleeding disorders.

3. Anaplasmosis

  • Spread by deer ticks and western black-legged ticks.
  • Symptoms: High fever, lameness, joint pain, vomiting, and difficulty breathing.

4. Babesiosis

  • Caused by a parasite that infects red blood cells.
  • Symptoms: Jaundice, weakness, fever, and dark-colored urine.

5. Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF)

  • Transmitted by American dog ticks and brown dog ticks.
  • Symptoms: High fever, muscle pain, vomiting, and neurological issues.

Many of these diseases can be life-threatening if left untreated, so early detection is key. If your dog shows unusual fatigue, fever, or joint pain after a tick bite, consult your vet immediately.


4. How to Check Your Dog for Ticks

After every outdoor outing, perform a tick check by running your hands through your dog’s fur, feeling for small bumps. Use a fine-tooth comb to part the fur and inspect tick-prone areas, especially after walks in grassy or wooded areas.

If you find a tick:

  • Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible.
  • Pull straight out with steady pressure—do not twist, crush, or yank.
  • Disinfect the bite area and wash your hands thoroughly.
  • Monitor your dog for symptoms of tick-borne illness for the next few weeks.

NEVER try to remove a tick by burning it, suffocating it with petroleum jelly, or twisting it, as these methods increase the risk of infection.


5. How to Prevent Ticks on Your Dog

The best way to protect your dog from ticks is prevention. Here’s how to reduce their risk:

1. Tick Preventatives

  • Topical Treatments (e.g., Frontline, Advantix) – Apply to the skin once a month.
  • Oral Medications (e.g., NexGard, Bravecto) – Chewable tablets that kill ticks from the inside.
  • Tick Collars (e.g., Seresto) – Provide months of protection, repelling and killing ticks.

Consult your vet to find the best option for your pet based on lifestyle and risk factors.

2. Yard Maintenance

Ticks thrive in overgrown grass and brush, so keeping your yard tidy can significantly reduce their presence.

  • Keep grass trimmed short and remove leaf litter.
  • Create a barrier of gravel or wood chips between your yard and wooded areas.
  • Treat your yard with tick-repelling sprays or diatomaceous earth.
  • Keep outdoor pet beds and kennels away from tall grass or wooded areas.

3. Avoid Tick Hotspots

When hiking or walking your dog:

  • Stick to well-groomed trails instead of tall grass or brush.
  • Keep your dog on a leash to prevent them from wandering into tick-heavy areas.
  • Use dog-safe tick repellent sprays before outdoor activities.

4. Regular Grooming & Baths

Giving your dog regular baths with tick-repelling shampoos can help wash away ticks before they attach. This is especially useful during peak tick season (spring through fall).


6. Can Ticks Infest Your Home?

Ticks don’t reproduce indoors like fleas do, but if a tick is brought inside on your pet, it can survive in carpets, bedding, or furniture for days to weeks. The brown dog tick, in particular, can complete its life cycle indoors and become a recurring problem.

To prevent ticks from becoming houseguests:

  • Wash pet bedding frequently in hot water.
  • Vacuum carpets, rugs, and furniture regularly.
  • Inspect yourself and your dog before coming indoors.
  • Use tick sprays or treatments on areas where your dog spends the most time.

If you notice multiple ticks in your home, you may need a pest control professional to eliminate the infestation.


Conclusion: Protecting Your Dog From Ticks

Ticks may be tiny, but they pose a huge risk to your dog’s health. Whether they cause minor irritation or transmit serious diseases, these parasites should never be taken lightly. By staying vigilant with tick checks, preventatives, and smart outdoor habits, you can keep your furry friend safe and tick-free.

Your dog relies on you to protect them—so take the necessary steps to keep these bloodsuckers off your pet and out of your home!

Got Wildlife or Pests? 

If you think that your property has a wildlife or pest infestation problem, don't hesitate to reach out to us by calling 855-WILDLIFE or by visiting www.wildlifexteam.com for more information. 

Thanks! 

-Wildlife x Team International

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